Nov. 09, 2023: Screening & Veterans’ Panel Discussion of “What I Want You to Know,” a powerful documentary about the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan
In honor of Veterans’ Day, IHI co-sponsored the screening of What I Want You to Know, an award-winning and hard-hitting documentary about the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Following the screening, a BU-affiliated War Veterans Panel discussed their war experiences. Prof. Jim Johnson and Prof. John Woodward, the IHI Director, also provided brief remarks.
BU War Veterans’ Panel consisted of:
Moderator:
Prof. Cathal Nolan is a Professor of History at Boston University and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Progress History Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and a Pardee Research Fellow at Boston University’s Pardee Center for the Study of the Long-Range Future. He is the author of fourteen books of diplomatic and military history.
Panelists:
Eric Greek is a retired U.S. Army infantry officer with service in Airborne, Light, Stryker, and Mechanized Infantry Brigades. His multiple combat deployments include tactical commands in Afghanistan (Regional Command – South, the birthplace of the Taliban) and as an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Interior Police Force during the Sunni Awakening. Eric is currently a graduate student at Boston College. He has also worked as an advisor to Never Alone Advocacy, a group dedicated to combating sexual assault in the U.S. military.
Brandy Hernandez is a U.S. Army Captain and an instructor in BU’s Army ROTC program. Since commissioning as an Aviation Officer, Brandy has served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as an Aeromedical Evacuation Officer. She has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2017, serving as the Medical Site Lead and MEDEVAC Pilot in Northern Iraq. Brandy is a UH60 Blackhawk Pilot, Airborne and Air Assault qualified, and has worked with foreign militaries extensively. Her military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal.
David Hruban is a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant. Dave graduated from Infantry Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1993 and served 20 years on active duty, retiring in 2013. He deployed four times in support of the Global War on Terrorism with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). These included two tours in Iraq (2005-06 and 2007-08) and two tours in Afghanistan (2001-02; 2003-04), most notably fighting in Operation Anaconda directly following the 9-11 attack. He has earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and four Bronze Stars. Since retiring from the Army, Dave has been employed by BU, currently serving as the Construction Audit Manager in Internal Audit & Advisory Services.
Brian Hummel is a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and the Professor of Military Science at Boston University where he oversees BU’s Army ROTC program. Brian received his commission via Army ROTC from Lehigh University in 2001. He graduated flight school and the Aviation Basic Officer Leader Course in 2003. Among his many assignments, he served in Iraq on several deployments as well as Operation Spartan Shield in the Middle East. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with Valor (3rd Award), the Air Medal (3rd Award), and the Combat Action Badge.
Ed Krov, a Foreign Area Officer for the U.S. Army, is currently getting his master’s degree from BU’s Pardee School of Global Studies. Captain Krov was a finance officer for his first ten years in the Army, which included a nine-month tour in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014-2015. In this position, Ed oversaw the finance office at Hamid Karzai International Airport, and conducted frequent finance missions to many other U.S. Forward Operating Bases. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star.