Timothy Goff is a senior at Penn State and will be graduating this may with a degree in international economics, and a minor in business administrations. He has spent the past two years here in State college after transferring from Montgomery community college in Blue Bell Pennsylvania. Before that he was serving his country in the Marine Corps.
A week after graduating high school in 2008, Tim Goff enlisted into the marines and started basic training. After following in the footsteps of his older brother and joining the same unit with the marines Tim found himself deploying 6 months after enlisting. When finding out the news he felt excitement, adrenaline, and a little tinge of disappointment. Not only was he excited to be overseas and in combat, but he was disappointed to say goodbye to his family for what he thought would be a whole year.
While overseas, he was apart of a platoon that had about 27 members in it that to this day he considers some of his best friends and brothers. During a normal day they were able to do normal activities such as spend time in the gym, contact family, and just have a normal day over all, when on a mission things were very different.
Once on a mission, Tim completely transforms into a marine. While overseas Tim was ranked as a lance corporal and his main job along with his fellow marines was to find and deactivate IEDs otherwise known as improvised explosive devices. In the beginning of his time while in Iraq he was located specifically in Al Anbar province and fallujah where he was assigned as the rear security while searching for IEDs. While on the main highways of Iraq he had to keep traffic 100 yards or more away from their convoy. Specifically for safety as well as to prevent any attempt of suicide car bombs.
After his first mission his commander applauded his work and asked him what his thoughts would be if he were to move up to the front of the convoy. Tim’s initial reaction was pure joy and excitement because although it was not a rank promotion he felt as if he was being promoted within his platoon. As he worked his way into the new position and as the excitement subsided, the pressure and stress of being the first person to find IEDs set in. He no longer was relying on someone else’s eyes, everyone as relying on his. He was the first person to have to spot the signs and debris hinting that there could be an explosive device in front of their convoy.
Although he was supposed to serve a full year in Iraq, he wound up only serving 6.5 months overseas. On the plane ride home he stated that the one feeling he had was that no one was trying to kill him, which the past half-year of his life was him always being alert and ready to fight. Although he had only served 6.5 months overseas Tim has continued to train for the just in case factor of being deployed another time. He will officially be a retired sergeant from the marines in June of 2014.
Brothers Overseas
Tim Goff did not only have to worry about himself while overseas, he had to worry about his older brother as well. They were both in Iraq defending the country and as weird as it is he spoke to his family more often then he spoke to his own brother.