Paul Rieckhoff

Paul Rieckhoff
Nickname(s)	P.J.
Born	New York, USA
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1998 - 2007
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	3rd Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Iraq War

Paul Rieckhoff is an American writer, social entrepreneur, advocate, activist and veteran of the United States Army and the Iraq War. He is the Founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). He served as an Army First Lieutenant and infantry rifle platoon leader in Iraq from 2003 through 2004. Rieckhoff was released from the Army National Guard in 2007.

Rieckhoff attended James I. O'Neill High School in Highland Falls, New York and graduated from Amherst College in 1998 with a BA in Political Science. At Amherst, Rieckhoff was a varsity football and rugby player. He hosted a radio show on the college radio station, WAMH-FM and was also President of the student government.

Rieckhoff enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on September 15, 1998 and completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He then served in the U.S. Army Reserve, as a specialist with the 812th Military Police Company. While working on Wall Street in 1999, Rieckhoff transferred to the New York Army National Guard. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in June 2001 and was named a Distinguished Military Graduate. Rieckhoff selected infantry as his branch and joined A Company, 1-105th Infantry (Light).

Rieckhoff left Wall Street on September 7, 2001 with plans to travel and complete additional military schooling. On the morning of September 11, Rieckhoff was at his apartment in Manhattan when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. He participated in the rescue efforts at ground zero. His unit was formally activated for rescue and security operations later that evening.

Rieckhoff recounted his 9/11 experiences for the 9/11 Tribute Center for a project called "Stories of 9/11 told by those who were there"

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