Olivet Nazarene University

 

The explosion rattled the steel convoy. It blew the humvee just in front of Nathan Lalone ’10 into a cloud of confusion, fire and black smoke.

“It was the night before I left Iraq. We were driving in a convoy and the vehicle in front of us got hit by an IED and started on fire. We had to keep driving so we didn’t get ambushed when we stopped. I don’t know if the soldiers in that vehicle lived or not,” shares Nathan solemnly.
Nathan Lalone took time off from Olivet to serve in Iraq

It was just one of a few close calls while Nathan, a current Olivet student, was serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq — all of them happened just days before he was to return home for good.

Tragic inspiration

Nathan, like the rest of the nation, remembers the day well. He watched in dismay as the Twin Towers fell on September 11.

In the wake of countless questions, the tragedy also became an answer for him.

“I wasn’t exactly sure where I wanted to go with my life. I was a freshman at Olivet, but I decided to join the army and to help people.”

Fear wasn’t something that entered his mind at the time. He just wanted to make a difference, but when he got overseas and was stationed in Iraq, the close calls brought the reality of war very near.

Mortar fire would go off near their camp at night and the humvee exploding just in front of him was the second time his vehicle was barely spared.

He vividly remembers the Iraqi people. Their images have stayed with him since he came back to the states. And he tries to remember his own perspective on the help the soldiers provided when he sees the media frenzy on TV.

“I saw families out living in tents, little girls with no shoes on the side of the street trying to find food.

"All the negative stuff on TV doesn’t really show what it’s like over there. I got to talk with people from all over the world; I learned all people really are the same.

“The Iraqi people I met there were so happy to see us. The media focuses on who died and the costs, rather than what we have done to improve things.

"There’s been a real positive impact on the lives of others. It takes time — they’re going from a dictatorship to a democracy.”

College veteran dynamics

Following the end of his four years of enlistment, Nathan decided he wanted to complete what he had started.

“After my time in Iraq, I really wanted to get back to school. So I came back to Olivet.”

Going from wartime to rejoining the carefree life of a college student took some downshifting. It helped him realize more of who he is, shaped his ethics, and strengthened his relationships and family bonds.

“Signing up for the military brought me closer with my dad,” he shares.

“We had a good relationship before, but afterward, we could talk more. He just keeps telling me he is proud of me. My mom really supported me but I knew it was hard on her. She would send me care packages with zucchini bread. Those would be gone that day!”

Nathan believes the work ethic he developed as a soldier strengthened his study skills and perspective, and he doesn’t take life, friendships, American luxuries or freedom for granted.

“I am different now, having experienced what I did.

“I have learned not to complain as much. When you see different parts of life, you realize you don’t have it that bad,” shares Nathan.

Fighting for youth

He hopes to channel the lessons he learned fighting a war into helping young people, and so he elected to study criminal justice.

“I love variety in life and I want to help youth. Criminal justice seems like a good way to help young people who might still be put on the right track. That’s something I’d like to be able to do.”

In addition, Nathan has joined Olivet’s ROTC program.

“I’m not sure if I want to go back to Iraq. I haven’t decided if I will just be in the reserves when I finish college or if I will re-enlist.”

Whatever he decides, whether he is investing in the lives of youth or dodging bombs for the sake of his country, Nathan is a servant who is not afraid to live out what he believes. And that is a rare find, indeed.