"You grow up fast in the Army"

(Capt. Gabriel briefs soldiers before an air assault- photo by SFC Doheny/1/101st.)

TIKRIT, Iraq - Capt. John Gabriel walks into the Tikrit City Council among a group of U.S. civil affairs soldiers. When he takes off his helmet, Gabriel's boyish face looks out of place in a room full of chain-smoking, turban-wearing men.

At the end of the meeting, Gabriel approaches the council president, introduces himself and informs him in Arabic that he will be taking over as company commander of the Special Troops Battalion responsible for security of the provincial capital.

"You grow up fast in the Army," said Gabriel, 27, a native of Palos Hills.

Read the story in the Southtown Star.