| SSG Aaron Self reunites with his wife, SSG Kristi Self, in Baghdad on February 4, 2004. |
| The now-famous Hands of Victory monument of swords in Baghdad's Green Zone. |
| Young Iraqi street vendors in the Green Zone |
| Saddam Hussein's Al Faw Palace; the "Water Palace" at Camp Victory |
First Lieutenant
R. Clarke Cooper
Radio call-sign: "Terrier 1"
Lieutenant Cooper was General Davidson's aide during the mission to
Iraq and he also supervised The C.O.B.R.A. Team. A graduate of Florida
State University, Cooper was the assistant director for Legislative
Affairs for the U.S. Park Service before deploying to Iraq with the 350th
Civil Affairs Command.
R. Clarke Cooper
Radio call-sign: "Terrier 1"
Lieutenant Cooper was General Davidson's aide during the mission to
Iraq and he also supervised The C.O.B.R.A. Team. A graduate of Florida
State University, Cooper was the assistant director for Legislative
Affairs for the U.S. Park Service before deploying to Iraq with the 350th
Civil Affairs Command.
Major Edward Eversman
Trainer of The C.O.B.R.A. Team
"COBRA"
Major Eversman was selected to train the protective service detail for
General Davidson. He was supposed to be the Officer-in-Charge in
Baghdad, but before the unit arrived in Iraq, he was re-assigned to a
critical advisory role in the new Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. He
remained the "mentor" of the Team throughout their tour. In civilian
life, Eversman is a Deputy United States Marshal.
Trainer of The C.O.B.R.A. Team
"COBRA"
Major Eversman was selected to train the protective service detail for
General Davidson. He was supposed to be the Officer-in-Charge in
Baghdad, but before the unit arrived in Iraq, he was re-assigned to a
critical advisory role in the new Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. He
remained the "mentor" of the Team throughout their tour. In civilian
life, Eversman is a Deputy United States Marshal.
Sergeant Herbert Hale
Driver for General Davidson
Sergeant Hale was Davidson's tactically trained driver. With only two
vehicles issued to the command element, Hale almost always drove
the lead vehicle. One of us was in that vehicle and the rest were in the
second or trail vehicle. Hale successfully completed his tour with the
C.O.B.R.A. Team.
Driver for General Davidson
Sergeant Hale was Davidson's tactically trained driver. With only two
vehicles issued to the command element, Hale almost always drove
the lead vehicle. One of us was in that vehicle and the rest were in the
second or trail vehicle. Hale successfully completed his tour with the
C.O.B.R.A. Team.
Staff Sergeant Kristi Self: "COBRA 5"
Wife of COBRA 2, Kristi extended her first tour to remain in Iraq with
her husband in 2004. She was an experienced combat veteran herself
which is why COBRA 1 dubbed her the "Warrior Princess" as well as
"COBRA 5". While the C.O.B.R.A. Team took care of the general, Kristi
continued her civil affairs duties with the 350th Civil Affairs Command.
Wife of COBRA 2, Kristi extended her first tour to remain in Iraq with
her husband in 2004. She was an experienced combat veteran herself
which is why COBRA 1 dubbed her the "Warrior Princess" as well as
"COBRA 5". While the C.O.B.R.A. Team took care of the general, Kristi
continued her civil affairs duties with the 350th Civil Affairs Command.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Brigadier General
Charles (Sandy) Davidson
Radio call-sign: "Terrier"
General Davidson, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, went to Iraq
as the commanding general of the 350th Civil Affairs Command and
the director of civil-military operations for the Multi-National Forces
Iraq. He was also a graduate of Wofford College, the Command and
General Staff College, the Defense Strategy Course and the Army War
College.
Charles (Sandy) Davidson
Radio call-sign: "Terrier"
General Davidson, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, went to Iraq
as the commanding general of the 350th Civil Affairs Command and
the director of civil-military operations for the Multi-National Forces
Iraq. He was also a graduate of Wofford College, the Command and
General Staff College, the Defense Strategy Course and the Army War
College.
| The C.O.B.R.A. Team |
| COBRA 1: Sergeant First Class Chuck Grist |
The NCOIC, or sergeant in
charge, of the PSD, SFC Grist
was a police officer in Central
Florida, a Vietnam veteran
and an Army Ranger. He is
also a father and grandfather.
charge, of the PSD, SFC Grist
was a police officer in Central
Florida, a Vietnam veteran
and an Army Ranger. He is
also a father and grandfather.
| COBRA 2: Staff Sergeant Aaron Self |
Second-in-command of the
Team, SSG Self is a police
officer in Texas. He is
married to SSG Kristi Self,
who also served in Baghdad.
Team, SSG Self is a police
officer in Texas. He is
married to SSG Kristi Self,
who also served in Baghdad.
| COBRA 3: Sergeant Chad Higginbotham |
SGT Higginbotham was a
police officer in Mississippi
before joining the Team. He
is a combat veteran who
served in Somalia with the
10th Mountain Division.
police officer in Mississippi
before joining the Team. He
is a combat veteran who
served in Somalia with the
10th Mountain Division.
| COBRA 4: Sergeant John (Doc) Actis II |
SGT Actis was a police
officer in Mississippi before
he became the Team medic.
He served as a Navy medic
and is also an actor (as John
Ceallach.)
officer in Mississippi before
he became the Team medic.
He served as a Navy medic
and is also an actor (as John
Ceallach.)
Key Figures in the lives of The C.O.B.R.A. Team
Copyright 2009-2015 by Charles M. Grist. All rights reserved.