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October 2008
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There were no fireworks last night. In the early hours of the morning, on the edge of the runway, sat a US Air Force cargo plane with its rear door open, its ramp resting on the ground. From the shadows, over the gravel and between the chain link fence, soldiers from all nationalities began to assemble. On one side the Americans formed, on the other, soldiers from the various nationalities here on this base... British, Canadian, French, Romanian, Dutch and Australian. Along side of the Americans stood a group of soldiers representing the Afghan National Army. At the the head of the formation near the open back of the C-117, two flags could be seen drifting slowly in the early morning breeze; one was American, the other Afghan. As the soldiers continued to file in, audible commands could be heard over the noise of the flight line. The soldiers were brought into two unified formations, set in straight lines front to back and side to side, then left in a standing rest while they waited. A walkway divided them in the center. As early morning moved to the twilight hours before sunrise, a vehicle could be seen driving up the runway. Its lights pierced the darkness as it drove under the aircraft wing and along side of the assembly of men and women. Making a hard right turn at the end of the formation, two soldiers could be seen sitting in the open back with a flag draped coffin between them; inside the casket lay the body of a fallen American soldier. The vehicle backed in slowly towards the formation, coming to a stop a few feet from its end. The first two soldiers stepped out, boots touching the ground in unison. They were followed by six more. Standing together at attention, four on each side, the casket was removed from the back of the truck. Taking a firm grip on the handles hidden under the "Stars and Stripes," they made a precision right face, and began slowly walking towards the plane. With the men and women of uniform lined on each side, the procession marched slowly forward, as all of the soldiers were brought to attention and saluted in a final farewell to a fallen comrade. Behind the procession marched a lone Canadian. He volunteered his time, as he does for every one of these ceremonies. Playing the bag pipes, his music cut through the noise of aircraft and equipment, settling in on the hearts for all to hear. A moment of silent tears and introspection. The casket and its handlers moved forward, and the bag pipes followed, rising up onto the ramp, disappearing deep into the cargo hull of the craft. A crew of US Air Force personnel stood at attention, raising a salute as the flag draped coffin was set to rest. The soldiers returned to their vehicle, the bag pipes were laid to rest, as the rear door of the cargo plane was lowered and closed. The formation was dismissed. Some would say that war is political... I would say war is a reality of our kind; and that soldiers live within that, void of allegiances to anything other than their belief in the ideals of their country and their mission, to the hope of coming home alive, and to the desire of being respected for what they do. They live in the moment because moments change so unexpectedly. Perhaps that is more in touch with the realness of life. Fourth of July. Independence day. For many it was just another day. When Specialist Fish of Bravo Security Forces was asked what he thought of being in Afghanistan on this day, he had to look at his watch to verify the date. His reaction wasn't unique; the day in so many ways was just another day. Back home in the parks and backyards of America, people gathered to celebrate. On the tables would have been the traditions of the day... barbecued chicken, hot dogs, potato salad and apple and cherry pie. For those back home it was a day to recognize the country, prosperity, and the friends, family and community that had gathered around. Fireworks would follow as the evening settled to darkness. The clean-up would be left to the next day, as garbage bags full of paper plates, napkins and plastic utensils would be tied and set to rest on the curb. Here in Afghanistan those memories were part of every American soldier's day. Loved ones and family that they are separated from were in their thoughts as they performed their duty of service thousands of miles away from home. Yet, for these soldiers that I'm with, these memories were even more real. As members of the National Guard and Reserves, each one of these soldiers is directly connected to the thousands of communities back home. And for each of them, being here in Afghanistan is their part of their belief of ensuring that there will be many more July 4th's to come.
Afghanistan is about September 11, 2001. The actions here are at the core of "the war on terror." It is an operation that is sanctioned by the international community and supported in the hearts of nearly everyone that is here. Never is that more clear than in the assembly of nations in those early morning hours who bid farewell to a fallen American soldier. Following 9-11 we were a different country. We took time to be with one another. We took time to recognize those that had less. For a time, we grew up. However, as our involvement expanded into Iraq, the focus and reasons for Afghanistan fell from our thoughts and discussions. As a country we focussed our attention instead on the motives and reasons for a second war. What we found were questions, not answers. Questions of intent, truths, political integrity, and corporate and personal agendas. Yet, all the while Afghanistan remained; the only internationally sanctioned war of the two. As I was writing, a young officer by the name of Capt. Beatty passed by my desk. "Do you know why I am here?" He turned and faced me. "I had left the Oregon Army National Guard by 2001. Then there was 9-11. I picked up the phone and called the state headquarters. By 13 September 2001 I had re-enlisted." His story was a reminder of that day back in September, and of this day of 4 July. The understanding that what we have does not come without a cost. For so many of these soldiers, those memories are still very alive, and being here in Afghanistan is part of a greater dream of serving their country on a mission who's roots are grounded in purpose and clear intentions. To do so, everyone of these soldiers commits to risk and sacrifice; and, they do so not for themselves, but in the belief that they are making a difference for all of the American's back home. Earlier in the day, I sat with a group of Army National Guard Embedded Trainers (ETTs) at a farewell lunch that had been prepared by members of the Afghan National Army. It was a tribute to all of the work that this outgoing group had done, and a welcome for the new group that was here to replace them. Afghans are an interesting people. Their history has given them different ways of seeing the world, a point that is often challenging to the Americans that work with them. However, Afghans understand some things far better that we do ourselves. That was made clear in the final part of the speech..."We thank you for the sacrifice that you have made to come here and help us rid our country of the Taliban and to make our two worlds a safer place...We will miss you, but also understand that your families have missed you as well...We wish you well and hope that we will meet again." Videos: Click here for video page Archived blogs: RSS feed: Click here Copyright, Scott Kesterson- 2006 7 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Hi, Scott: Wanted to thank you for your outstanding blogsite. It is one of the best I've seen so far. I'm a connoisseur of military blogs; they are the only way we can find out what's going on over there, as we sure don't get the straight scoop from the news media here at home. Your July 5th journal entry was particularly poignant; just a beautiful piece of writing that exquisitely captured the moment. I hope you'll keep writing, because we'll keep reading. God bless you for caring and for doing what you do in giving our troops the respect and moral support they so richley deserve.
I am deeply moved by what I have just read. It was incredibly well done and said so much, so well. I would dispute only one thing - it is not the forgotten war except by the press, yourself excepted. Americans want to hear and know and support. Thank-you for giving us not just what we want but what we need.
Please don't let our soldiers work be forgotten.
Thank you for your reporting. Your work and sacrifice is also appreciated by many.
Scott, thank you for your continual blog on this important mission into Afghanistan. Both my children are presently serving on this year long deployment and though I hear from them on a fairly regular basis, we enjoy your honest and indepth perspective as well.
Just wanting you to know there are many reading your articles and along with the blessing we send out to our family members, we hold you in our prayers as well.
My son (Air Force) is serving in Afghanistan. I sent him the link to your blog (it was exactly what he has been telling me) and this was in his email weekly update to friends and family - thank you.
My mom sent me a great article from a blog on the KGW news website from back home in Portland, and it was great to read it. it was called the forgotten war. I recommend you all going to that site and finding that blog and reading it. It will not be a waste of time.
Thank you Scott ,thank you for covering a story that a lot of media in Canada for some strange reason do'nt seem to want to bother with.
I find myself humbled by my nation's troops,they are truly our finest.
Scott, I just wanted to thank you for your great blog. I'm currently at Fort Riley, KS where the MTT's are now being trained. I'll be going to RC South in January as a member of a BDE ETT and thus far we've been living in an information vaccuum. Your blog and your videos have been the only real insight into what we can expect and they have proved quite insightful indeed. NGIC came this past week and briefed us on "the threat situation" and I can honestly say that I did not take anything away from the hours of mind numbing briefs, yet sitting down to read your blog seems to fill the information void that I've got and bring me the insight that I desire. Thanks for filling that hole for me and telling a great story in the process! Stay safe and take care.
CPT Joshua Thompson