Afghanistan from an American perspective cannot be discussed separately from the events of September 11, 2001. The images of passenger planes being steered into the Twin Towers, people looking on in awe while others jumped to their death out of desperation, as a nation was left speechless with each act of the macabre requiem, the curtain closing in a torrent of dust and debris. Our country had been attacked, our citizens killed, and our sense of safety and security forever changed. It was a moment when we all stood together, unified by the principles that we otherwise took for granted, looking inward instead of outward, finding new meaning in what it was to be American. Seven years later we are still fighting, as the memories of 9-11 fade and our reasons for being here in Afghanistan become less clear. Yet for some, that day in New York City will always be a pain felt in the depths of their souls.

To prepare for a three month embed, I took time to sketch out my story. I wanted to look at the region around Gardez, in eastern Afghanistan, that was of central importance to one of the major battles post 9-11. My interest was in comparing the stories of those that were there to the war we are fighting today. What do the soldiers see and feel? What is the war to them today? What was it then? Is it still connected to 9-11, or has it become just another deployment, another part of their job? And most importantly, what was the victory we sought during those early days of the war, and what are seeking today? Per Army Public Affairs doctrine, soldiers are their voice, and in my opinion, one of the best ways of establishing an understanding of our war in Afghanistan from those that live it first hand.

I was greeted at the entrance gate to Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan by two soldiers of the New York National Guard. Within a few minutes the Public Affairs Officer greeted me and helped me with my bags as we walked to the "Welcome Center" near the center of the base. Arrangements were made for my room as we sat down to get to know each other over coffee and review my embed. As our conversation progressed, I realized I had overlooked a key element of this story, the individual soldiers of the New York National Guard. Not only was 101st Airborne deployed to Afghanistan, with members that were part of the early days of the war, New York National Guard soldiers that had been on duty during he first hours of 9-11 were also part of the current deployment. It was a story angle of unprecedented historical precedence, and one I had to move on quickly.

The story of the New York National Guard unit that responded to the events of 9-11 at ground zero is moving. They were all members of 1/69th Infantry, also known as the "Fighting Irish." As I was to learn, that unit was never mobilized, but mobilized themselves in response to what was happening to their city. As one young "Fighting Irish" soldier later told me, "I saw the plane hit, I ran into my house and grabbed my uniform. I just knew that I needed to be there." So it went for the rest of his unit, as they all assembled at ground zero to do what was needed. It is a response that only National Guard soldiers can make and appreciate, since they are bound to the needs of both their State and the country.

The two soldiers I interviewed that evening were returning home the next morning. They willingly spoke with me, as I listened to their stories of what they witnessed and felt, and what this war meant to them. The words of my mentor worked themselves through my thoughts as I tried to hold back tears, "there is calm behind the lens," but those words were not strong enough this time to keep the tears back. As that young "fighting Irish" soldier began to finish, tears welling in his eyes, he said what most soldiers feel, "I just do my job. I put my pants on like everybody else. I just do a job that is a different than the rest."

He and his unit returned home the next morning.

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