Soldier comes home
Walking Among Us: A Soldier's Account
Colby Williams
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Life
Meeting a lot of soldiers during his deployment, he assessed the attitudes of his fellows-in-arms about this dark reality.
"A lot of soldiers feel like people don't understand all of the issues," he said. "A lot of people have a really strong 'bring the troops home' ethic, but the majority of the troops are fine with what they're doing. They're supportive of the missions, because they believe in them."
He noted that most enlistments are a four-year agreement, and the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.
"So anyone still there must have enlisted or reenlisted after 9/11," he said. "So I assume everyone is in because they support what we're doing."
Most of the soldiers, including this one, realize Afghanistan is accurately called "The Forgotten War." As far as the effort goes, however, he says the Department of Defense does not let them down.
"They're very active and very much doing their side of it," he said. "The public and the media might've forgotten, but we still had living conditions and equipment that was pretty well equal with theirs' in Iraq."
Since most of the violence takes place in Southern Afghanistan or on the border with Pakistan, the bases in Kabul are a relatively pleasant place to stay.
"It was really crowded, but we were at a really nice base that had a lot of things to offer," he said. "It had two gyms, a coffee shop, and a well-stocked PX, which is like a shop. I was fortunate to be at that base."
With his company receiving new missions every day, though, there was little chance to relax.
"Being there is difficult, and you get a little bit calloused and down about everything that's going on," he said. "You get tired and worn out, and there's a level of stress that sets in, and you become really focused on what you're doing. You can't really be emotional about it. You just learn to not fear anything because you're not feeling. There's just a coldness you have to have with that constant stress."
"A lot of soldiers feel like people don't understand all of the issues," he said. "A lot of people have a really strong 'bring the troops home' ethic, but the majority of the troops are fine with what they're doing. They're supportive of the missions, because they believe in them."
He noted that most enlistments are a four-year agreement, and the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.
"So anyone still there must have enlisted or reenlisted after 9/11," he said. "So I assume everyone is in because they support what we're doing."
Most of the soldiers, including this one, realize Afghanistan is accurately called "The Forgotten War." As far as the effort goes, however, he says the Department of Defense does not let them down.
"They're very active and very much doing their side of it," he said. "The public and the media might've forgotten, but we still had living conditions and equipment that was pretty well equal with theirs' in Iraq."
Since most of the violence takes place in Southern Afghanistan or on the border with Pakistan, the bases in Kabul are a relatively pleasant place to stay.
"It was really crowded, but we were at a really nice base that had a lot of things to offer," he said. "It had two gyms, a coffee shop, and a well-stocked PX, which is like a shop. I was fortunate to be at that base."
With his company receiving new missions every day, though, there was little chance to relax.
"Being there is difficult, and you get a little bit calloused and down about everything that's going on," he said. "You get tired and worn out, and there's a level of stress that sets in, and you become really focused on what you're doing. You can't really be emotional about it. You just learn to not fear anything because you're not feeling. There's just a coldness you have to have with that constant stress."
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Adam Givens
Adam Givens
posted 10/15/08 @ 6:40 PM CST
Thank you Colby Williams for serving the American people! I honor the veterans who defend and protect America! I thought that was neat being assigned to be around a general. (Continued…)
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