Afghanistan Through My Eyes

Two days to go before I begin my trip back into Afghanistan. I am really feeling the pressure, but hope to still get everything done that I have too. Last time it all seemed so surreal that I was strangely calm.

I've been reading up as much as I can on the history of Afghanistan and the Taliban. It's been disheartening to say the least about what has happened to the Afghani people and the role we've tried to play in "the great game".

I'm really looking forward to hooking up with the Army. My oldest brother was in the Army and served in Vietnam. He's never talked to me about it except the one time I asked him and he told me about watching a helicopter disappear in the air in front of him. When he returned from the war he stayed in California where he's lived ever since.

War does things to you that you didn't expect. I never expected to be going into a combat zone at 52 years old...again, but I'll be there writing about it and all the troops I meet and try to find something good about the day. Sometimes it's a good day if you see the sun come up.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - ANA 2011

I was going through my previous blog posts and came upon the post that has had the most hits. It was a video about the Afghanistan National Army written prior to when I went to Afghanistan in January. The video was degrading to the ANA. I know I wrote about the amazing progress and strides in combat preparedness they have made that I personally witnessed, but I thought it would be nice to show it.

I am thrilled to post this video and I encourage you to watch it.

Afghanistan is rising as a shiny star to take control of their county thanks to ISAF, their training, time, effort and money.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes -

By this time next week I will be on my way back to Afghanistan with the 3BCT 25th Division. I am excited and concerned.

Deploying with the troops this time I will be one the ground as our fresh battalions replace other troops who have completed their tours. The question is: With more troops arriving, will they be able to bridge the disconnect between the smaller tactical units, such as the one I was embedded with, with the larger strategic trends?

The feeling in the air is that the US has the manpower and money to hold the ground, but now what? How does this campaign end? Will the handover actually work?

The spring weather will bring the seedlings from the wheat and corn provided by the US and the Taliban...throughout the history of the world, farmers have had difficulty eradicating the weeds because they are able to adapt, they are survivors...

Veteran's Chapter - Dennis E. Hackin

Ho Bo Woods: Although the history of the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment is long and diverse nothing exemplifies the Bobcat’s superior training and expert teamwork quite as well as their actions while operating in the Ho Bo Woods in Vietnam.  During this era the Bobcats conducted so many operations in this area of South Vietnam HHC/1-5 IN came to be known as the “HoBo Hustlers”.  During these years 569 Bobcats paid the ultimate price, including three soldiers who received our nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. 

SGT. DENNIS E. HACKIN: Vietnam 67-68 Charlie Company 1/5 Mech Infantry 25th Division

"Somehow I made it through that year. I saw things I don't want to remember and I wish I hadn't seen. I survived the "Tet Offensive". When the 'trac' I was driving hit a land mine and was flattened like a pancake, my buddies thought I was dead. One of them wrote 'the' letter home telling them what a swell guy I was.

Terry Jones vs The Taliban

What's happened is tragic. Pastor Terry Jones is Christian zealot inciting violence for his beliefs. He expected retaliation, it's what he was seeking. This is the fight of the Taliban. They are Islamic zealots fighting for their way of life. What's wrong about these factions is that while society tries to be respectful of them and let them live and function as they wish...they do not feel the same about society. If you know the history of Afghanistan, this couldn't come a  worst possible time.