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Afghanistan: ‘It's a battle’

Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:31 AM
Filed Under:

By John Rutherford, NBC News Producer

 WASHINGTON – Two soldiers receiving Purple Hearts at Walter Reed Army Medical Center called Afghanistan a "forgotten war" being fought with not enough troops, supplies or support from the American people.

Army Spc. Jesse Murphree, 20, of Westminister, Colo., lost both legs to a roadside bomb on Dec. 27 in northeastern Afghanistan.

"Every day we were getting shot at," he said in an interview after receiving his Purple Heart on Friday. "And you hear about other people in Iraq, they got shot at a couple of times. We're like, we've been shot at every day.

"You start thinking you're fighting a forgotten war, like no one's paying attention. I went home on R&R before I got hurt and people were coming up to me, they're like, at least you're not in Iraq and stuff, and I was looking at them, and I was like, what? And they'd say, you don't do, they called it battle, they're like, you don't do battle anymore? And I'm like, are you kidding me? Like, yeah, I do," Spc.  Murphree said.

"I know the area our unit's at is definitely hot and definitely feels they're forgotten about, like the people think that Afghanistan is really not a big deal or nothing's really going on. We still got people that are dying, we still got people that are getting hurt."

Army Pfc. Justin Kalenits, 24, of Geneva, Ohio, who was wounded in a Nov. 9 ambush in the Waygol Valley of Afghanistan, echoed Spc. Murphree's sentiments.

"It's a battle," he said. "There's not enough troops there. Need a lot of troops. Our unit's stretched really, really thin. There's not enough stuff. We're doing a lot of fighting over there. We're getting hurt. It's not good. So, I'd like to see it end. Definitely."

Iraq – a different story
Another Purple Heart recipient, Army Cpl. Taylor Harter, 20, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., was more upbeat about the war in Iraq. He was wounded Jan. 19 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

"It's going good," Harter said. "Sometimes when times get hard, you miss your family. You just wish you could go home. At the same time, you know you got to get the mission done."

A fourth Purple Heart recipient, Army Staff Sgt. Kristopher Mitchell, 29, of Calcium, N.Y., who was wounded by a roadside bomb in Kirkuk, Iraq, declined to be interviewed.

John Rutherford is an NBC News Producer based out of the Washington, D.C. bureau and is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He also posts stories on the military at www.dailynightly.msnbc.com (click on "John Rutherford" under "categories") and at http://john-rutherford.newsvine.com/.

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Comments

First, we need to support Afghanistan but the administration seems to have washed their hands of this mess long ago.  Shame to them.  Also, if SSGt Mitchell did not want to comment why did you not respect his privacy? Unless he wanted to be mentioned then I am sorry to be critical.

David Philadelphia, PA (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:26 AM)

Hope we commit and get Afghanistan up and running, get more of that load off our guys.

Ironically most of the enemy in Afghanistan is hiding out in Pakistan now. Pakistan, supposed to be our ally..... Afghans don't like the Taliban any more than anyone else does. They had to live under the bums for some years.

David Powell Ocean City NJ (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:42 AM)

Hope we commit and get Afghanistan up and running, get more of that load off our guys.

Ironically most of the enemy in Afghanistan is hiding out in Pakistan now. Pakistan, supposed to be our ally..... Afghans don't like the Taliban any more than anyone else does. They had to live under the bums for some years.

David Powell Ocean City NJ (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:42 AM)

My hat goes off to those soilders serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have to agree with those soilders who served in Afghanistan as I am here in southern Afghanistan right now. I am not a soilder but a contractor. My wife watches the news every day and askes me how bad can it be, no one every reports of anything happening here. I tell her of the rocket and mortar attacks, IEDs that are set off against Canadian, Dutch, American, British and other troops, the fire fights that the aviation units get invloved in. I don't think America has forgotten these guys, its just not "sensational" news to the media. They got bored with it. The troops over here do a hell of a job with the man power and equipment provided. I've been waching the news( CNN, BBC, Aljazeera) for any reporting on the usual springtime upswing in Taliban activities but none has been reported. Just that the Taliban say they will step up their attacks, well, they have been but not according to the new agencies. Now I see that they all switch to the Pakistan issue. The men and women deserve serving here deserve more than what is given them. This war is far from over here. Guess the reporters don't like to go places like this. Its easier to report from a hotel in Bagdad than the mountains in Afghanistan. Good luck to all those who serve and have served over here. You are what keeps the war where it should be and not on our front door step. That is until the Dems take office. Sorry I cant place my real name here, the agency I work for does not allow it.

John Doe, WV. (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:57 AM)

IT'S A SHAME OUR GOVERNMENT DIDN'T LEARN A LESSON FROM THE RUSSIANS. THEY HAD ESTABLISHED A MUCH, MUCH LARGER FORCE, AND SPENT AROUND 10 YEARS FIGHTING IN AFGANISTAN AND LEFT WHEN THEY HAD THERE EQUIVELANT OF OUR ANTI VIET NAM PROTESTS, AND THERE PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD ENOUGH. HOW STUPID, INCONSIDERATE AND ERRIGANT CAN A GOVERNMENT BE. I'D KICK BUTT IF ANYONE INVADED MY HOME LAND, W/GUNS AND SOLDIERS.

VERY WORRIED!!! (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 11:08 AM)

People are asleep when it comes to the wars.  

Pat San Jose, California (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 11:50 AM)

The war on Terror was in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but, as we've seen, the 'valuable' targets are in Iraq: i.e. flow of oil..........The War on Terror has been and continues to be an excuse to consolidate economic control at the expense of our soldiers.  This administration should be impeached and jailed for crimes against the people of this country.  

Mike, Colorado (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 12:13 PM)

a not so polite version of what the guys in Afghanistan must be thinking with all the focus on Iraq.
http://www.stripes.com/02/nov02/mauldin/pages/_maul02.html
god bless the infantry

c in mt (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 12:48 PM)

anyone who wants to live in freedom with rights better be willing to stand up and fight and work for their freedom in their country or be prepared for slavery and   subjugation  

jb (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 2:28 PM)

God Bless all the troops serving in Afghanistan.  May you have the eye of the eagles and be protected by the wings of angels, to your successful mission. WITH OUR DEEPEST RESPECT AND ETERNAL GRATITUDE,

darlene , Farmington, New Mexico (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 3:38 PM)

I AM THE PROUD MOTHER OF A AMERICAN SOLDIER WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING RIGHT NOW. AND A PROUD SISTER OF AMERICAN SOLDIER WHO HAS DONE TWO TOURS ALREADY AND GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER ONE.MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL AGES WHO HAVE PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE TO GIVE ALL OF US BACK HOME THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE.WE ALSO NEED NOT FORGET ANY OF YOU WHO AREN'T ABLE TO BE HOME HOLDING YOUR SPOUSE OR HOLDING YOUR CHILDREN OR BEING WITH A FRIEND OR ANY OF YOUR LOVED ONES AND WE NEED NOT FORGET ANYONE WHO HAS LOST THERE LIVES OR WHO ARE STILL IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN OR ANY PART OF THE WAR ANYWHERE THERE.
A BIG HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU I APPRECIATE IT.MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

R.T. (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 4:28 PM)

I praise and support our troops in Afghanistan. It is outrageous when all I hear about is the war in Iraq. Maybe some people do not realize that Bush did not declare war in Afghanistan, yet we have been there since October 2001. IRONIC. Also if you have not served in Afghanistan, you have no idea how little our men and women get. There is not enough support, supplies and love for them. My brother passed away in Afghanistan in August of '06. We would send him and his battalion care packages all the time, yet when we received his belongings back from Afghanistan, there were picture after pictures of them day in and day out hooked up to IV's because of dehydration and lack of supplies. I can’t even begin to tell you all how heart broken I get every time I hear of another fallen soldier. It breaks me down, yet, I think maybe at the end we will succeed somewhere and make some progress or movement for people over there. Then I think we went to fight a war for someone’s dad. Revenge is never good, trying to fight your dads battle will get you know where.
Before my brother passed, he said, we could have come home along time ago if someone else was elected and he was not reelected, but we are afraid of the new. We go with what we are familiar with. He told me to look back and see when the last time a president only served one term.
I cry thinking about it. My brother and his brothers and sisters love there country so much, they listen to what they are told to do.
No we have lost some at the ultimate price.
God rest all of our fallen soldiers, and may God be with those still there.

A Hero's Big Sister (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 4:33 PM)

Remind us why we need to support two(2)failed colonization attempts? The "troops" are volunteer, paid extra for combat and can't gain promotion except in times of war. They helped steer us into the twin nightmares,they wanted it more than anyone, let them deal with the consequences. They want to go be boy scouts with guns and shoot some indigenous peasants then they get their ass kicked. And now they want to whine. We killed 5 million Southeast Asians during our little foray into Indochina and I don't hear them bitching. I do not support Colonialism, I support withdrawal. If it truly was a Democracy then the troops would have to accept partial victory in The East and come home. Now! not in 50 years. But due to the fact that they no more represent me ( a tax paying citizen )than a flying pig, they are on an illegal expedition that only they(and the war profiteers) support. Its the Army's folly , let the Army suffer the consequences. Vietnam sucked, this is way worse.

David Andrew Crosby Vail, CO (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 4:37 PM)

My son just graduated from the Marines.He said he would like to go to Afghanistan to his part.God bless the US Marine.

Kurt Goeman Kewaskum WI (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:12 PM)

My son just graduated from the Marines.He said he would like to go to Afghanistan to his part.God bless the US Marine.

Kurt Goeman Kewaskum WI (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:13 PM)

to "very worried"
Its easy to critize or military and the situation in Afghanistan from the sidelines...the truth is that enitire region is like an ungoverned wild west. We didnt invade them for no reason, incase you forgot Al Qaeda was born in Afghanistan and makes it home there. We were attacked first by Al Qaeda and we are at war and Afghanistan is the theater for those reasons. I spent some time there myself and my aircraft came under fire and the base came under attach weekly. Its still very much a warzone...and we should be there. We are doing a hell of a job with limited resources and limited support from our "Allys" in NATO who are not living up to their end of the bargain.

Jason (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:19 PM)

after reading these I am a granmother worry ,why my grandson with 19 years is in a mission there?

gloria cruz (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:33 PM)

after reading these I am a granmother worry ,why my grandson with 19 years is in a mission there?

gloria cruz (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:36 PM)

I suspect that the anti-war sentiment, as well as lack of support for our troops (both in Afghanistan and Iraq) is the product of several different factors. One that I get a little hung up on is that, as Americans, it seems many of us have forgotten what real sacrifice is about. Look at how Desert Storm got played out in the media: it was a nice, "push-button" little war where the biggest thing our troops had to worry about was friendly fire.

I got the feeling, just after 9-11, when people across the country were screaming for blood and vengeance, that they all figured it'd be that same type of "easy" war. The troops would go over there and hang out while our stealth bombers, smart bombs and cruise missiles would blow up everything even remotely enemy. Then, they'd walk in, liberate some villages, and come home.

President Bush *did* tell us the war would be a long, hard one. I don't envy anyone who has had a friend or loved one go to war, but as terrible a thing as war is, it is *not* a quick, easy thing. Our troops are committed to sticking it out to the end. Why can't we be? We might miss them while they're gone, but honestly, who is suffering more? The guys on the ground, or we who are back here in our comfort zones?

We do have power, as voting citizens, to make changes if we really, truly want to. We *can* get our boys (and ladies, now) the support they need, if we want it enough to actually do something about it.

Stan Johnson, SLC, Utah (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:44 PM)

its a shame, you look at world war 2 and the pacific was treated the same way, while everything was focused on the atlantic, its not right both afghanistan and irag should have all the equipment they need, yes its about oil. our government is so out of touch with reality it really sucks. It has become politics as usual not about winning. If we used all of our military properly and got out asap we wouldn't be in this mess.  I am a vet from the sixties, i hate politics. Its all about the oil thats all not about the troops, bush really screwed up as usual

dave st louis mo (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 5:51 PM)

My good friend came back from Afghanistan last month on leave and he told us to send lots of food. They do not have enough food to eat. He has lost lots of weight just being there. He also told stories of not having enough Ammo when they go out on patrol. He called it a forgotten war. He was especially upset when on the way home he stopped in Atlanta and some people there didnt know we were fighting in Afghanistan. Its unfortunate our boys over there are not being treated very well by our government.

Armando, Phoenix Arizona (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:03 PM)

jb,you are so right.Our country is so caught up in every nation that has oil.We are turning our backs on people who are being starved to death,hacked to death,(GENOCIDE)We,as a free nation promised the world we would never let that happen again.Well we have,all in the name of oil.The very comodity that will bring this country to it's knees.Our troops are dying out of pure greed.That's right we invaded afghanistan in the name of BIN LADIN?Now What?...We leave them behind.Now IRAQ..Then IRAN ?Why don't we get off the oil go-round as a world.Every nation knows by now  what will happen if we as a world dosn't stop this oil maddness.We are all the same ducks,sitting in the same boat.I don't speak for anyone else,but we have lost over 4000 troops in iraq.ENOUGH ALREADY!!We need our troops home.America needs to secure it's boarders,limit it's trade agreements with nations that condone genocide and abolish big goverment.FREEDOM IS NOT FREE,But it also is not for sale.And GOD bless anyone seeking or fighting for PEACE AND FREEDOM IN THE WORLD.

bella brown,sequim wa (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 7:10 PM)

this war should have never happend in the first place. it should have ended in desert storm...i do beleive we should fight for our freedom but this war is jus rediculous! i am soon joining the army after i graduate, i did have slight hopes that this would be ended by then but ive given up on our troops coming home anytime soon.........

cobra, plano tx (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 8:01 PM)

John Doe, MV,  I agree with a lot of things you said, but when you say and I quote:

"You are what keeps the war where it should be and not on our front door step. That is until the Dems take office"

You are confusing who's is trying to keep the war where it should be fought.  Bush took all the resources away from Afghanistan and transferred it to Iraq for an unnecessary war.  The dems are trying to reverse that illogical war and redeploy the troops to where they are mostly needed to go after Osama Bin Laden who is still at large in the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Even President Karzai was complaining that if he has some of the resources that US has spent in Iraq, his country would of delivered a big blow in the war on terrorism.  The dems are trying to bring the fight back to Afghanistan where it started from.  Stop bashing them when they are trying to fight the right war on terror in Afghanistan and not in Iraq.  

Badmola, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 8:06 PM)

My husband who I adore, love and care is serving in Afghanistan, many people tell me that he will be okay, that not much happens there. It's not true, it seems we hear more about Iraq than anything. Our Soldiers in Afghanistan are also at risk and they are putting their lives out there for a better America. We need to support everyone our husbands, brothers, sisiters, mother and fathers!

GOD bless our soldier.... GOD bless America!

Claudia from Alex, VA (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 8:20 PM)

jb is an absolute retard. i wonder what he's done to "stand up and fight and work" for anybody's freedom?

cs searcy (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 8:51 PM)

cs searcy, Harrodsburg, KY (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 8:52 PM)

Heroin production is at it's highest levels in recorded history in that country... What are you all going on about ?

Another idiot, NC (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 9:00 PM)

You are our SOLDIER ROCKS that our country leans on for Freedom and Safety around the world.  Politics are put aside when you become soldiers and give it your all for the USA.  My ancestor was in the revolutionary war, father in Vietnam, husband in Iraq, friends fighting the war on drugs, terrorism, all over the world.  USA SOLDIERS ROCK!!!
PS I wrote a song called Soldier Rock to boost morale and appreciation for all that you do.

BRENDA B, KANSAS CITY, MO (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:01 PM)

It's sad that 9 people had anything to say about this. It's embarrasing how easy the people can have the wool pulled over their eyes and this war has been swept under the carpet and never heard of again. The media has made it to easy to hypnotize America. Thank you John Rutherford for letting them publish this for you.

Brian, Fort Worth, Texas (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:13 PM)

I dont know why our 150,000+ US soldiers were still in Iraq. All we had to do is train thier soldiers say 400,000 Iraqi soliers to solve thier own countrie's terrorist problems on thier own country. We should be in Pakistan and Afganistan to get Osama bin ladin , his deputies, and Omar were residing. Now how dificult can that be? What a moron. What ever happen to our military strength if we can't get Osama bin ladin and his deputies?`And knowing where they are already? I'd say ....

RB (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:26 PM)

I live in the Midwest. The only local paper is the Des Moines Register. Ninety % of the MidEast stories are (AP) credited. DM Register, (AP), NY Times, LA Times, WSJ: read: liberal, anit-war. No stories from the Christian Science Monitor or independent correspondants. No logical questions of how the war is being run. Only references to anti-Bush, it's all about oil, no weapons of MD. The standard communist propaganda line. It took us so dang long to get our troops over there. How long would it have taken to load the trucks w/ WMDs? And 2 days to transport them to Iran -- or less. It was the CIA that advised Bush of the weapons -- yet we never hear of that in the news. It's always Bush's fault. Why didn't we use paratroopers to block what few key roads there were out of Iraq? You youngsters don't remember that it was the CIA who recruited Cuban Freedom Fighters. And trained them. And planned their landing on Cuban soil. Our Navy was ordered to supply offshore bombard-ment. Our Air Forces were to supply ground support. Then the CIA reported to the Kennedys that Russia was going to enter the fray if we supplied support to the Cubans. While the landing boats were approaching the beaches, all of our support was called off. Russian fighters slaughtered/wiped out the landing troops. Castro got rid of the dissenters. The United States was made to look like a paper tiger. (It would be quite militarily irrational for Russia to get into a cat fight that far from their neares supply bases.

Don, Central, Midwest (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:28 PM)

God Bless our Troopers in Afghanistan! God bless the families left behind.  Thank you from one former soldier to those serving now.

Where's the center of gravity of the enemy in Afghanistan? In Pakistan perhaps... then go attack it and destroy it.  Best beef up the HUMINT dimension.
Hit the poppy fields while you're at it. Next, ask the folk in Afghanistan (urban and countryside bedouins) what they think is important to them and for their county and make that happen.

RP, Mead, WA (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:31 PM)

God bless the men and women who serve this great nation, most of all my son who serves in the navy. Keep up the good work all of you.And I for one have not forgotten Afghanistan. Airborne!!!!

Kevin Lyons , Ankeny Iowa (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:39 PM)

Its a shame we have'nt solve our problems in Iraq up to now. With our military might its been 5 years now and we have'nt finish our mission in Iraq. WE have'nt caught Osama and his deputies.We should be in Pakistan and Afganistan where Osama and is deputies was last seen by our operatives and news media. We should train soldiers from troops from Iraq government and Afganistan government, and maybe if we know the new pakistan prime minister well they might even solve our terrorism problems. We should consider solving and protecting our country and people as our top priority.

Roland B. (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:41 PM)

100% agree with Darlene's sentiment.

R B Heaney Little Ferry NJ (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:43 PM)

I currenrtly enlisted in the army an I currently hear good things an bad things constantly its like I cant shake it I feel that people need me overseas but also here!

Banks, Cincinnati OH (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 10:56 PM)

Too all our armed forces, God Bless you, your doing your jobs and doing it with courage that we should all be proud of. Remember the only the ones that are protesting on our streets are those that haven't the guts to stand up and fight, I would love to see them try to protest on the streets of Bagdad or in Afganistan. GOD BLESS ALL OUR ARMED FORCES.  

John G Boehler Vancouver, Wa. USA (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 11:18 PM)

My hat is off to you guys, I feel that after all they have sacrificed, we can't just call it quits.  We did that in Nam, I hope that is a lesson we have learned and that we don't repeat it.  I have 9 buddies from my tour there on the wall and I often wonder if the vets of this war will have to suffer the same forgotteness we all went thru because we can't see a cause through once we start it.  You 11B's are always on my mind, you are not forgotten.

Matt Flikkema, Belgrade, MT (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 11:22 PM)

i want to live in freedom and have rights. i am willing to stand up and fight for my freedom and this country. that is exactly why i oppose the current administration in the white house and all they have done to the detriment of these rights and freedoms.

harper kansas (Sent Monday, March 31, 2008 11:34 PM)

My son leaves on Sunday for Afghanistan. What are you (Mr. Rutherford) going to do to bring more light to this war? They will need the same support that we give to the soldiers in Iraq. When will we see this on the news on a daily basis. This war is not "forgotten" by me I live it daily. Semper Fi!

VPM, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:08 AM)

Is Afghanistan another Korea, a Forgotten War that so many men went thru, some lived, some died, some came home to happy lives, others came home to homeless lives. Wake up America, those men and women in Afghanistan are our kids, our loved ones and the future of our country. God Bless Them All and bring them home safely.

Being a vet of the Viet Nam conflict, I am appalled that "so few are doing so much for so many". We are a nation of 3 billion people and only a precious few have enlisted to do the dirty jobs that only a war can provide. My Father died in WW2 and my first cousin in Korea, they must be rolling over in their graves with the unpatriotic attitudes of our country.Sadly, I have friends some of who served and some of who didn't, but their general attitude is not to let their kids get involved. Oh yeah, they'll fly the flag and talk about how great our service personnel are, (and they are correct on that point), but none of them will stand up and take a stand to help our troops out. I don't want to hear about the "care packages" although they are appreciated. Support Our Troops and tell young people to enlist, no matter what the job, just enlist and take some burden off our troops in Afghanistan.

Afterall, isn't that where "Osama the bllodstained sheet head" went to hide????????????

LES (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:13 AM)

JB - while you're technically right in saying that anyone who wants to live in freedom needs to be willing to fight to protect it, it doesn't justify the war in Iraq. The invasion of Iraq isn't protecting our freedom, it's jeopardizing it. 'Freedom isn't free' is really just a cheap slogan the GOP pushes us in an attempt to convince us that anyone who disagrees with them isn't patriotic. But if you really do mean what you say, you should be fighting Bush - he's the one who's ttrampling over our constitutional rights.

Tom (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:18 AM)

dr d in the hartland (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:40 AM)

Michelle, Peoria AZ (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:56 AM)

I am ashamed of the news and the focus of our country. I dont here the dem,s finding a solution to the war in afghanistan. Nbc or msnbc dose not give updates or interview people with a gameplan to the war.This is all going to get worse with the new government of paistan.We reacted to an attack on our country by these nutters.So lets give our thanks to the people who are protecting us.I here alot of simpothy for the terrost countrys today.WE are not the cause of fighting in the world we are the solution.Look at africa.We have not been involved in that contanent by force.The un has . What a Poster child for world police that is.I guess what i am saying is we do not always make the right choices as a country to solve world supresion and slavery but we try.Lets support our troops. And if you can come up with real solutions other than watching people live in these conditions then say so.Or shut you mouth.

dr d in the heartland (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:00 AM)

I fully agree with the wounded soldier from Afghanistan.  I was on R&R also and was always asked about Iraq.  I too just looked at them like are you serious and told them i was fighting in the "forgotton war", .  Our unit was spread thin and for 16 months.  Went without t.v the whole time, we even had to sleep on 3/4 plywood for like 6months due to they took our cota away.  We never got mail like they do in iraq, even had to take 3min showers due to lack of water.  Im about to go back over again this time to Iraq and see 1st hand how much better they have it with everything or there.  In my mind i think that if you can go to stores and use cell phones like they do in Iraq well you shouldnt get paid extra.  But if you live like we had to you should get paid more.

kenneth werner, clearfield, iowa (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:00 AM)

My husband just returned from a 15 month deployment in Afghanistan, his second tour there.  I can't tell you how many time people told me "At least he isn't in Iraq!"  His unit came home without several guys that left with them.  I didn't feel "lucky" until I saw his plane land yesterday.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of our military and their families, especially those in Afghanistan.  The fact that they don't get any attention makes it extremely difficult when you are the family left behind and you know what is REALLY going on there.  God bless and God speed...  

Army wife, Peoria, AZ (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:01 AM)

My Brothers on his second hitch in afganistan and was recently home on leave and I can tell you that the stories he told leave little doubt that the fighting there is over or even close to it.  In fact for the last four years the fighting has progressively gotten worse. Each tour(he's in the airborne and was relieved by the tenth mtn. before this tour) has seen records set not only in firefights but also in casualties suffered-this hardly signifies a downturn in violence.  The causes of this are numerous, notably the poppy eradication program that destroys farmers crops and turns them against us but also the lack of troop strength and support to maintain a strong presence in all the lawless areas of the country.  There are areas where every time they go on patrol casualties are suffered there.  While most people know nothing of what goes on in Afganistan, I worry every day for his safety and feel my stomach drop every time his wife or my mother call me. Long live America and the Airborne and god bless all that fight for our freedom but this is where the whole war on terror started and it should be the sight of our first victory over those who want to see the destruction of America.  3200 Marines recently arrived but from the sounds of it thats about 20000 troops to few.  Lets hope that apathy at home doesnt result in the same situation as the Russians faced in the 80's.

DR, Billings,MT (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:03 AM)

To all the men and women serving this great county. This is one very worried American that pictures Viet Nam vividly all over again. May the grace of God bless you, the wings of Angels protect you, the aura of saftey surround you and bring you home safe from harm. We hear the phrases of Duty, Honor, County - but I prefer it this way God, Family, Intregity. May all of you where ever you are stationed be blessed and protected.

William Sprague (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 1:20 AM)



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