On a dusty, lifeless brown patch of earth that’s located near Kandahar, Afghanistan, American soldiers from North Carolina’s 82d Airborne Division are in the middle of a ferocious fire-fight. The Taliban insurgents that they fight are danger-close. In other words the enemy is within 100 meters of the unit’s fighting perimeter. Rounds fired from enemy small arms whistle past the soldiers as they aggressively return fire and defend their position.



Without thought of personal safety, soldiers functioning intermediately as warrior and medic tend to their wounded buddies. In between the fire-fight ammo checks are conducted and adjustments to weapons are made.

Because of their youth, the vast majority of these soldiers back home would be called young man and young lady by their elders, war however, strips away any titles that suggest innocence, so instead of calling them “kid” we call them Private, Specialist, Sergeant and Lieutenant. On the battlefield they are under the continuous stress of staying alive and keeping their buddy alive as well.

As the soldiers fight to stay alive, they sometimes pause and wonder if they’ve been forgotten like yesterday news by the folks back home that at times appear to be oblivious to their sacrifice.

Embedded with a unit from the 82d Airborne, MSNBC’s Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel has provided Americans with new video that show both the intensity and the pain of our American heroes as they fight to defend that dusty, lifeless brown patch of earth near a town named Kandahar.

The video speaks in volume about camaraderie, devotion and pain. If this video only reminds you for a day about those who uphold the American traditions of Duty, Honor and Country, then the video has done its job.

To all of the young men and young women of our American Armed Forces who make daily sacrifices beyond our comprehension….Good Night and God Bless. There’s a yellow ribbon tied around an old oak tree with your name written on it.




Gregory Boyce


Come Home Safe Soldiers , your wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are waiting for you.



Huah



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