I am real tired, but I wanted to get a note out because it has been a long time. Some of you may have noticed that a helicopter was shot down in this province. Some 20 American special operations forces are dead. A huge rescue and combat mission was organized with all types of fighting forces. The ANA was used extensively, and nearly our entire battalion took part. Our company was tasked with guarding an American field artillery unit that was forward deployed to support the ground forces. We had been out in the field already for two days searching villages near where a Taliban flag had been raised. We spent 15 more days with the artillery unit. We were tasked with guarding the ridge line above them. One night we were shot at from a long distance by a lone gunman, but that was all the action we saw. Finally they found the last body, and we were able to come home.

It all started when a 4-man Navy Seal team was inserted into the Karangal Valley, a dangerous place. They immediately started taking fire from all sides, and within minutes three were dead. The remaining one dragged their bodies and equipment up a hill and threw it all from a cliff so that the enemy could not get them. Then, he began to run. A rescue helicopter was sent in and got shot down. The Seal kept running for his life. Eventually, wounded and down to just his pistol and a hand grenade, a local Afghan man offered to protect the Seal in his house. Thus, he was saved. There is more to the story, really cool CIA kind of stuff, but I cannot tell you about it until I get home.

Things with the ANA have become real stressful, and I need a break. I can't wait to come home. Unfortunately, now I know for sure that I will not be able to until next February!!! I am so upset about this, but at least I will get a break in September and I can come home for two weeks. I miss you all so much.

The view of the Pesh Valley from our fighting positions

The artillery position below us. When these guns fired it scared everyone in the valley. Many villagers came up to make sure that we weren't going to level their villages. I guess that last couple of wars were a little more brutal than this one is to the local joe.

Me, two of the ANA platoon leaders, and a soldier. Look how dirty we all are, this is about 12 days into the mission.

Afterthought: This was the most stressful moment of my whole tour. During our ridiculously long stay in the Pesh Valley, one of the ANA lieutenants started fighting with his captain. My interpreter was too embarassed to tell me what was going on. Apparrently, they were both having a love affair with the same private--I never did get the full scoop. Then, one of our own soldiers fired his entire magazine into the center of our patrol base. Supposedly, he was just trying to shut up his leaders, but the tracers flew right over our heads and it really bothered me. I didn't get much sleep after that.

To make matters worse, the jackass Colonel of the 82nd Airborne showed up one day with his boat and pony show and yelled at us (Marines, Artifllery, and ETTs) for not shaving. We asked if there was any way he could help us get machine guns and radios that we desperately needed, and he handed out razors. Typical field grade officer--completely WORTHLESS!!!!!