I was up there to work on an ASOC air to ground system that had been giving us lots of problems.
The frenetic search for Navy SEAL "Lone Survivor" Marcus Luttrell was on-going. I was not involved in the effort, but I talked with those who were when I had to go into the Joint Operations Center to troubleshoot and test the operator console end of the communications system I was working on. It added extra urgency to what we were doing.
I also stood on the flightline that evening, with everyone else, tears in our eyes and saluting, as they loaded the flag draped caskets containing the bodies of the SEALS who had died trying to rescue Petty Officer Luttrell. The Taliban had a golden BB moment, shooting a rocket into the open door of the helicopter before the rescuers could unload. It was the greatest single-day loss of Special Forces troops in the history of the United States.
 |
| Navy SEAL Petty Officer Danny Dietz |
I was just a support troop, but I was there. Regardless of what the critics say, our efforts there were noble. Like every war, the politicians screwed it up. Our fighting forces were tactically brilliant but our government was strategically stupid. Getting the hell out does no disrespect to those who have fought and died there. They were selfless heroes who fought to give Afghans a shot at a better life. We did our part and it's not our fault if the people failed to grasp the opportunity we presented them.
Mark Steyn sums up my feelings. We should leave...
...the mullahs, warlords, poppy barons, and pederasts to have at each other without the distraction of extravagant NATO reconstruction projects littering their beautiful land of charmingly unspoilt rubble.After the C-17 took off with the caskets, I wandered by the pax terminal and took this picture of the back wall. I don't know who painted it, but it sums things up beautifully
Caption:
This is a tribute to all who have fallen during Operation Enduring Freedom
Live a life worthy of their sacrifice.
Amen
