It's the 3rd of July, and the fighting in Aghanistan this week has been particularly difficult to digest. While a major push by the Marines into a Taliban stronghold appears to be going successfully, it's not been without its casualties. A Marine was killed yesterday along with several wounded. A roadside bomb killed a senior British military officer.
President Barack Obama is sending more troops indicating a longer mission than anyone might imagined. As I read a report on the AP about the latest push into the opium fields of the south, a military spokesperson said what I've heard from the Illinois Guard troops for the past several months. The purpose of this is not to blast away at the enemy, but to engage leaders of local villages and areas to regain control of the country, piece by piece; to train workers and to reassure the Afghan people they will not be forgotten by this country. Our soldiers are making that happen.
I want to print the letter from another friend of Staff Sgt. Lydia Chen of the Illinois National Guard. As mentioned, Lydia's already signed up for another three years when she returns from Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan. Before I do, I have been able to see some of the dossiers of the Guardsmen. Many have served in Iraq, or South Korea, and many went to assist in New Orleans when Katrina hit. And those I've talked to say they're willing to do it all over again.
It's important to clarify a point about the re-deployment of troops. According to Sgt. Jamie Stroh with the 133rd Combat Brigade, these members want to go back, want to help, want to finish the mission.
I've focused on Lydia because she represents all the young people willing to take on a dangerous but potentially rewarding mission. There are no guarantees in war, about anything. And yet, it doesn't deter the enthusiasm of these brave men and women. They see something bigger than themselves in this. I also want readers to come to know Lydia in a fuller light, and believe the letter from her friend Sabina Syed fills in that picture. Here's the letter:
President Barack Obama is sending more troops indicating a longer mission than anyone might imagined. As I read a report on the AP about the latest push into the opium fields of the south, a military spokesperson said what I've heard from the Illinois Guard troops for the past several months. The purpose of this is not to blast away at the enemy, but to engage leaders of local villages and areas to regain control of the country, piece by piece; to train workers and to reassure the Afghan people they will not be forgotten by this country. Our soldiers are making that happen.
I want to print the letter from another friend of Staff Sgt. Lydia Chen of the Illinois National Guard. As mentioned, Lydia's already signed up for another three years when she returns from Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan. Before I do, I have been able to see some of the dossiers of the Guardsmen. Many have served in Iraq, or South Korea, and many went to assist in New Orleans when Katrina hit. And those I've talked to say they're willing to do it all over again.
It's important to clarify a point about the re-deployment of troops. According to Sgt. Jamie Stroh with the 133rd Combat Brigade, these members want to go back, want to help, want to finish the mission.
I've focused on Lydia because she represents all the young people willing to take on a dangerous but potentially rewarding mission. There are no guarantees in war, about anything. And yet, it doesn't deter the enthusiasm of these brave men and women. They see something bigger than themselves in this. I also want readers to come to know Lydia in a fuller light, and believe the letter from her friend Sabina Syed fills in that picture. Here's the letter:
I've known Lydia since high school - we were friends, but not
really all that close. My sophmore year of college, Lydia transferred
to UIC and contacted me and we really got closer after that. I'd always
known that Lydia was in the National Guard - every few months, she
would have to leave for drills. And even though intelectually, I knew
there was always a chance of her being deployed, I never really thought
it would happen. Lydia never really struck me as the "military" type -
she's very goofy and strange (in the best way). It always suprises me
that there's this completely disciplined side of her - I know she can be
dedicated, since she is a pre-med student and is damn smart, but there
were a lot of times I sort of forgot she was actually in National
Guard.
When Lydia first told me and another friend of ours about going to
Afghanistan, I was pretty shocked. But I think I was more suprised that
she seemed so nochalant about it. Of course, she had been training for
this type of thing for going on four years, but again, I just didn't
think about her actually going there. She seemed so ready and
it was inevitable to her. I was freaked far more than she was,
amusingly enough. But I tried not to show it too much - I mean, she was
the one going there, not me!
I do worry a lot about her, since Im not sure exactly what shes
doing out there. I have kept in touch with her through email and sent
her some care packages.
Lydia is so tough - she has such a high endurance, and I don't
mean just physically. She seems to thrive on stress. Some of my best
memories of us are studying for finals. Lydia would get so gung-ho
about exams - when both of us would be close to burning out, she would
keep being so enthusiastic and perky - it was a combination of annoying
and very funny, but it usually worked. She motivated me so many times
to study - I am a slacker by nature. I can only imagine how she puts
that level of dedication into her service.
I do feel safer knowing shes out there, probaby motivating and annoying our Guard Troops as well.
Actually, I had no idea that Lydia wants to redeploy until you
mentioned it to me. Somehow, I don't find it all that suprising - shes
a born leader. The fact that Lydia and other men and women out there
are choosing to return tells me that they dont take their service
lightly - it isn't just completing a tour, its a responsibility. It
makes me very proud to know a person like that. --Syed
Thank you Lydia, Syed, An, and Helen (Lydia's mother) for sharing your thoughts publically. We need to know that our soldiers are out there everyday trying to make it a better world. Now, as for the politicians...well, that's another story.
Thank you Lydia, Syed, An, and Helen (Lydia's mother) for sharing your thoughts publically. We need to know that our soldiers are out there everyday trying to make it a better world. Now, as for the politicians...well, that's another story.
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