Give
Me 100 of this Guy
by Staff Sergeant Sylver, American Fighting Man *
"A Veteran Speaks..."
February 11, 2010
EDITOR'S NOTE: Staff Sergeant Sylver is the pen
name we at TAP have assigned to an American military man currently engaged in
the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. His name is shielded both to protect
his identity, as well as his career. You may contact him by e-mail at letters@american-partisan.com,
where they will be forwarded for his reading.
Every once in a while I get a report and/or witness it personally. This is the story of an Afghan citizen who will be known in this article as KH. These are the initials for this man's nickname which is rather distinct and we who know him agree that endangering his life in any way would both be immoral, and a crime considering his contributions.
KH is approximately 60 years old and works menial labor under a U.S. civilian contractor to do clean up and odd jobs on base. His energy would put most American teenagers to shame. His demeanor actually pushes U.S. Soldiers to become better people and the respect he is given by all who know him would make a four-star General envious. Keep in mind this is a man that will run up in front of a U.S. Marine and pick up trash so the U.S. serviceman does not see an untidy base or camp. If KH sees a U.S. Service member picking up trash he will run over and with hand gestures tell him to stop. KH is grateful to have a job and grateful to have us in his country. If you speak to him through an interpreter, he will thank President George W. Bush for sending us over to his country.
KH's energy is incredible. The other day the soldiers at the gate were overburdened and had to make a Coalition vehicle wait before granting access to the base. KH respectfully walked over to the lift gate and with the signal from a U.S. Soldier raised the lift gate allowing the Coalition vehicle to enter the Camp. KH then returned to his place in line to get permission to leave. Not a single Soldier saw this as out of line.
You may think this is a nice 'warm fuzzy' story about an old man who is grateful for his pay check and trusted by the U.S. forces that know him, but it does go deeper. If you are trusted by KH and are sitting with an interpreter and he is comfortable, you suddenly realize why all the locals old and young respect this man. His stories are confirmed by other locals, KH has probably killed more people than half the Soldiers and Marines he works for combined. This old soldier was a member of the Muhajideen and has "put Russian soldiers in the ground". He loves us here and he wants us here.
If we had 100 guys like KH, RUNNING this country we would never have to deal
with pro-Taliban laws enacted as soon as Bush was out of office. KH loves us
and wants us here. Maybe someday when I am 60, I will have the vigor of this
man and garnish the respect of others as he does. ***
© 2010 Staff Srgeant Sylver
Staff Sergeant Sylver is the
pen name we at TAP have assigned to an American military man currently engaged
in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. His name is shielded both to protect
his identity, as well as his career. You may contact him by e-mail at letters@american-partisan.com,
where they will be forwarded for his reading.. ***
COPYRIGHT
© 2010 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN
All writers retain rights to their work.