On Veterans Day...

Today is a special day for me, it is every year. 

As a combat veteran this is a day to remember family and friends, both alive and those that have passed that served our great nation. It is a time to reflect on days that seem like forever ago, but will forever be etched in my mind. It is a day to call, text, or email buddies and say a quick hi and it is a day to thank other veterans like my Dad and Father-in-law for their service. Serving our nation in the military was one of the greatest honors of our lives. 

My team is pictured above - Top L-R: SGT Craig Tomko, Me, SSG Rich Colvin, SSG Emmanuel Sabir, Bottom L-R: SPC Travis Jackson, SPC Andrew Weaver, and SPC Brian Roberts

It was an honor to serve alongside some of the finest people I have had the privilege of knowing in my life. We have gone separate ways over the years but we try to keep up on Facebook and LinkedIn. It is always nice to see their faces, their growing families, and to know they are ok. These are friendships that are forged under the most extreme pressures and experiences and will always transcend differing opinions on life and political views. These are brothers and sisters that on days like Veterans Day are reminded of what's really important in life.

I had a 16 person detachment upon arrival in Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan November 1, 2002. After a couple of days of in-processing and collecting ammo and supplies, we deployed 3 teams of 3 person PSYOP teams to remote firebases and safehouses to support Special Forces ODA teams. I would not see them for a year. We gathered one last time as a detachment, said a prayer for safety and success and shook hands as each team walked to the airfield to await their helicopter ride to their new home.

Myself and SSG Rich Colvin were the Officer in Charge (OIC) and the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the remaining 7 person PSYOP team. We were assigned first to the 19th Special Forces Group and later to 3rd Special Forces Group at the Kabul Military Training Center.

Team picture outside of a cave complex - December 2002 timeframe

Our mission was to work with the Special Forces to train and then take the Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers on combat confidence missions throughout the country.

Pictured with me are some of the first ANA soldiers trained and then deployed to Khost, Afghanistan to help stabilize that part of the country.

Our missions allowed us to see many parts of Eastern Afghanistan - Kabul, Pole-charki, Surobi, Jalalabad, Gardez, Khost, and many other places in-between as we trained the ANA to someday be a force that could support the defense of people of Afghanistan.

Today on Veteran's Day, I thank the soldiers that I have served with in peacetime and in Afghanistan. I would like to specifically thank my detachment that I worked with in Afghanistan - SSG Rich Colvin (now retired 1SG Colvin), SSG Emmanuel Sabir, SGT Craig Tomko (now Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot), SPC Andrew Weaver (now SSG…unless promoted again), SPC Brian Roberts, and SPC Travis Jackson. Thank you gentlemen for your service and for your friendship.

I thought I would share some additional pictures of the experiences from our deployment.

Babarok, the local warlord who we worked with in Pole-Charki. This was our going away party he had for my team. As a thank you for the work we did for his village to include a "medcap" (medical assistance for his people) and opening a new coed elementary school, he slaughtered a lamb for lunch and presented me with the traditional head gear of the Afghan people.

An Afghanistan Orphanage, the SF chaplain organized a food and supply drop for the kids. There were 2,500 children living in the orphanage.

This was a great day for all of us to bring smiles to the kids. We also brought back-packs, school supplies, chocolate and candy.

My college roommate and Army helicopter pilot Mark Richards landed at KMTC one day. I had not seen him in 5+ years and we reunite in Kabul. We were both pretty surprised to see each other!

Demonstrating how to Fire an RPG during ANA weapons training. That was so much fun.

310th PSYOP Company - 15 year Afghanistan deployment reunion in 2018. It was amazing to see everyone again after so many years. We started the day with kayaking in North GA. Not everyone could make it, but happy to see some of the team.

Pictured: Shawn Moore, Phil Rosso, Nathan Van Buren, and Vic Strombergh at 310th reunion. The laughs were non-stop and the stories shared were wonderful. Great group of guys!

Phil Rosso was our commander in Afghanistan - Major at the time of deployment, retired as a full bird Colonel. Shawn Moore was the 1st Sergeant NCOIC for the 310th PSYOP company. He is now a Captain.

Pictured: Vic Strombergh, me, Tommy Butler, Phil Rosso, and Andrew Weaver

Colvin and I at the reunion - 15 years later

The men and women of the 310th will forever be bound by our shared experiences in Afghanistan, and I love each and every one of them like family. Happy Veteran's day!!