Haunted By His Days In Afghanistan
Specialist Max recalls the day when he and his fellow soldiers were caught in the middle of a “tic,” (a firefight with the enemy) near an Afghanistan orphanage. The situation soon worsened, when the insurgents took the children inside the orphanage hostage. The insurgents then used the children as “bullet proof vests,” against the soldier’ M-4 and M-24 rifles.
“The insurgents used these orphans as human shields,” Specialist Max said. “The cowards had the kids stand in front them and that’s something I can’t forget.”
With the insurgents cowering behind the children, as they continued to fire their weapons and with the loudness of the firing ammo and constant screams from the orphans, one might assume that it was difficult for Specialist Max to stay focused. However, it was the complete opposite, because in combat, nothing interfered with his concentration. He was trained to block out everything and anyone that might prevent his finishing a mission.
“The only place that a soldier will end up if he lets hesitation and emotion cloud his judgment,” Specialist Max said, “Is in the ground.”
Specialist Max remembers preparing to fire at one of the insurgents who had an orphan standing in front of him. He can’t recall the look on the child’s face that was blocking his shot of the insurgent but he knew that any child would have been scared.
“I’m sure that kid had tears and terror on his face that day,” Specialist Max said. “I would have too, if I had been him.”
Right before Specialist Max fired his M-4, one thought came into his mind.
“God please give me strength again,” he said.
The insurgent was killed, along with the child that was caught in the crossfire.
“I’m not proud of the things that I’ve done,” he said.
After that occurrence in the orphanage, which helped bring about his PTSD, Specialist Max still feels his true calling was to join the army.
“It was worth it,” he said
He explained his decision to join the army was worth it’s while, by telling another story of a young girl who ran to his base to get help. She and her sister had been forced into prostitution by their father. When the people of the village found out, the father tried to kill his daughters in order to redeem himself.
“He brought shame upon his family,” Specialist Max said. “And in their country, death is the punishment for selling yourself.”
When the girl led Specialist Max and the other soldiers to the scene, they found the girl’s sister on the verge of death. She had been shot several times with an AK-47 rifle. The soldiers got her back to their base but due to the bullet wounds, she didn’t make it.
“She literally died in my arms,” Specialist Max said. “That’s when I knew those 15 months were worth it. I still felt my being over there could help people who couldn’t help themselves.”
