Returned Home

Good intentions do not always translate into action and I have unfortunately failed to update this blog for quite some time. Much has happened since my deployment in August and not only did I lack the means to update the Blog but also the words to describe what I wanted to convey. It isn't a lack of wanting to talk on the events of the last 7 months, but the means to do it. Surely a university education would give one the vocabulary and diction to express how I feel about my tour in Afghanistan, my Company and the soldiers that Iworked with each and every day. I could tell you how enormously proud I was to be associated with those soldiers and the great depth demonstrated within the Company during periods of great adversity. But that would be to understate how I really feel.

The loss of our soldiers and friends, namely, Warrant Officer Rick Nolan, Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, Sergeant Darcy Tedford, Private's Will Cushley, Mark Graham, Blake Williamson, is felt acutely by all of us within Charles Company. Having met them has made me a better person and for that I owe them a debt of gratitude and their families. I suppose the question is... what have we achieved? In the 7 months that we deployed, what were we able to accomplish and were we successful or were our efforts a complete failure. I am sure that there are many that would argue for and against, and question why we should be in Afghanistan at all. For me, this is what I think we achieved, and I remain very proud of it.

When we arrived in Afghanistan the Taliban had massed in the area of Panjwayi, a green area fed by the once mighty Arghandab river which produced a variety of agricultural products such as grapes, corn, onions, potatoes, marijuana and the occasional crop of poppy. It was obviously a lucrative area with an intricate series of irrigation ditches. Grape drying Huts were prevalent throughout enabling the locals to produce raisins. The village of Panjwayi was a rather large and I am sure at one time a very affluent community, with well developed schools, mosques and governmental facilities. Having access to a main highway it was clear that retail and service businesses were at one time present. However on our arrival, the town was deserted, the enhabitants forced away from their homes by the Taliban who had occupied portions of the town in an attempt to dislodge the Afghan Police from the town and pick a fight while firmly seated across the river in the town of Pashmul.

Pashmul was very different in character from Panjwayi, even though it was located adjacent to Panjwayi and separted only by a river bed. Pashmul did not have roads or access by highway. What roads did exist were small, difficult to traverse and awkward. It was clear that the town was suited primarily to pedestrian traffic and also that it was primarily agricultural with little in the way of retail stores. Around it lay substantial fields of complex terrain. The Taliban initially infiltrated this quaint town taking advantage of the locals distrust for the Afghan central government. Having been granted 'Pashtunwali' or the Pashtun tradition of hospitality and protection, their numbers grew and it became clearer that their intent was to make their stand against NATO forces in Pashmul as the Muhejadin had done against the Soviets years earlier. As the inflow of foreign Taliban fighters continued, the situation was exacerbated by an out flow of the local inhabitants. A robust and sophistocated defensive position was constructed which included mutually supporting defences, primary and alternate fighting positions and trenches with overhead protection. The extent of the position we did not fully appreciate until we had taken defeated the Taliban and walked the ground but they were formadible to say the least.

Operation Medusa would be the opportunity to defeat the Taliban in a conventional setting and displace them from Pashmul. Although the mechanics had appeared to be simple, the Russians had never been able to defeat the Muhejadin in Pashmul and it was said to be the beginning of the end for their campaign in Afghanistan. Medusa and the following Operations produced many successes and many lessons learned. These areas and towns in which we would not dare set foot in without engaging into a fight with the Taliban could by the tours end be easily patrolled with little concern. The return of people to their homes was proceeding well in the towns of Pashmul, and Sperwan. Panjwayi, had been transformed into a remarkable town where shops were abound and people moved about without restriction. Incense could be smelled down the various side streets and fresh produce was sold in many of the local convience markets. We constructed a road which was set to be paved that would provide access to Pashmul and we set the conditions for the construction of a bridge connecting Pashmul to the town with Panjwayi which is set for next fall.

My big regret for the tour that we did not have a lot of interaction with the locals, as we were often engaged with the Taliban, whose primary purpose was to inflict casualties upon us. Those that we did have contact with were supportive of us if only clandestinely as they would be killed by the Taliban for consorting with us. All of the humanitarian aid that we distributed (which was entirely inadequate) was stolen by the Taliban. An in no small part do I owe my life to the many locals who kept us alive with information. Those who told us about Taliban ambushes, Mines and IED's (explosive improvised devices). These locals kept us informed of Taliban movements and often times would accept no money for the information. Throughout my tour I gained a great respect for Islam, an admiration for the toughness of these people an appreciation of the beauty of their country and their customs. Although there are many parts of their society that I abhor, they have made cultural adjustments based on nessesity and the inability to pursue other options.

They are an ingenious people, and there is nothing that I would like more than to see them be able to build a society with minimal outside interference. I am proud of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, I am proud of our achievements there, and I am proud of the soldiers of Charles Company who played such an important role in those achievements. No doubt I will write more on this subject as I become motivated to do so. There is simply so much to say and so few words to express it. Until then. Thanks.