The danger beneath

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 2nd Class Ernesto Hernandez Fonte

On November 22, Staff Sgt. Sean Flannery, 29, and Spc. William Middleton, 26, were killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Insurgents and terrorists continue to bury IED's beneath roads, villages, and garbage piles, instead of battling the best fighting force in the world head on. Therefore, finding and disabling these devices in both Afghanistan and Iraq remains one of the U.S. military's most crucial priorities.

Against an unforgiving Thanksgiving backdrop of freezing early morning temperatures, with a faceless enemy lurking in the shadows, the 510 Route Clearance Company, 20th Engineer Battalion went out to hunt for IED's on November 25 in Kandahar province. An ISAF Regional Command South story contains quotes from several Soldiers tasked with making routes safe for coalition troops to carry out their missions in one of the Afghan war's most critical theaters.

"Being successful means we aren’t blown up and the people on the routes behind us don’t get hit; finding the IED before it finds you or anyone else," said Spc. Dackeren Moore from Sabula, Iowa. "It keeps the local nationals safe, no civilian get’s injured. We clear the routes so American soldiers can move without being worried about getting blown up as they resupply the smaller bases with water and food or complete other missions."

To say these missions are dangerous is an understatement. Since hunting for IED's involves high-tech equipment and intricate, methodical care, Soldiers must move slowly, which exposes them to possible enemy fire. Yet instead of complaining, these volunteer warriors, often running on just a couple hours of sleep, work even harder.

"Everyone I’ve talked to thanks us for what we do," said [Sgt. 1st Class Frederick] Greenwell [from Evansville, Indiana]. "They say we are the crazy guys out there looking for the IEDs. Everyone else tries to avoid them."

The article said that since March, the 510 Route Clearance Company has found or disabled 90 improvised explosive devices. Those aren't just statistics; they represent American and Afghan lives saved. Because of these brave individuals, a U.S. service member will return to his or her family in a plane full of happy fellow troops instead of a flag-draped casket. Instead of growing up without a leg, an Afghan child may have a chance to live in a safer place after this post-9/11 conflict is over.

Marines are also conducting IED sweeps. The below video shows a training course held for Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) on November 24 in Afghanistan. It amazes me that our troops can perform such a detailed, critical duty under incomprehensible pressure, knowing that so many lives are at stake.

It is impossible to find and destroy every roadside bomb in Afghanistan and Iraq, which are roughly similar in size to Texas and California, respectively. But one thing is certain. The most skilled, highly trained fighters in the world are risking their lives to keep others safe.


Video courtesy: Sgt. Deanne Hurla

'Always be thankful'

File image courtesy: Cpl. Ned Johnson

While we ate Thanksgiving dinner and visited with our families, 1st Lt. William Donnelly IV was patrolling one of the most dangerous regions on earth with his fellow Marines. Performing combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand province doesn't sound like an ideal way to spend a holiday, unless your lifelong dream is to defend the United States of America.

"He lived to serve his country, and he refused to just sit on the sidelines," said his sister, Melissa Donnelly Weed.

According to The Clarion-Ledger, 1st Lt. Donnelly became a Marine in June 2008, and was on his first combat deployment. After striving for service and attending the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, where he met his wife, Linsey, the volunteer warrior was finally getting his chance to serve in a war zone.

I was sitting at an NHL hockey game on Friday when I received a Pentagon news release about a Marine killed in Afghanistan. My heart always sinks when reading these tragic e-mails, but when I learned that 1st Lt. Donnelly died on Thanksgiving, I bowed my head and whispered a private prayer for his family. Nobody deserves to receive this kind of news about someone close to them, especially on a holiday so many of us share with our loved ones.

"Today is Thanksgiving," the fallen Marine's sister posted on Facebook. "Always be thankful for family. I will always be thankful and grateful I had a wonderful brother. He gave his life today for his country doing what he loved -- being a Marine. I will miss him forever. I love you Will!"

As crushing as this must have been to post, Donnelly's sister helped spark a flood of emotional tributes to this beloved, respected Marine.

"Our prayers are with you," a friend posted on Saturday. "Will was a valiant man, who left us all proud. We will miss him deeply."

First Lt. Donnelly, 27, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, which has shouldered a heavy burden in Afghanistan and Iraq since September 11, 2001. California's Camp Pendleton, where the 3/5 is based, issued a statement emphasizing that losing Donnelly is like losing a brother. Donnelly's hometown of Picayune, Mississippi, is responding with a similar sense of patriotism and grief.

"As a city we will do everything for the family that's within our power to ease this very trying time," [Picayune Mayor Ed Pinero] said. "There's never a good time for something like this, and it's even tougher during the holidays."

Donnelly enjoyed listening to country and alternative music, watching NCIS, polishing his firearm skills, and working on engines. By all accounts, he had a deep love for his family, and was undoubtedly thinking about them on Thanksgiving Day. Well before military messengers delivered the devastating news of his death, his wife, sister, and many more relatives and friends were thinking about him too. On Saturday, the fallen hero's flag-draped casket arrived at Dover Air Force Base, before an upcoming memorial service and burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

First Lt. William Donnelly IV volunteered to spend holidays apart from the people he cared for the most, so that millions of Americans, from his loved ones to folks he never met, could enjoy Thanksgiving in peace. While this selfless Marine's death is an incomprehensible tragedy for family and friends around the world, Donnelly has returned to the nation he fought for, surrounded by love, honor, and respect. His mission is complete, and because of his enormous sacrifice, our nation is safer and more thankful. Yet as the departed warrior's sister poignantly wrote at Dover, things will never quite be the same. She lost her hero.

"Will is home. I miss him."

Image courtesy: Facebook

Putting the Troops First

Images courtesy: Cpl. Megan Sindelar

When the Marine pictured above signed up to serve our country and later deployed to Afghanistan, I seriously doubt she thought getting golf lessons from a British Open champion would be part of her benefits package. But thanks to the Troops First Foundation, Marines at Camp Leatherneck spent part of their Thanksgiving learning how to hit out of the sand from PGA Tour professional Tom Lehman.

I first learned about the Troops First Foundation back in February while writing a piece for the USO about a group of wounded veterans who got the chance to return to war zones as part of Operation Proper Exit, an incredibly valuable USO-T1F initiative. While researching the article, I had the honor of speaking with Rick Kell, who co-founded T1F along with CBS Sports golf analyst David Feherty.

Just moments after our phone conversation began, I heard Kell's passion for our troops and veterans. His admirable mission to dedicate his life to supporting our military began shortly after visiting with wounded heroes at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and he hasn't paused to think about himself since. He's donated significant personal time and treasure to put smiles on the faces of our troops, and has traveled into war zones to visit them about 20 times. In February, Kell told The Unknown Soldiers that Operation Proper Exit, which aims to help combat veterans heal emotional wounds and re-join society, is the organization's most important initiative.

"On these trips, I have seen 18 people change physically in front of my eyes," Kell said during the interview. "To simply tell you that does not do it justice."

In addition to Kell and Feherty, T1F board members include familiar faces like comedian George Lopez, ESPN and CBS Sports analyst Jay Bilas, Sports Illustrated columnist Jim Kelley, golf instructor Butch Harmon, college basketball coach Fran Fraschilla, PGA Tour golfer Tom Watson, and ESPN announcer Mike Patrick.

Marines stationed at Camp Leatherneck, located in Afghanistan's violent Helmand province, are tasked with extremely difficult missions, often completed amid grave danger. The day before Thanksgiving, Lance Cpl. Arden Joseph Buenagua, a 19-year-old Marine from San Jose, California, was killed in action while serving with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. As Marines mourned his death while spending Thanksgiving apart from their families, these brave men and women needed something to smile about.

Country music artist Matt Snook was also part of the T1F visit, and he took requests from the troops during a special Thanksgiving dinner set. Snook also visited wounded heroes and handed over his guitar to Marines who wanted to relax, play a few chords, and forget about the Taliban for a few minutes.

I have great admiration for Rick Kell, David Feherty, Tom Lehman, Matt Snook, and all members of the Troops First Foundation, which gratefully accepts donations. In an age when America's battlefield heroes are often relegated to the background by a celebrity-obsessed, media-driven culture, this fine organization, which includes many influential sports figures, has hit a hole in one. As Wednesday's tragic death of Lance Cpl. Ardenjoseph Buenagua shows us, the realities of America's post-9/11 conflicts are often brutal, harsh, and unforgettable for the men and women who serve. So when a group of people step up to give our heroes some happiness, it truly means the world.

Empty chairs

Image courtesy: Daniel Shook

Going to grandma's house for Thanksgiving isn't as easy as it used to be. Long security lines at airports, choking traffic, and economic pain have turned travel into a huge challenge. The day after Thanksgiving can be even worse, as millions clog stores and shopping malls in elusive quests for the deals of a lifetime.

Before we complain and commiserate this year, let's remember that there are about 200,000 men and women who would love to be dealing with our problems. Instead of sitting in traffic or looking for discounted iPhones, they are hoping to avoid bombs buried beneath roads or strapped on humans, hunting terrorists, and missing their families.

Afghanistan, where a U.S. soldier is pictured above doing his patrol in volatile Kandahar province early Wednesday, is a cold, violent, treacherous place to spend Thanksgiving. The threat faced by our volunteer warriors is real and unrelenting, a fact that four families in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Colorado are tragically dealing with at this very moment. Their sons were identified as killed in combat during the past week.

Staff Sgt. Sean Flannery, 29, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Spc. William Middleton, 26, Norfolk, Virginia
Sgt. Jason Smith, 28, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Spc. Justin Culbreth, 26, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Another three U.S. service members recently died in non-combat related incidents in Afghanistan.

Spc. David Robinson, 25, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Pfc. Kyle Holder, 18, Conroe, Texas
Staff Sgt. David Senft, 27, Grass Valley, California

While politicians have declared the combat phase of the Iraq war complete, reality is that U.S. forces in the theater still face danger. The Pentagon announced this week that Sgt. David Luff Jr., 29, was killed November 21 in Tikrit, Iraq, by small arms fire. Iraqi insurgents were reportedly responsible for the attack on the soldier's unit. As his family spends Thanksgiving grieving in Hamilton, Ohio, the family of another soldier, Staff Sgt. Loleni Gandy, mourns in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The 36-year-old soldier was killed on November 19 in a non-combat related incident in Balad.

While pardoning two turkeys with his daughters on Wednesday, President Obama rightfully took time to tell U.S. troops how much he appreciates their valiant service and sacrifice. Vice President Biden hosted nine wounded warriors for dinner at the U.S. Naval Observatory on Monday, prompting his wife to recall difficult family holidays during her son's 2008 Iraq deployment.

"I know what it means to all those thousands of families who look down their table this Thanksgiving," Dr. Jill Biden said. "And someone they love is missing because that loved one is in Iraq or Afghanistan."

According to an Army release, The Defense Logistics Agency coordinated the delivery of more than 104,000 pounds of turkey breasts and thighs to Iraq and Afghanistan. Many service members, especially those deployed at Afghanistan's remote outposts, won't get to enjoy their meals in comfortable, heated dining halls. But the DLA promises that hot meals will still be delivered to all of our troops this year, which is a huge accomplishment, considering the brutal mountain terrain of Afghanistan.

What can we do at home? How about inviting the family of a deployed service member or veteran in your community over for dinner? Organizations like Operation Homefront and Operation Gratitude can help you send much-needed care packages to our troops, as can the USO, an organization that is certainly worth donating to. Vets For Freedom, this blog's official partner, continues to advocate for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan, and uses your donations to further that worthy cause.

While writing this post, I received an e-mail from The Travis Manion Foundation, an organization named for a fallen Silver Star Marine that honors our heroes and supports wounded and disabled veterans with Fellowship opportunities. It asks all of us to include an empty chair and table setting in our homes this Thanksgiving to pay tribute to the volunteer warriors around the world, and remember those who didn't make it home alive. My family will certainly be making this gesture, and I hope yours will too.

For all American troops serving overseas, we thank you, pray for you, and promise to think about you this holiday season. At America's table, there is an open space, as millions of thankful citizens eagerly await your safe return.

File image courtesy: Lee Craker

A red flag

Image courtesy: Cpl. Tim Oberle

It will not be a relaxing Thanksgiving for the more than 28,000 American troops stationed in South Korea. North Korea attacked a South Korean island on Tuesday, killing two people and injuring at least a dozen others, including local marines and civilians, in the assault. A video posted by CNN.com shows explosions and chaos on Yeonpyeong Island as a result of the communist North's sneak attack.

"Pyongyang should not be mistaken," President Obama told U.S. forces in Yongsan during a Veterans Day address on November 11. "The United States will never waver in our commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea. We will not waver."

The Pentagon said on Tuesday morning that no additional American troops are moving to the Korean peninsula, yet there is no question that the more than 28,000 volunteer warriors already there, mostly Army and Air Force, are ready to fight. Various units stationed in South Korea, like the 2nd Assault Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, have been training hard to defend South Korea from a North Korean invasion, especially during the nuclear crisis of the last two months.

"In the event that another war ever occurs here on the Korean Peninsula, it wouldn’t necessarily take place on a linear battlefield," said Capt. John Paxton, C Company commander and officer-in-charge for the exercise. "This is why the scenario is played out against [notional] guerrilla forces."

South Korea warns that 'enormous retaliation' will commence if North Korea launches another attack against its troops and civilians. I believe that Kim Jong-Il, the reclusive, communist North Korean dictator, is mentally unbalanced, which makes this situation even more volatile. But surely, Kim must realize that South Korean and U.S. troops could crush his military on short notice.

Despite the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, our brave, highly trained men and women in uniform stand ready to help South Korea, if ordered by the commander-in-chief to do so. While all of us hope that will not be necessary, let's keep these volunteer warriors in our thoughts over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Giving thanks

Image courtesy: Spc. Breanne Pye

Little Rafi's parents had almost nowhere to turn when their six-month-old child could barely breathe in September. Their southern Afghanistan village didn't have medical equipment needed to treat the child, who suffered from a severe heart murmur. So, in the middle of a war zone, the worried mom and dad turned to American troops in Kandahar City.

Camp Nathan Smith, which used to be a fruit factory, isn't equipped to care for a small child. Yet as Spc. Breanne Pye explained in a moving article, soldiers attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, known as 'the Raider Brigade,' put their minds together to help this little boy, going well beyond necessary medical steps like oxygen and antibiotics. Spc. Samantha Romero is pictured above showing Rafi a toy the troops hand-made to keep the sick boy entertained during difficult months ahead. Incredibly, Capt. Christopher Alden also took the time to build him a crib.

"When I saw Rafi, I just thought about my own two young kids back home," said Alden. "I have no experience to help him medically, but I thought about what makes my kids smile and laugh and knew I had to do what I could to give Rafi the same thing I would give them."

This is amazing stuff. The boy needs cardiothoracic surgery to repair his serious heart condition, and as of September 16, the Army was coordinating with medical officials in Kabul to find a charity to donate funds for the procedure. I have not been able to find an update on Rafi's current condition, but one thing is certain. In one of the war in Afghanistan's most violent theaters, U.S. troops went out of their way to give this little boy a chance.

The inspiring story received scant media coverage at home besides some local Colorado TV stations and newspapers near Fort Carson, where Raider Brigade is based. While tragic, unintentional civilian casualties are often front page news, the national press doesn't usually take the same interest in selfless acts of kindness our volunteer warriors perform on a daily basis.

When I was in local and national newsrooms, we would often air holiday greetings from troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet these segments would often be buried at the end of newscasts, with no context beyond telling viewers that the troops are serving overseas. That's why when I saw the below Thanksgiving greetings from Raider Brigade, I wanted to relay the above story and also remind readers of the sacrifices the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division has made this year.

Raider Brigade has lost several fine soldiers in Afghanistan, including Capt. Dale Goetz. As The Unknown Soldiers reported, the 43-year-old Army chaplain was killed by a roadside bomb alongside Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante, 30, Staff Sgt. Kevin Kessler, 32, Staff Sgt. Matthew West, 36, and Pfc. Chad Clements, 26, in the Arghandab River Valley on August 30. As conveyed by Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, the Army's chief of chaplains, Capt. Goetz was a compassionate warrior and great listener.

"Dale was a selfless servant of God, a devoted husband and father, a strong American patriot, and a compassionate spiritual leader whose love for soldiers was only surpassed by his firm commitment to living his calling as a United States Army Chaplain."

Conditioned by the national media, too many Americans focus on the unavoidable, negative aspects of armed post-9/11 conflicts. That's why it's crucial to notice these soldiers, who made little Rafi comfortable and helped fellow troops find God, if they so desired. To me, it's what Thanksgiving is all about. We'll be able to sit down and enjoy our Thursday dinners because of the fine men and women below, who volunteered to spend their holidays apart from the people they love.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for protecting us.


Video courtesy: Spc. Kennedy James

'One of the best'

'Restrepo,' the acclaimed documentary by filmmaker Tim Hetherington and War author Sebastian Junger, is full of indelible images and piercing sounds. After watching the film for the first time on Thursday evening, there is one particular scene, which I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about, that genuinely shook me. It is the tragic footage shot just moments after the death of Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle.

If I am affected so deeply by these images as a viewer, I can't imagine how the men who were actually in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley on October 23, 2007, are feeling three years later. A visceral window of pain will open as you watch Sgt. John Clinard react in disbelief upon learning that his brother in arms was hit by enemy fire. The moment, while gut-wrenching, is also a crucial eye-opener for civilians like me, who haven't experienced combat. More than 4,500 Americans have been killed in action since the 9/11 attacks, and in almost every instance, a fellow service member goes through the crushing onslaught of emotions that Sgt. Clinard tragically experienced.

I didn't know who Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle was when I visited Arlington National Cemetery on October 26, 2010, just over three years since the tragic 'Restrepo' footage was captured. Flowers had been laid at the base of his headstone, and a stand holding cards and more flowers were displayed on the left. Today, just hours after watching 'Restrepo,' I am thankful to have been guided to this warrior's final resting spot to pay my respects, even though I wasn't aware of his story at the time.

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

Staff Sgt. Rougle, 25, was on his sixth -- yes, sixth -- combat deployment when he lost his life. According to an October 2007 Salt Lake Tribune article, archived on the Arlington National Cemetery website, the Army paratrooper knew he probably wouldn't return to West Jordan, Utah, from Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, but believed it was his duty to deploy.

"He told me that he didn't think that he would be making it home this time," [mother] Nancy Rougle said. "I said, 'No, no, let's not talk about it.' I didn't want to believe it."

In 'Restrepo,' which will be released on DVD December 7, fellow soldiers make clear that the loss of this battle-hardened professional, who also served with honor in Iraq, was absolutely devastating to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

"He was one of the best, if not the best," Staff Sgt. Kevin Rice told Hetherington and Junger in the film. "I think that's what was tough for a lot of people, was kind of knowing in the back of your mind 'well if the best guy we have out here just got killed, where's that put me? What's going to happen to me, you know? What's going to happen to the guys on my left and my right?'"

On November 2, 2007, fellow soldiers gathered to honor Rougle, along with Sgt. Joshua Brennan and Spc. Hugo Mendoza. Sgt. Brennan and Spc. Mendoza, killed two days after Staff Sgt. Rougle, were casualties of the same battle for which Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor on Tuesday. The national media was certainly not focused on Afghanistan at the time, yet NPR, to its credit, covered the emotional service. Staff Sgt. Michael Gabel delivered a stirring eulogy for Rougle, and resolved to continue fighting in honor of his friend.

"I will not be bitter," Gabel said. "I will not shed any tears of sorrow. I'm proud to have known such a good man and a warrior to the bitter end. Until we see each other again, sky soldiers!"

Staff Sgt. Gabel was killed in action six weeks later.

The documentary is titled 'Restrepo' because of Pfc. Juan Restrepo, a heroic combat medic who was killed in action on July 22, 2007. The tragedy also deeply affected the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which braved enemy attacks to build Firebase Restrepo, an outpost crucial to troops in the unforgiving eastern Afghan valley before U.S. forces were withdrawn. Hetherington and Junger's film, which deserves to be nominated for an Academy Award, is a testament to the sacrifices of this incredible group of soldiers, living and fallen, who endured months of hell in one of the most dangerous places on earth. As America learned this week while honoring Staff Sgt. Giunta, and as we see in the documentary, the volunteer warriors who returned from the Korengal Valley live with harrowing sights and sounds that will never fade.

"Not a day goes by that I don't think about you or that day," a fellow soldier wrote to Staff Sgt. Rougle on the card displayed below, which I photographed at Arlington. "Rest in peace."

Thanks to 'Restrepo,' which I urge all readers of The Unknown Soldiers to watch, I will think of Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle and his brothers in arms every time I write about a fallen hero. This film, as well as Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta's Medal of Honor, ensures that the story of these paratroopers will teach future generations about the true meaning of bravery, service, camaraderie, and friendship.

No Slack

Images courtesy: Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell

A heavy burden has been placed on the storied 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan, as operations heat up against insurgents and terrorists in the volatile east and south. While mountain fighting against an oft-disguised enemy is different than storming the beaches of Normandy, the Screaming Eagles are distinguishing themselves with the same ferocity and grit.

Yet back at Kentucky's Fort Campbell, where the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is based, families, friends, and fellow troops are dealing with more painful news from the war's violent front. Nine paratroopers from the 101st died in three separate attacks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:

Spc. Shannon Chihuahua, 25, Thomasville, Georgia
Spc. Shane Ahmed, 31, Chesterfield, Michigan
Spc. Nathan Lillard, 26, Knoxville, Tennessee
Spc. Scott Nagorski, 27, of Greenfield, Wisconsin
Spc. Jesse Snow, 25, Fairborn, Ohio
Pfc. Christian Warriner, 19, Mills River, North Carolina
Staff Sgt. Juan Rivadeneira, 27, Davie, Florida
Cpl. Jacob Carver, 20, Freeman, Missouri
Spc. Jacob Carroll, 20, Clemmons, North Carolina

In Kunar province, where the first six fallen heroes listed above were killed, a paratrooper named Sgt. James Schmidt wears a bracelet honoring the brothers in arms he lost during a previous deployment. He also also carries a remarkable sense of history, shaped in part by his grandfather, who also served with the 101st. The Soldier spoke with Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell just after returning from a demanding four-night mission atop a cold, dangerous Afghan mountain.

"It just amazes me that those guys [in World War I and World War II] went through the same thing we did, but with so little," Sgt. Schmidt said. "We were sitting up on a mountain yesterday cold, pretty cold, but we had cold-weather gear. I was thinking about Soldiers in Bastogne just sucking in the snow and the trees not knowing when they’re going to get relieved. It must have been tough."

As demonstrated by the recent loss of his 101st comrades, combat in parts of eastern Afghanistan is fierce. Several Soldiers in C Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, Task Force No Slack had a close call just a few days ago, according to Schmidt's platoon leader.

"When the initial contact happened, I was pinned down behind rocks," Staff Sgt. Clint Lyons said. "[Schmidt] was in contact and already starting to engage and giving out commands to his guys … His knowledge really helps me out and makes things easier. I don’t have to worry about him while I’m taking care of other things."

Staff Sgt. Burrell's story notes that Sgt. Schmidt, from Decatur, Illinois, has a wife and 11-year-old daughter at home. They are surely worried about their hero, and heartbroken when they hear about another family losing theirs. This post-9/11 conflict is touching so many people, most recently the nine 101st families spread out from Davie, Florida, to Freeman, Missouri, and America must unite around them.

Somewhere in eastern Afghanistan, Sgt. James Schmidt and other Screaming Eagles are keeping watch from a mountain. Everywhere in the United States, grateful citizens wonder, worry, pray, and give thanks.

Up in the air

Images courtesy: Jim Beam

Operation Moshtarak, a critical coalition operation aimed at crushing insurgents and terrorists in southern Afghanistan, has been filled with heavy fighting, incredible heroism, and painful sacrifices. Many valiant Americans who should be household names, like Lance Cpl. Eric Ward and Lance Cpl. Christopher Rangel, have lost their lives while taking the fight to al Qaeda and the Taliban. That important fact is certainly not lost on Capt. Adam Campbell, a Marine pilot who supported his fellow volunteer warriors in combat from the sky.

"Those guys deserve all the credit," Capt. Campbell told The Unknown Soldiers. "Without them...they’re the ones living in the villages away from e-mail and images from home; they’re the ones making the ultimate sacrifice. They are truly the bravest individuals."

From November 2009 to June 2010, Campbell was stationed in Kandahar, perhaps the single most important strategic hotspot for America and its allies in Afghanistan.

"Our main mission was to provide close air support in combat situations," the Marine said. "We helped Soldiers and Marines on the ground, and our sensors helped them find IED's."

Campbell told me that flying daily missions in one of the world's most dangerous regions was "a dream come true," which might sound puzzling to some readers. Why would someone want to put their life on the line every day, and witness so much carnage on the ground below? For Adam Campbell, service had always been a lifelong goal, and the horrific events of September 11, 2001, cemented his resolve to fight for his country.

"9/11 hit close to home," Campbell, who was attending New Jersey's Monmouth University at the time, explained. "A bunch of my friends lost loved ones on 9/11, and that got the fire inside me going."

The three loves of Capt. Campbell's life are his spouse, flying, and horse racing, which he grew up enjoying on nearby Jersey Shore tracks. While he flew high above the Afghan mountains every day during his deployment, he missed his wife dearly, and frequently asked her to keep him up-to-date on all the big races. Unbeknownst to the Marine, Melanie Campbell would nominate him to be recognized by Jim Beam and Operation Homefront's "Salute Soldiers with the Spirit of America" program, which led to an experience every horse racing fan dreams of.

"Operation Homefront allowed me to go to the Breeders' Cup," Campbell said just a few days after returning from Louisville, Kentucky. "The whole weekend was first-class, they took care of everything."

Adam and Melanie Campbell witnessed a race for the ages, when previously undefeated Zenyatta's valiant comeback fell just short of Blame in a breathtaking photo finish. Even though the race was an unforgettable experience that he is deeply thankful for, Capt. Campbell couldn't help but reflect on more than seven months of tense moments up in the air, and fallen heroes who will never again get to enjoy time with family and friends at exciting sporting events.

"The first initial feeling I had was guilt, because everyone deserves this. There are other people more deserving than me, the people making the ultimate sacrifice," Campbell said. "I was humbled to be selected."

Simply put, Jim Beam and Operation Homefront support the troops. On September 11, 2010, I attended a Kid Rock concert at South Carolina's Fort Jackson that was free to everyone with a military ID. Thanks to these organizations, the thousands of troops in attendance had an incredible night, and Capt. Campbell's Breeders' Cup weekend is another example of their willingness to give back.

But at this very moment, there are about 200,000 Americans in war zones, unable to rock out at a concert or scream their lungs out at a horse race. They need our support, and Campbell has suggestions on how we can help.

"When I was over there, we got care packages, from family and people we have never met and never will meet," the Marine said. "That people are willing to send small things like deodorant, razors, or candy, it just meant the world to us."

Campbell also mentioned getting letters from schoolchildren over the holidays, which was also a big morale booster. If you have a son or daughter in school, perhaps you could ask their teachers to have classes write letters to our brave men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. Few activities can better demonstrate the values of patriotism and selfless sacrifice to our youngest citizens, while also putting a smile on the faces of our heroes overseas.

After answering the call to serve when America was attacked, this Marine pilot saved many lives on the ground while navigating the uncertain Afghan skies. He is now stationed in Florida, giving flight instructions to aspiring aviators who will likely be called upon to protect the nation in combat. After having the honor of speaking with this war veteran, it is clear that he feels blessed to be fulfilling his dreams as a pilot, enjoying time with his wife, and watching the sport he loves. America is also blessed to have volunteer warriors like Capt. Adam Campbell protecting us from above.

A different kind of hero

Image courtesy: Puppy Rescue Mission

In February and August, The Unknown Soldiers relayed the stories of three hero dogs, Rufus, Sasha, and Target, which helped save the lives of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan by barking loudly and barracading a door just before a February suicide bombing in Dand aw Patan, Afghanistan. After Sasha died in the terrorist attack, grateful troops like Sgt. Terry Young resolved to bring the other two dogs back to the United States. Thanks to organizations like Puppy Rescue Mission, it happened.

"It's really a dream come true. I never thought I would see her again," Sgt. Young told Oprah Winfrey in October. "The dogs were definitely heroes that day, and I cannot stress enough how many lives they saved."

Today, Sgt. Young, his family, and the fellow soldiers who survived the harrowing Afghanistan attack are mourning the loss of an American hero. Target, which escaped from Young's Arizona backyard, was mistakenly euthanized by Pinal County Animal Care & Control after being recovered last weekend. Sgt. Young is understandably outraged.

"That dog and I went through so much over there," Young told KTVK-TV in Phoenix. "When you go through such an intense experience with somebody, albeit a dog, you just grow a very, very strong bond."

The animal shelter seems to be taking responsibility, by issuing a full apology and firing an employee who officials accuse of violating shelter protocol.

"We are continuing to look into management practices and procedures at Animal Care & Control to ensure that something like this cannot happen again," said Lisa Garcia, Assistant County Manager for Health & Human Services.

It is unlikely that bureaucratic procedural recommendations will comfort Young's children or the soldiers who are alive because this dog and two others prevented a Taliban suicide attack from being even more devastating. At this hour, all we can do is mourn. Like Sgt. Young conveyed to Oprah, this dog was a bona fide hero.

"If the dogs wouldn't have been there that night, to be honest with you, I really don't even want to think what would have transpired," he says. "[The bomber] would have killed a lot of my friends."


Video courtesy: Newsy.com

Note: This post was updated on November 20 at 10:53 a.m. eastern time.

The valley

Image courtesy: Sgt. Matthew Moeller

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Death and evil were all around Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta on October 25, 2007, in Afghanistan's perilous Korengal Valley. I don't know if the nation's newest Medal of Honor recipient is a religious man, but Psalm 23 came to my mind while thinking about his incredible story over the last few weeks. Aside from the parallels in prose, the verse was quoted by President George W. Bush in the Oval Office on the evening of September 11, 2001. On that night, the fires ignited by terrorists in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania still burned, and America was 26 days away from going to war in Afghanistan.

On November 16, 2010, President Barack Obama called our attention to this dark, remote eastern Afghanistan valley from the East Room of the White House. With Staff Sgt. Giunta at his side, the commander-in-chief described a setting few of us will ever experience.

"The moon was full, the light it cast was enough to travel by without using their night vision goggles," the president said. "With heavy gear on their backs and air support overhead, they made their way single file down a rocky ridge crest, along terrain so steep that sliding was sometimes easier than walking."

"The world happened in that next step," Staff Sgt. Giunta told Lara Logan on 60 Minutes. Islamic militants ambushed soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, killing Spc. Hugo Mendoza, a respected, caring combat medic, almost immediately.

"When the third [soldier] was struck in the helmet and fell to the ground, Sal charged headlong into the wall of bullets to pull him to safety behind little cover there was," President Obama explained. "As he did, Sal was hit twice, one round slamming into his body armor, the other shattering a weapon slung across his back. They were pinned down, and two wounded Americans still lay up ahead."

Giunta and his fellow troops began throwing grenades and shooting, pushing forward to one of their five wounded comrades. As another soldier tended to the injured service member's wounds, the 22-year-old Iowa soldier proceeded further inside the moonlit valley on his own, looking for the enemy and fellow troops through the unknown of night. He saw the shadow of death and the faces of evil in those moments, as two terrorists carried his dear friend, Sgt. Joshua Brennan, into the darkness.

"Sal never broke stride," the commander-in-chief told a White House audience that included fellow troops from his unit, several Medal of Honor winners, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, and the Giunta family. "He leapt forward, he took aim, he killed one of the insurgents and wounded the other, who ran off. Sal found his friend alive, but badly wounded. Sal had saved him from the enemy, now he had to try to save his life."

Despite Staff Sgt. Giunta's incredible efforts to stop his good buddy's bleeding, Sgt. Brennan died the following day in surgery. Nothing could bring his friend back to life, but Giunta forever brought his friend back from the evil grasp of fear, hate, and terror. Instead of dying in a cave or having the images of his final moments paraded across al Qaeda and Taliban propaganda websites, Brennan died surrounded by fellow American troops, and was buried with full military honors by his loving family.

The ceremony's most moving moment came when President Obama and Staff Sgt. Giunta looked to the audience and paid tribute to the parents of Sgt. Brennan and Spc. Mendoza.

"There are no words that even three years later that can ease the ache in your hearts or repay the debt that America owes to you," the president said in earnest. "But on behalf of a grateful nation, let me express profound thanks to your sons' service and their sacrifice."

Someday, I would like to ask Staff Sgt. Giunta what was going through his mind when the camera panned back to him during this touching moment. I cannot imagine having to live with images and sounds of that valley, nor could I imagine watching my best friend in so much pain. Giunta, who was on his second tour in Afghanistan when his unit was ambushed, reminds us that caring for our veterans after battle must be a top national priority, and attention to daily events in Iraq and Afghanistan cannot continue to waver as it has in recent years.

In a ceremony filled with salutes, tears, applause, and pride, there was a lighthearted moment in the beginning.

"I really like this guy," President Obama quipped, which was immediately followed by laughter and loud clapping. Staff Sgt. Giunta offered his widest smile of the unforgettable ceremony, which ended about 30 minutes later when the soldier, wearing the majestic Medal of Honor, embraced his commander-in-chief.

Even though we've never met, I really like Staff Sgt. Giunta too. While he wasn't thinking about it at the time and still insists that his actions were ordinary, he did an extraordinary thing by charging into that valley. Sgt. Joshua Brennan's family will be forever grateful, and so will the families of 9/11 victims, who understand the pain of losing a son, daughter, husband, or wife at the hands of terrorists.

When my daughter someday asks me about what happened in the years after September 11, 2001, I will not start talking about about Bush, Obama, airport security, suspicious packages, or bin Laden. I will tell her about the valley of the shadow of death and the American soldier who feared no evil. The story told today at the White House is one we must pass on to future generations, to give them hope should they ever be called upon to fight. Even in these troubled times, America still has something -- and someone -- to be proud of.

Thank you, Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta.


Image courtesy: The White House

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta receives the Medal of Honor

Image courtesy: Richard Bumgarner

At 2 p.m. eastern time, many of you watched a live White House feed of the Medal of Honor ceremony honoring Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, embedded right here on The Unknown Soldiers blog. The powerful, emotional event concluded just before 2:30 p.m.

For more background on the heroism of the first living U.S. service member to receive the Medal of Honor in the middle of an ongoing conflict since the Vietnam War, please read the following stories:

-A bright spot
-Caring for others
-An American friend

A complete wrap-up of this special event will be posted on the blog this evening.

An American friend

Images courtesy: Facebook

"I have never given everything," Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta told 60 Minutes in an interview that aired on November 14. "Sgt. Joshua Brennan gave everything."

I have been in awe of the humility displayed by Staff Sgt. Giunta in every interview he's given since it became known that he would receive the nation's highest military award. On this day, when he will be presented the Medal of Honor by President Obama at the White House, it is clear that Giunta is awe of the soldiers he served with, especially fellow warrior Spc. Hugo Mendoza and his dear friend, Sgt. Joshua Brennan.

Joshua Charles Brennan was born on May 30, 1985 in El Paso, Texas. For most of his childhood, according to an article in The Capital Times, Brennan lived with his mom in Oregon during the school year, then headed to Wisconsin to spend the summer with his dad. Unlike me, a big brother who spent too much time teasing my younger brother and sister, Brennan was the model sibling. One of his five brothers and sisters, Jessica, wrote in a Facebook tribute group that her big brother was simply the best.

Not long after graduating high school in Ontario, Oregon, Brennan enlisted in the U.S. Army, training hard and earning his place in the storied 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Team, perhaps best known for the incredible human price it paid at Dak To, Vietnam. Sgt. Brennan took that fighting spirit with him to Afghanistan on his first combat tour, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star for valor.

During his second tour, much of which took place in a northeastern Afghanistan valley so dangerous that brave, battle-tested American soldiers knew it was too risky to go to the bathroom during the day, Brennan forged an even closer bond with the troops around him. He was close friends with Staff Sgt. Giunta, who says that either of them, or any other soldier in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, would instinctively put their lives on the line for one another.

Sgt. Brennan was shot in the leg in August 2007, but healed up, received his Purple Heart, and willed himself back out to the battlefield. That's the kind of selfless dedication, rightfully regarded as extraordinary back home, that was almost commonplace for this remarkable unit in the mountains of Afghanistan. For these volunteer warriors, it was simply what had to be done.

Sgt. Joshua Charles Brennan, known as "Chuck" by some of his closest Army friends, died on October 26, 2007, in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds he sustained during the previous day's ambush, which also killed Spc. Hugo Mendoza. Were it not for Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta's bravery in seizing this wounded warrior from the Taliban's grasp, the soldier's family, fellow troops, and American citizens may have been forced to endure a horrific ordeal of painful uncertainty, deadly rescue operations, and possibly more Taliban propaganda videos.

For more on exactly what happened just over three years ago, from the President of the United States and the brave soldiers who were actually there, I urge you to watch today's White House ceremony, which begins at 1 p.m. eastern. The Unknown Soldiers will write about this important event as well. On this momentous day, when Staff Sgt. Giunta's heroism is recognized by America's top civilian and military leadership, Spc. Mendoza and Sgt. Brennan's names will echo through the halls of the White House. Yet it's at home, in the thoughts of loved ones, where the sounds of children who grew up to become American heroes are loudest.

"Joshua, you are missed every minute of every day, no matter what day it is by so many people who love you," Sgt. Brennan's mother posted to the Facebook memorial group on November 12.

Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo, who was awarded the Silver Star, was Sgt. Joshua Brennan's squad leader. During the 60 Minutes interview, when he and Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta recounted that fall 2007 day's tragic moments, Staff Sgt. Gallardo said something that will forever comfort the family of Sgt. Brennan, who earned three Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts during his illustrious career of service. Instead of spending his final moments with enemies of America and the world, he spent them with his friends.

"The last thing Brennan ever saw was us. He saw us fighting for him."

Caring for others

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

Ever since learning that he would be presented the Medal of Honor by President Obama, Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta has repeatedly said that Tuesday's White House ceremony is not about him. While Staff Sgt. Giunta is a genuine American hero, whether he likes it or not, the humble warrior is firmly committed to saluting the two fallen warriors who died on October 25, 2007, in Afghanistan's treacherous Korengal Valley. Giunta won't remember that fateful battle because the day's events led to him receiving the nation's top military honor. He'll recall it as the day he lost two friends.

Spc. Hugo Mendoza "was an avid churchgoer who dreamed of becoming a firefighter," Beth Duckett wrote in her October 28, 2007, article in The Arizona Republic. His brother, Carlos, told the paper that part of his sibling's reason for joining the Army was to learn more about caring for others as a combat medic.

"Once he got money for being in service, he was going to use it to go to school and follow his dream of being a firefighter," Carlos said.

With a big smile and instinctive tendency toward helping those in need, Spc. Mendoza was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy. After leaving Glendale, Arizona, to deploy to Europe and then to the Middle East with his unit, he would make sure to call his mom in Detroit whenever he could.

Spc. Mendoza, 29, was deeply respected by Staff Sgt. Giunta, Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo, Sgt. Joshua Brennan, and other brave members of the unit he provided medical care for. When they suddenly found themselves taking heavy enemy fire on October 25, 2007, Mendoza was killed in the early moments of the ambush, according to various accounts by the soldiers. Soon after the fierce battle, which also led to wounds that eventually took the life of Sgt. Brennan, who The Unknown Soldiers will profile on Tuesday, news of Spc. Mendoza's sacrifice began reaching Arizona.

"Hugo was like my own brother, my own uncle. He was everything to us," Maria Velasquez, 18, told The Arizona Republic. "It's been hard, it's been very hard."

On November 2, 2007 at Camp Blessing in northeastern Afghanistan, the unit gathered to salute Spc. Mendoza, Sgt. Brennan, and Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle, who was killed in a battle two days earlier. According to an NPR report about the emotional service, the deaths simply devastated soldiers like Sgt. Benjamin Sanchez Jr..

"It just seems we are trying to win over the people, but it's very difficult. The enemy is trying to win them over, too, and it's a tug of war with the enemy and ourselves," he says. "It seems sometimes we take two steps forward and on another day we take two steps back."

Three years later, as Staff Sgt. Giunta sits in a Washington hotel room on the eve of his Medal of Honor ceremony, the same heartache and unanswered questions are likely going through his mind. Yet it is important for Giunta and his fellow soldiers to know that at this hour and for all time, their fallen brothers in arms are in our hearts. Spc. Hugo Mendoza could have continued his relatively quiet suburban Phoenix life, working in sheet metal construction and hanging out with friends. Instead, he joined the Army to begin what he hoped would be a life's worth of assisting patients, citizens, and fellow soldiers in need.

We will always remember.

Image courtesy: Mendoza family/The Arizona Republic

A bright spot

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

As a former copy editor, producer, and associate producer in national and local newsrooms, I have often been highly critical of the press for poor coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The attention being paid to both conflicts, especially in recent years, has been inconsistent and often focused on the negative.

To be fair, that doesn't mean there aren't examples of fantastic coverage, and Sunday evening on CBS, '60 Minutes' aired a compelling story about Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, who will be awarded the Medal of Honor on Tuesday at the White House. Lara Logan's 60 Minutes report, embedded below, conveys the raw chaos and conflicting emotions that many of our heroes experience before and after serving in combat.

The key moment in the report comes about seven minutes in, when Logan relays a story by Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo, the Medal of Honor recipient's squad leader, who was awarded a Silver Star for bravery displayed in the October 25, 2007, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, battle. Staff Sgt. Giunta's reaction, which is one of pain and sorrow for the loss of his best Army buddy, Sgt. Joshua Brennan, speaks a thousand words.

In this case, a prominent national media outlet got it right. And to his infinite credit, Staff Sgt. Giunta is trying to use the attention surrounding his Medal of Honor, the first presented to a living service member since Vietnam, to recognize the ultimate sacrifices made by Sgt. Brennan and Spc. Hugo Mendoza. While CBS News did a great job with this report, it shouldn't take a Medal of Honor for the national press to tell the stories of our fallen heroes.

Insulting our heroes

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Said Nasir Hashimi

Five coalition troops have been killed so far on Sunday, according to NATO, in the fight against insurgents and terrorists in Afghanistan. In an interview with The Washington Post published the same day, this is how Afghan President Hamid Karzai thanked the men and women of our allied forces for their sacrifices to combat the evil threatening his land and the world.

"The time has come to reduce military operations," Karzai said. "The time has come to reduce the presence of, you know, boots in Afghanistan . . . to reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life."

If you are a regular or even occasional reader of The Unknown Soldiers, you know that I rarely write about politics, as I strongly believe the subject is a distraction from the heroism of our men and women on the battlefield. Yet when a world leader, especially representing the very nation for which over one thousand Americans have died to liberate, it is impossible to sit on the sidelines.

How dare President Karzai refer to our troops, who help build schools, roads, and hospitals, not to mention confront the terrorists killing and maiming innocent civilians, as intrusive to Afghans. If American Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen are displaying 'intrusiveness,' what does he think of the brutal militants planting bombs in villages, oppressing women, and using children as human shields?

The intention of this post is not to take a political stance on the war in Afghanistan, although I openly believe that Gen. David Petraeus and the extraordinary men and women he commands are absolutely capable of winning the war. It is to remind everyone, especially journalists who continually fail to challenge Karzai's increasingly insane rhetoric, that we are this good guys in this post-9/11 conflict. Incredibly, Karzai had the nerve to relay the sentiments of the Taliban, which harbored Osama bin Laden before and after the terrorist attacks on New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, during his conversation with The Washington Post.

"They feel the same way as we do here. That too many people are suffering for no reason. Their own families are suffering," he said, and it is this "national suffering they'd like to address with us."

First, regardless of where you stand on when troops should be withdrawn, there was a clear, noble reason for the American-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. The United States of America was attacked and the brutal Taliban regime refused to hand over the murderers responsible. Second, I don't care about how insurgents 'feel.' I care about families like those of these 14 fallen warriors, all of whom volunteered to fight against terrorism, murder, and totalitarianism and for freedom, security, and peace.

In between his chats with insurgents, I wonder if President Karzai has bothered to become familiar with the story of Sgt. Joe Wrightsman, the heroic U.S. Marine who jumped into the Helmand River to save a drowning Afghan officer. Haji Abdul Manaf, the Nawa District governor, appropriately attended the fallen hero's Afghanistan memorial service and proclaimed that "his dedication will stay forever in the history of Afghanistan." Sadly, the actions of Afghanistan's president do not measure up to Manaf's noble tribute.

On Tuesday, November 16, Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta will be presented the Medal of Honor by President Obama at the White House for heroism he displayed in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Staff Sgt. Giunta's incredible efforts on October 25, 2007, saved several lives and define the meaning of selflessness. Two of his brothers in arms, Sgt. Joshua Brennan and Spc. Hugo Mendoza, were killed during the intense fighting, a fact that the Medal of Honor recipient does not want forgotten as he is honored this week. In keeping with the hero's wishes, The Unknown Soldiers will profile both of these fallen warriors in the days to come.

The next time someone from the U.S. government or national media talks to President Karzai, perhaps they can tell him where to find the satellite feed of Staff Sgt. Giunta's Tuesday Medal of Honor ceremony. Then, after witnessing the dignity and humility displayed by this brave American hero, who will be forever haunted by losing two friends on the battlefield, the Afghan president can issue a full and complete apology for his comments. In Afghanistan, America's volunteer warriors are not 'intruders.' They are liberators.



Note: To see subsequent sections of this interview with Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, courtesy of Master Sgt. Christina Bhatti, please click here and then look under 'related video.'

Walking through a grocery store

Images courtesy: HBO

Something an Iraq war veteran told me during a February interview for a USO article stuck with me since the day we spoke. He said that after returning home from combat, simple things like walking through a store were suddenly difficult. Whether it was carefully surveying the people around him or becoming disgusted when a shopper in line complained about frivolous problems, going out in public was often a high-stress experience that spurred some very uncomfortable emotions.

In 'Wartorn: 1861-2010', the new HBO documentary that premiered on Veterans Day, we actually see a combat veteran struggling with the very issue I first heard about over the winter, which was difficult for me to understand since I haven't served in the military. The film, which focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Civil War to the War on Terror, introduces us to Sgt. 1st Class William Frass Jr., pictured above, who we accompany on a harrowing journey to a local Wal-Mart with his wife and daughter.

The scene is incredibly effective at bringing PTSD to life, but also hard to watch, as you can see the frustration on the face of Sgt. 1st Class Frass' wife, Marie, as her husband struggles to complete seemingly simple grocery store tasks, like picking out bananas. By watching the soldier's expressions, you can also see him checking every aisle and eyeballing each customer, instinctively believing that a bomb could be buried under the cereal boxes or a terrorist could be hiding behind the deli counter. Before and after the scene, we hear the anguish of the soldier, his wife, and even his son, who was shown a digital picture of a dead Iraqi girl by his dad, who has become seemingly obsessed the horrific images of his war zone experience.

"I showed him real quick and he closed his eyes," the soldier said. "He wanted to know why I am the way I am, so I said 'okay, I'm gonna show you this.'"

"It freaked me out," the young boy replies.

This HBO project, co-executive produced by one of my favorite people in showbusiness, former 'Sopranos' star and fellow Rutgers graduate James Gandolfini, is an important historical document and call to action. Not only does the film demonstrate the impact combat has on the troops themselves, but proves without any shred of doubt that when a man or woman goes to war, his or her family is often going to war too.

Gandolfini, who traveled to Iraq to interview volunteer warriors affected by PTSD as part of the project, sat down with Gen. Ray Odierno, Commander of United States Joint Forces Command, in Baghdad.

"I think people don't understand what people go through here," the general told HBO. "You don't know when it's going to happen; you might think you're okay and then all of a sudden you go from complete calm to absolute chaos [just] like that, and that has an impact. Nobody is immune."

Watch the documentary to find out why the general himself is not immune, after dealing the devastating experience of his son being wounded in combat.

Millions of Americans will go to their local grocery stores today, roll carts around, and pick out the best apples and potatoes. Yet for some of the brave men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe, these simple tasks on the homefront bring on feelings of horror and even suicide. As 'Wartorn: 1861-2010' reminds us, supporting the troops is not just about waving the American flag or even making charitable donations. It is about being involved enough in your community to know that when a local hero returns from Iraq and Afghanistan, he or she might need your help. We can all start by asking one simple question: "How are you doing today?"

Note: For information or treatment for service members, veterans, and military families, call 1-800-342-9647 or go to Military OneSource.

For National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-TALK or go to the special page set up for veterans.

Mementos

As veterans, troops, and dignitaries gathered at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day 2010, I reflected on a few moments I recently spent at the final resting spot of Pfc. Sam Huff, one of our nation's fallen heroes from the Iraq war.

Buried on the sacred grounds of Arlington's Section 60, where many of our post-9/11 heroes rest, Pfc. Huff's headstone was surrounded by several touching mementos on this gray, unusually humid late October day. They included a bright pink heart, a royal blue flower, a red rock, and an American flag. While these precious items were presumably left by relatives or friends for their own reasons, there are parallels between these touching tokens of appreciation and the Soldier's compelling story.

The bright pink heart

Huff was a tough 18-year-old warrior, but also a "girlie-girl," according to a 2005 article by Alex Fryer of The Seattle Times. She loved wearing long, false eyelashes, and often joked to fellow Soldiers in Iraq that she could be in an air-conditioned studio modeling for Gap, where she had once landed a contract, instead of enduring the brutal desert heat. Huff loved to dance, especially with her fiance, with whom she had the romance most young women dream of.

The royal blue flower

Embedded inside this "girlie girl" heart was a strong spirit of service. Fryer writes that the only child, just 16 at the time, stunned her parents when she told them she planned to leave Tucson, Arizona, to join the Army and later the FBI. Yet as soon as she came to boot camp and eventually Iraq, her noble dedication to the mission, balanced with a flower's beauty, astonished fellow soldiers and even commanders.

"Within two weeks of her arriving in our unit, even I knew who she was," [Lt. Col. James] Switzer said. "Battalion commanders get to know their Soldiers for two reasons. They got in trouble or they are very unique individuals. Pfc. Huff was a unique individual. Her smile could light up a room. She could lighten the mood of any hardcore [noncommissioned officer] and even bring a smile to an old warrior's face."

Image courtesy: 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

The red rock

The young woman had a "backbone of steel," according to Sgt. Sam James, her team leader. As noted in a 2005 article by Pfc. Dan Balda, the sergeant had a tremendous amount of respect for her intelligence and warrior instincts.

"You would be hard pressed to find a Soldier that could learn and retain knowledge as fast as she did," James said. "If I wrote down every positive quality I'd want in a Soldier, Huff would still be better. She was the kind of Soldier that made being a leader in the Army fun."

Like a rock, as Bob Seger sang in the hit tune released the same year Pfc. Huff was born, she was strong as she could be.

The American flag

Romantic as a Julia Roberts movie, motivated like Hilary Swank's 'Million Dollar Baby' character, gorgeous as the Gap models she could have worked with, and tough as nails, Pfc. Huff believed she was "in the right place, doing the right thing, with the right people," as her parents conveyed to the military journalist. She loved America, and despite the uncomfortable uniform and unbearable Iraqi sun, Huff enjoyed serving with the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, based out of Washington's Fort Lewis.

On April 17, 2005, an improvised explosive device detonated near Pfc. Huff's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. She sustained catastrophic injuries, and tragically passed away at a Baghdad hospital.

At her Forward Operating Base Falcon memorial service, Lt. Col. Switzer made a prediction about his Soldier's burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

"I can bet you the sun will be shining that day, and up in heaven a bunch of old warriors will be smiling."

Almost five and a half years after her Arlington funeral, Pfc. Huff is buried next to her mother, retired Marine Cpl. Margaret Williams, who passed away from cancer on April 24, 2009, according to the Arlington National Cemetery website. While I didn't realize I was visiting a mother and daughter at the time, I will make sure to say another prayer when I return to the cemetery.

On Veterans Day, many of Pfc. Sam Huff's fellow troops who made it home from Iraq still miss their friend. Like millions of veterans around the country, they live with the pain of losing someone they hoped to share combat memories and new adventures with for the rest of their lives. Yet even amid tragedy and sorrow, the pink heart, royal blue flower, red rock, and American flag show us that the beauty of this Soldier's wonderful life and service to our country will never fade.