- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 10
First of all, I'd like to start by saying that I've ALWAYS supported our troops, and our country. The realism of war however, had never really hit me, until my brother was deployed to Afghanistan. His deployment was followed by 3 mths of me being worried sick, then 3 weeks of wondering if I would see him again after his mid-tour leave, then a final 3 mths of being worried sick. When he arrived home finally 6 weeks ago (I'm talking home as in our home town), he brought back many videos and pictures from his mission in Afghanistan. He was in the Battle Group and there were many videos of combat. And just to clarify, none of the videos I've watched contained classified or "not publicly available" footage/information, so I'm sure what I've seen was only the tip of the iceberg. Watching these videos was almost surreal. Like something you'd only see in the movies, only difference was, people I knew and grew up with, were comming under fire, sometimes heavy fire. When the crap was really starting to hit the fan, and the ANA were cowering and shaking with fear, our soldiers moved forward. Bullets could be heard bouncing off the LAVIII's, grenades being thrown in succession towards the enemy. Our military was like a well oiled machine, the troops could almost think for eachother and KNEW what each other's actions/re-actions would be. They fought with confidence, and got right down to business, making the combat "APPEAR" to be a training mission. They worked so well together that thier fighting almost looked like it was coreographed. While under fire I did not see a single soldier hesitate to do his/her job, unlike the ANA who would literally turtle behind a wall, close thier eyes, plug thier ears, and shake with fear.
I also saw pictures of our troops sleeping on beds of rocks, laying on the sand with thier heads in what little shade the LAV's were able to provide. They were dirty, tired, sore, and in discomfort......but they never complained. While some soldiers were sleeping, they were awoken to a couple of yells from other troops, as it appeared as though a possible threat was approaching. They jumped into action and readied themselves.....this time nothing happened.....but I was able to understand and visualize the dangers they were in, when they jumped into action because of a silouette spotted in the distance.
On a daily basis, our troops tread right into the centre of Hell and back, just to wake up the next morning and do it all over again.
To those of you who fought beside my brother, I thank you for having his back, and for keeping him safe. I can honestly say, I wouldn't have wanted him over there with anyone else other than you guys/girls. The ONLY comfort I had while he was over there, was knowing that he was not alone, and that YOU his military familly, were right there with him.
To the rest of our soldiers who have been, are there now, and will go there......THANK YOU! Thank you from a Canadian, and from this entire Country! You men/women are what makes Canada the GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!!!
And finally.....to the fallen.....Heroes of our Nation.....We will never forget you.....
I also saw pictures of our troops sleeping on beds of rocks, laying on the sand with thier heads in what little shade the LAV's were able to provide. They were dirty, tired, sore, and in discomfort......but they never complained. While some soldiers were sleeping, they were awoken to a couple of yells from other troops, as it appeared as though a possible threat was approaching. They jumped into action and readied themselves.....this time nothing happened.....but I was able to understand and visualize the dangers they were in, when they jumped into action because of a silouette spotted in the distance.
On a daily basis, our troops tread right into the centre of Hell and back, just to wake up the next morning and do it all over again.
To those of you who fought beside my brother, I thank you for having his back, and for keeping him safe. I can honestly say, I wouldn't have wanted him over there with anyone else other than you guys/girls. The ONLY comfort I had while he was over there, was knowing that he was not alone, and that YOU his military familly, were right there with him.
To the rest of our soldiers who have been, are there now, and will go there......THANK YOU! Thank you from a Canadian, and from this entire Country! You men/women are what makes Canada the GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!!!
And finally.....to the fallen.....Heroes of our Nation.....We will never forget you.....
