I’m reading “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor” right now, and it’s the most searing and painful and gripping book that I’ve read in a long time.
What these soldiers went through (and are going through) in Afghanistan is beyond words. After reading about yet another one who paid the ultimate price — after weeks and weeks of multiple surgeries, with his wife and kids praying and almost certain he’d finally make it — I had to put it down and go give Danah a hug.
It’s about the third time I’ve nearly come to tears, and I’m only halfway through it. Believe me, if you’re blessed enough to have your loved one with you, go give them a hug. You have no idea how lucky you are.
There are a lot of families that have been ripped apart or forced to face major changes when their loved one has returned seriously wounded. If you’re under a roof right now, just remember that there are thousands of men and women out in that rain and mud worried to death about staying alive.
We must not forget these men and women, nor can we allow Afghanistan to become our own forgotten war like Korea. I don’t know what else to say… I just needed to vent and I’m at a loss of words.
Please. Thank a veteran. Hug a veteran. Take care of any spouses you know of.
Our safety, security, and immeasurable blessings and comforts have been (and are being) paid for by a heavy, heavy price, borne by very, very few.
Just think on that as you watch TV tonight. And hug your wife or husband and be thankful for these great men and women.
Stan R. Mitchell
Oak Ridge, Tenn.
P.S. Please accept the greatest gift I can give, a book I believe to be worth $10,000.
P.P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novels a success. I seriously couldn’t have done it with everyone’s support. I’m excited to say that Little Man, and the Dixon County War has gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here). My second novel, Sold Out, has also done well, also, going as high as No. 81 on the Amazon Paid List for the category of War (see here and here). Learn more about both books here.
I should have added that it’s not uncommon for me to get emotional or more often, super pissed off, in regards to wars, vets, and politicians. See here: https://stanrmitchell.com/2012/03/01/act-of-valor-a-movie-review-turns-into-a-full-blown-rant/
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I know what you mean, Stan. Just finished reading “The Yellow Birds”, a story about a tour in Iraq, and couldn’t sleep for a couple of days afterward.
Just getting caught up to stuff. Good to hear from you, man.
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Hadn’t heard of that one. Most non-fiction doesn’t read as good as Tapper’s. This thing is paced like a novel. And the reviews (many from soldiers that he wrote about) tell me he didn’t exaggerate, lie, or distort.
The book is really something else, and it makes me want to have some serious words with some of our civilian leaders… I KNOW you can relate to that. I don’t know how you did time in ‘Nam and came back w/o ending up in jail…
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And what did we get for defending this outpost? Nothing. We need to get out of there ASAP and stop the waste of lives (and limbs and brains).
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Yes, totally agree. I was for pulling out before reading this book, but reading it and learning more of the complexity and frustration of dealing with the Afghan people… We need to get out pronto. It’s just so sad the sacrifice that we’ve already paid, and that we fought this war on the cheap and practically guaranteed its failure.
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I don’t see us staying till the end of 2014. Both parties want us out, a very rare but welcome point of agreement.
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And that’s why I hate the two-party system.
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Well done, my friend. I’ll have a look at that. At the risk of ingesting politics into the mix (on the other hand, what war isn’t political?), I recall the Republicans being taken to task for Iraq – but Afghanistan continues on and on, thanks to the liberal media and the Democratic party. Just my two cents 🙂
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Yeah, the politics on it are strange. And thanks for sharing it on your blog!
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