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NEWS | March 11, 2010

Georgia Guardsmen on the Pakistan border

By Senior Chief Petty Officer Kevin Elliott 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team<

DAND PATAN, Afghanistan - Combat Outpost Dand Patan clings to the side of a hill about 200 yards from the Pakistan Border.

"You can throw a rock and hit Pakistan," said 1st Lt. Timothy Moran, executive officer for Bravo Company, 2-121, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia Army National Guard.

The outpost is so isolated, the first two weeks Bravo Company lived there, water and MRE's were airdropped in.

"When we first found we were coming to the Pakistan border it was a little nerve racking," Moran said. "But actually coming out here and working with the Afghan border police really wasn't as bad as what we had expected."

The ABP is a paramilitary force that controls border crossings. Bravo Company worked hand in hand with the ABP to improve border checkpoints, searching incoming vehicles and personnel and taught them how to keep unwanted materials and people from entering Afghanistan.

"This unit is one of the first units to push this far on the border," said Moran. "We've worked diligently to improve relations with Afghan national security forces."

Moran said they often sit down with their Afghan counterparts, talk about their families, personal relationships and drink Chai.

"One cup makes you an acquaintance," he said. "Two cups makes you a friend and three cups of Chai is supposed to make you a family member. I've drunk more cups than I can count."

Working in a combined action environment with the Afghans is not without risk.

"The biggest risk of combined actions is taking for granted that they will do what we think they are supposed to do," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Huffman, squad leader of 1st platoon.

"Because combined action means we do everything together. The biggest risk is a risk of complacency and when we stop supervising is when bad things happen. The biggest benefit is that once you are their friend, they will die for you. They will do anything for you. They will break their backs for you."

When Bravo Company first arrived, there was only a rock wall surrounding the camp and a few empty buildings. The Soldiers had to rely on their own resources for everything.

"We've been very fortunate," said Sgt. Jason Abercrombie, the senior company medic. "We have several guys with civilian jobs that have been very useful; electricians, heating and air, carpenters. All of our civilian talents played a huge roll in making things function here."

Abercrombie's medical skills came into play when a suicide bomber infiltrated the camp and injured five soldiers. Despite taking shrapnel to his back and legs, Abercrombie gave triage to the wounded and worked hard to save the life of an unresponsive Soldier, who eventually came around and was flown to a hospital. That night in the shower, he pulled a piece of shrapnel out of his own leg. He had been wounded before in Iraq when an IED blew up his Humvee. "It wasn't my first rodeo getting blown up, but I hope it's the last," he said.

The challenges of living on the front line have not been lost on Sgt. Lionel Mingo.

"It's living a dream, making memories," he said. "Being on the Pakistan border as opposed to being in the rear, I know where the frontline is now. It gives you a sense of heightened awareness. Five years from now I'm going to remember that I was part of this experience, I was literally at the front line and I gave my all to the mission. I left nothing here."

Moran said it all comes down to trust. "I believe we've built a trust with the ABP," he said. "They respect the fact that we've come from far away to assist in building their paramilitary force and they've made us feel invited. We are their guests."

 

 

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