A Soldier's Story
by Larry Chaston

In 2002 while stationed on a firebase in Afghanistan, I knew we had to win the hearts and minds of the local Pashtoon people. The Al Qaeda had invaded Afghanistan a decade before and imposed their fundamentalist ideas on these people. We were there to gain back their freedom. They knew we were Christians (Catholic, Mormon, and Protestant), whom they considered infidels. In January of 2002 the Al Qaeda destroyed the mosque used by locals to worship. In talking with Abdul Hajji, the senior interpreter, he did not want to give us encouragement or help because he did not want infidels building the new Mosque.

Abdul and I discussed possibilities, including keeping infidels, us, away from the Mosque, especially after it was built. We could desecrate it with thoughtless acts. I told Abdul we were the same: we both believed in strong family, the laws of Moses, and prayed to the same God. Abdul asked "Do you pray to Allah?"  I responded,  "I pray to the God of Abraham." Abdul nodded his head and we found commonality.

We began building the Mosque. A local architect was picked. All the materials, including bricks and logs, were purchased from local suppliers. Locals were employed for construction labor.  Together we built the Mosque, replacing the damage done to the community by the Al Qaeda.

Several times a week the firebase was rocketed by Al Qaeda. Because they lacked rocket launchers, they piled rocks, leaned the rocket against the rocks, and aimed it at us.  Timed-pencil fuses were set to ignite several minutes to hours later, giving the Al Qaeda time to exit the area before detonation of the rockets. In order for rockets to arm, they must twist in the air after launch, therefore only about half of them armed and exploded upon impact.  The rockets landed in the farmers' fields around us and even crash through roofs, landing in their homes.

The executive officer,  the Captain,  who in real life is a farmer from Idaho, employed another concept.  He wanted to destroy all of the unexploded rockets in the surrounding fields.  The Captain went from house to house, asking if the family had unexploded bombs or rockets in their homes or fields and offering to destroy the ordnance to keep the children safe. The Pashtoon people were so pleased they began coming to the firebase gate, asking for the Captain and showing him where rockets were located, allowing us to destroy the explosives and work together to protect their children. In only a few weeks, all the loose ordnance was destroyed.

I found commonality with Abdul. The Captain  found it with the fathers of the children around our base, allowing us to accomplish our goal of helping the people of Afghanistan.

When people find their commonalities they can get along and become friends even under most stressful conditions. This I believe.

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