Anyone Up To Talk About Trashcanistan With Me?

[Afghanmadman52nd]

Trashcanistan blew my mind too, thats why I'll never go back lol. And i joined out of high school so yeah I was pretty much the youngest guy out of all the EOD techs. And thanks for the respect, not wanting to go back or leaving that shithole doesnt make you a pussy, that makes you normal. Nobody should have to see and do the things we saw and did.

And yeah those controlled dets are amazing to watch, its like witnessing the closest thing to the power of God Himself. Its a huge rush.

And I only did one tour myself, but the combat was VERY intense, as i imagine it must have been in Sangin as well. Thats why i was medically discharged, took an RPK round through the arm, got blown up in a Buffalo by a 150 pound + IED, giving me mTBI. After my discharge, I was diagnosed with severe chronic (complex) combat related PTSD. So you are no pussy haha, you are just smart and watching out for yourself. You did your service to your country, and one tour is MORE than enough.

Spc. Dave

 

[Chin Strapped]

I managed to get away with just a knackered ear and mind! Got shot through the day sack once. Ambushed from about 25m away the bastards, couple of guys took a round through and round the helmet, They were untouched. Luck buggers. One guy was wasn't so lucky, poor guy, but that's the nature of the beast I guess.

 

[Afghanmadman52nd]

Yes it is, In a war casualties are bound to happen unfortunately.... And getting shot sucks, glad you didn't have to experience it bro.
And it's unfortunate that the Hadjis would seem to shoot from nowhere..... I never hit a target less than 100 meters away, except for one patrol where 2 Hadjis drove up on a moped.... they sure do love mopeds.

Oh and by the way, if you hear "Allahu Akbar" yelled at any time, the shit is sure to hit the fan:poop: lol..... thats a fact.

Spc. Dave

 

[Chin Strapped]

Primitive living....with a touch of moped!....and the odd mobile phone...sim cards normally taken out.

Used to hate hearing those words mate, such a determined enemy. Just got to wait for it to kick off as soon as you here it. I remember having a euro fighter do a show of force on one patrol, we were in some shit situation so this fighter jet flew over us that low my legs crippled with adrenaline; amazing feeling. Didn't deter the bastards though, had to get an Apache to help out too, that was incredible, fire power was crazy. Felt like I was in a movie, looked up and there it was just hovering and pounding a compound/orchard so we could extract, they cheeky gits were still taking single shots, god knows from where.

I bet it's surreal actually taking a hit, I know quite a few on here have war wounds of a physical nature. I count my blessings I got away injury free. My mate got back about 8 months ago, he took three rounds to the body armour, one through the sole of his boot and the extracted a casualty to safety! Hero, lol. We wind him up, but he won a military cross. Green on blue attack, took three guys out instantly; all those behind my mate and injured the guy infront of him (who he saved) Insane.

 

[Afghanmadman52nd]

It truly is insane bro. And I still hate hearing those words. Green on blue was pretty damn common. Too common. I just viewed all ANA as Taliban and made sure they never got behind me.... I think it kept me safe.

As far as getting shot goes, at first you just feel like a whole lot of pressure hits you and your endorphines and adrenaline keep the pain away for a little while. I just felt my arm snap back and kept on shooting in the direction i got hit from until this incredibly strong burning/throbbing pain set in and I took cover, dropped my weapon and screamed for the medic. at this point I looked at my arm which continued to swell up, and the pain continued to rise.

The medic put some antiseptic on it that burned like SHIT (probably something like 70% rubbing alcohol) and poured quik-clot powder on it to stop the bleeding (which burned like even more shit) At this point I'm in really f*ckin bad pain so he sticks a Fentanyl lollipop in my mouth and says "Suck on this" being agitated and in pain I reply "How bout' YOU suck on THIS, buddy, (pointing toward my manhood)" at which he laughed.

Within 30 seconds of sucking on this medicated berry tasting 1200 microgram Fentanyl pop, I was out. I woke up in Germany, lol.

Spc. Dave

 

[Chin Strapped]

Those lollies are great. Quick clot is a bit extreme. We had that removed from our med kit, over the top really. You can stem blood flow and cause less grief by other means.

at least you made it back mate, quick clot or not; I bet that hurt.

 

[Afghanmadman52nd]

Yep glad I made it back home..... physically at least hahaa...

Spc. Dave

 

[Spock]

Good to see you gents made friends.

 

[JarHed]

I do have a question that I'd like to ask. I do try to stay on top of events that are taking place in the world today, or as best as I'm able. My question is this; why did we go into Afghanistan in the first place and what do we hope to gain from the war there?

It's a question like many I have about the whys and wherefores of wars. I ask it here as you guys were there and know what went on first hand. I hope ya'll understand that it in no way is meant to a smartass question. I'm honest when I say that I just don't get it.

Jar

 

[Afghanmadman52nd]

Honestly Jar, at first I think we went to Afghanistan to do three things; A) Try to establish government, democracy, and dissolve the taliban control, B) Win "hearts and minds" so that they would accept a government (they don't want one trust me) and try to give them modernization and education systems. Last but not least, C) To find and kill UBL and all of his main supporters.

The reason we are still there, in my honest opinion, is that the Afghan people have become so used to our presence that they rely on us for damn near everything. Because the Afghan National Army is practically untrainable, and very cowardly, and I do believe that ANY form of government that the Afghan people EVER have will be corrupt/under taliban influence in some way.

90% of the worlds opium and heroin comes from Afghan poppies, yet they told us very strictly to leave the fields alone. I have my own opinions about that.... But these poor Afghan farmers have been living off of the VERY small profit of those poppies for so long they dont want to live any other way and I honestly think that Afghanistan will always be violence and poverty stricken. And i HONESTLY do not believe that they want any form of government, occupation, control, or democracy. They want to be left alone to live the way they have been living for a very, very, very long time.

Thats my two cents, Jar, for what it's worth.

Sincerely,

Spc. Dave

 

[Zipperhead]

On September 11th, Al-Qaeda was headquartered out of Afghanistan. They were not an official political element within the country, but they did enjoy support and protection from the Taliban Government in power. The initial response of the United States was to demand that the training centres be closed, and that the power figures within the terrorist cells be handed over. The Afghan Government refused and the US response was to commence operations designed to accomplish those goals.

The US is a member of NATO. In the terms of the NATO agreement the stated goal is that if any member state was attacked, all other members were to come to their aid. As such, Canada was automatically in a state of war with Afghanistan once they launched attacks against the US. As such we commenced our operations in Afghanistan in February 2002. I was a driver back then. Being on that first Roto I was amazed with the speed at which the US forces deployed. It took us 5 months to put tires on the tarmac. The US had already been in theatre for 3 months. Many of the US troops I served with during that 7 month Roto joined because of September 11th. Amazing.

By the end of that 7 month tour, the terrorist cells were in disarray. For some reason we then launched into nation building operations. Why we cared enough to try to rebuild that ungrateful and backward hell hole I'll never know, but so far 158 Canadians have died on Afghan soil. All so some girls could go to school. And when we leave next year? Those girls won't be going to school anymore.

 

[JarHed]

Hey Dave

Thanks for the info. Much of what you said reminded me of VietNam. Establish a govt, with the hearts and minds and kill Ho Chi Minh. Seems like a lot hasn't changed in all these years. I appreciate your response it's helpful.

Thanks for the input Zip. Guess being our ally isn't a good thing. And NATO, well lets' not even go there.

I'm sure as ya'll have said, after all the troop are gone it will pretty much revert back to where it was. Sad to say for the effort and lives given.

Jar