Brian
Hansen
English
101
Sept
17th 2012
My
forever life changing event in Afghanistan!
In the summer of 2010, in a northern city of Afghanistan,
I’ll vividly recreate a torturous 120 degree dry summer heat at the elevation
of 8,500 feet. Breathing, walking and the working conditions in this
environment were almost unbearable! You could literally see the heat rising off
the desert sand, similar to fog floating over the ocean in the morning. The
scenery was nothing but dull beige colored sand, mountains for days and houses
constructed of clay, mud and sticks. Not to mention, there weren’t any rivers,
lakes, vegetation or trees to be seen for miles in any direction. Men wore robes and towels on their heads of
every dark and light color. As for the women they were covered from head to toe
in the same, but only allowed to show their eyes!
I
begin on a thirty day mission in March 2010,
departing with six other Navy Seabee construction soldiers; to an
underdeveloped command outpost in northern Afghanistan called Jaghatu,
pronounced (you got to). We used this way of pronouncing Jaghatu as a joke
quite often. Saying things like, “you got to get to work”, and “you got to be
kidding me!” These simple sayings always created laughter on very stressful
days. Our mission jumps off on a major
adrenaline rush by flying in low to this dangerous area on a couple of Chinook
helicopters. These helicopters are of the largest ones with two huge separate
propellers on top them. The gunner’s mates were now manning there 50.caliber
machine guns; hanging out the sides of the chopper to protect us. Once we saw
them do this, we looked at each other and didn’t even have to say a word; we
just knew we were in for the longest thirty days of our lives ever!
Our tasks were to build up the camp with eight force
protection weapons guard towers, twelve berthing living quarters, a galley, a
hospital station, a central electrical grid for the entire camp and five armory
storage centers. My fellow Seabees I worked with were; SWC Rich, UT3 Yancey,
BU3 Orrantia, BU3 Russell, BU3 Lane, CE3 Mortimer and CE3 Collins. We also
worked alongside the Navy Seals of the Naval Special Warfare Group 1 and the
101st Airborne Army Rangers. The other main goals were; to train the
Afghanistan Army and their policeman in much construction and combat tasks!
Construction sounds were blaring with power saws
cutting wood, metal and concrete; also hammers hitting nails and wood were like
music to our ears. Heavy equipment vehicles like combat trucks, cranes, bull
dozers and front end loaders were maneuvering nonstop. Now let’s not forget the
most intense military war sounds going on here; jets screaming overhead, jets
dropping JDAM missiles and helicopter blades spinning! Furthermore, what made
you feel extremely grateful to be alive every single second of each day were; missiles
whistling over head, gun fire blazing by, howitzer cannon’s blasting off,
mortar tubes firing off and rockets blowing up nearby everywhere! How we all
covered each other’s backs were by yelling; “take cover or incoming” over and
over, all throughout the day and night!
Fortunately, for all of us United
States Armed Forces we had to wear sixty plus pounds worth of kevlar body armor
and nine pound helmets, as for the Afghanistan people; unfortunately they
didn’t have any of these luxuries which resulted in many deaths. Each and every
one these tasks were completed while being attacked every day by direct fire
from enemy terrorists. While building these structures, we worked 14 hours each
day without a day off. Our overall
mental state of mind wasn’t high considering; we were going out to build and
might not come back. It caused so much frustration and anger arguments that
literally made us at each other’s throats. Things drastically became more and
more disgusting, especially when I give you a sense of smell of over 150
soldiers that haven’t taken showers in months, yes up to 3 months even; it was
wretched to say to least!
However, when
everyone smells of the same rank staleness, your ability to handle the
disgustingness becomes oddly manageable. Another disgusting smell was; we had
to burn our fecal matter and trash waste each day, which somehow we were always
downwind to the burning crap cans while we were working? Given the high winds
each day, the smell of dust and dirt in your nose was constant as well. Till
this day all those smells seem to be ingrained in my nose forever!
Giving that I
served in Iraq once, Africa once, Guam once and Afghanistan on two separate
tours injury free is mind boggling. Now where my life changing event takes
place is unfortunately right on the 29th day of my very last 30 day
mission in Afghanistan! One day before we were heading out of this hell hole!
This nightmare begins by me standing atop the side rail of one of the 12 by 12
foot weapons guard towers we were constructing. I began guiding in the roof
from a crane nearby, and somehow I lost my footing while getting off the
structure during an incoming missile attack on us.
Then
unfortunately from about ten to twelve feet high I crashed really hard. Just like
in a dream or something, I freefell backwards, face to the sky, right onto my
back, tailbone, arm and my head. Immediately I lost my breath, I couldn’t feel
my left foot or my left arm, and it left me paralyzed for what seemed like
forever! When I was able to speak, I did yell out in pain the most cuss words
you could possibly imagine. Not going to lie, but a bit of screaming might have
been heard I think too?
During this time
all I could think about was I won’t be able to golf again; which sounds trivial,
but it is my true passion and it’s what keeps me alive to say the least! I was
also thinking about my career on how I would be able still serve out the rest
of my tour. My fellow Seabee’s needed me and I needed them. BU3 Orrantia and
BU3 Russell both came to my rescue, swiftly carrying me to the Army Ranger
doctor to get assessed. Immediately without even a blink of an eye, the Doctor
shot me up with morphine in my lower back area for my unmistakable pain! He
then sincerely said, “I was very fortunate to not break my back or neck and
become immediately paralyzed”! Without any hesitation I said thank you!
Something very thoughtful of my
coworkers did for me was; they made me a hand carved wood cane with inlaid bomb
shrapnel, bullets and tassel’s with
bullets hanging on the end. Along the edge of the cane had a written scripture saying
“Jaghatu walk straight” or as we pronounce it “you got to walk straight!” This
might have made me furious on any other day, instead it did the exact opposite;
I became hysterical and laughed for what seemed like eternity! The time they took to make this for me
was extremely special and I actually loved the gift. Ironically, I even ended
up using it quite a bit to assist my walking as well! Unfortunately, many
people were injured and killed during this thirty day nightmare. However, I
explain selfishly, as the officer in charge, I was very fortunate enough to
bring the six soldiers I was responsible for back home unharmed, thank God!
Giving the extent of this injury
since its conception over two years ago, I am still working through major
physical therapy, electrical shock therapy and ultra sounds 2 to 3 times a
week. The doctors say my nerves may never regenerate more than 50%? I have been
through four separate MRI’s, an extensive brain scan and one spinal tap. Just
recently at UCLA medical center, I was approved to get the rarest test
performed, a Thoracic Outlet 3D imaging MRI. It showed the nerve that has been
pinched, cutting off blood flow to my brain, arm and leg. Finally, they know what
is causing all these issues with my body; it is called a weird name of Brachial
Plexus Neuropathy a very rare nerve disorder. Unfortunately, the doctors say, “it’s
too risky to surgically go in and fix it.” They are concerned of doing more
harm than good? However, I am very determined to prove them wrong; like I have
done all throughout my life thus far with every other injury I’ve been dealt
with!
The four ways this mission have
changed me are; mentally, emotionally, physically and humbly. Mentally, I’ve
seen many different psychologists/psychiatrists and have been placed on many
different medications to help me cope with the issues that come along with war!
Emotionally, my career has been cut short causing a huge void in my life!
Physically, I have major nerve damage all through my left side of my body
especially in my shoulder, arm and hand; which it puts shooting pain, numbing
and tingling pain up and down my arm nonstop! Lastly, and most importantly I
have become more humble; having accepted my faith on what God has in store for
me, and I have become as content with my future as one possibly can! Learning
that acknowledging empathy is good and ignoring sympathy is better!
