First Essay- Life changing event in Afghan.

Brian Hansen

English 101

Sept 17^th 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 101^st 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 29^th 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!