In the years since the U.S. war in Afghanistan began in October 2001, a number of defining books and movies have helped the American public understand how its troops lived, fought and sometimes died there.
Sebastian Junger’s documentary Restrepo and his accompanying works like “War” and “Korengal” helped audiences understand the brutal reality of fighting in the country’s rugged mountainous northeast, and Wes Morgan’s The Hardest Place placed that struggle into the broader context of the political-military establishment’s strategic failures in the country.
One veteran I know served in the Korengal with Battle Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s 2-503rd Infantry, earning a valor award for his actions there. When we chatted about the way his slice of the Afghanistan War was portrayed in books and on screen, he reminded me that other units across the country had very different fights — they just didn’t have their Junger or Morgan to immortalize it yet.
But author Ben Kesling, a former Marine infantry officer and reporter at the Wall Street Journal, has written what may be the defining book about a very different version of the war in southern Afghanistan: the arid-yet-lush, improvised explosive device-scattered Arghandab Valley in Kandahar Province.
Kesling’s new book, “Bravo Company: An Afghanistan Deployment And Its Aftermath,” follows the paratroopers of Bravo Company of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2-508th Infantry from their pre-deployment training — when they thought they’d be heading to Iraq — through the twists and turns of a 2008-2009 Afghanistan deployment that saw three Bravo soldiers killed and and nearly half of the company decorated with the Purple Heart for combat wounds. And most of the killed and wounded fell victim to IEDs, with little warning or opportunity to fight the Taliban face-to-face.
Bravo Company: An Afghanistan Deployment And Its Aftermath
by Ben Kesling, Harry N. Abrams, November 1, 2022
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Soldiers waded through filthy canals and streams as much as possible for their daily patrols, since they figured not even the Taliban could plant bombs there. One NCO recalled wading several miles in his dress uniform to the battalion command post to appear before the sergeant major for a promotion board. When the soldier and his comrades showed up, their uniforms ruined, the CSM abruptly cancelled the board interviews to go on a battlefield circulation trip.
Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division ford a stream during a security patrol in the Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, Dec. 3, 2009. (Tech. Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II/Air Force)
The author masterfully captures the dark humor that troops used to cope with their real anxieties through writing that simultaneously captures the infantryman’s spirit (and profanity) in a way any reader can understand. First troops would joke that they didn’t want to be saved if they lost a leg, but as more and more of them lost limbs, the joke evolved to if they lost two legs. But as the number of double amputees mounted, the sacred body parts that young paratroopers (whose units did not yet have women) didn’t want to lose moved a little bit north.
“[A]fter a while two legs gone didn’t seem so bad. So they’d say, ‘Man, if I get blown up and lose my dick, don’t even try and save me,’” explained Kesling. “That one never changed. The dick is a sacred piece of Army gear that no soldier can imagine losing. Even the balls are somewhat expendable.”
Eventually many soldiers refused to patrol as casualties mounted. On the other side of the valley, the battalion’s Charlie Company saw a similar phenomenon unfold, though they at least got to see the Taliban (and shoot them) sometimes.
But Bravo Company goes further than telling the story of the company’s Arghandab war. Kesling also follows the men of Bravo home, where the Department of Veterans Affairs identified its solders as being at “extraordinary risk” of mental health struggles due to the nature of the combat they saw and the high rate of both visible — and invisible — wounds.
The book tells the story of how one soldier who lost his foot — Steve Towery — struggled with whether he was truly a combat veteran or not. He’d lost his foot to an IED on the first day Bravo took casualties, ending his war earlier than that of his colleagues. He would tell his young children that a shark had eaten it, or that he’d lost a knife fight in Mexico.
Another soldier, Staff Sgt. Allen Thomas, had been wounded by a suicide bomber and medically retired. He never fully recovered, eventually killing two neighbors and himself in a 2013 murder-suicide in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Then another Bravo vet, Derek Hill, died by suicide in 2018.
That led the VA to partner with a non-profit and take an innovative approach to community support for Bravo Company vets: a pilot public-private partnership brought 98 of them together in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2019, connecting them to one another and resources that can change their lives. And since that transformative reunion, no Bravo vets have died by suicide.
Throughout the book, Kesling’s own saltiness and cynicism shines through at times, offering an authentic edge to his work.
That’s what makes his telling of Bravo Company’s redemptive reunion compelling — leaving readers hopeful of the lessons it offers for those who may still be struggling and disconnected during the war that follows redeployment.
“Bravo Company: An Afghanistan Deployment And Its Aftermath” by Ben Kesling released Nov. 1 and is available for purchase at local bookstores and retailers around the country.
Originally published by Military Times, our sister publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during and after the Gulf War
The Gulf War was a historic event that forever changed the face of the world. It was the most difficult and costly military operation since World War II. But the most important aspect of the war was the concept behind it.
The concept was called "Shock and Awe." It had two main goals: 1) To shock and (2) to awe the enemy.
Saddam Hussein was completely unaware of the plan, and it worked. He was unaware of the surprise that awaited him. We used his ignorance to create fear and confusion using our technology.
The next step was for him to know exactly where we were. We bombed Iraq using precision-guided munition. This made us feel more secure and allowed our focus to shift to the second objective.
Our strategy was to make him panic so that he would give up immediately. Our goal was to get him to surrender without any bloodshed.
To do this, we needed to show him that we weren't going to back down. If we did, it could mean disaster for him and his regime.
But, we also wanted show him we meant business. We were serious about winning the war.
This was accomplished by dropping bombs on Baghdad, which shocked the Iraqi army and government. This caused them retreat and forced us to liberate Kuwait.
The result was that the Iraqis lost their war. They didn't recover from the attack and their economy was destroyed.
Saddam Hussein was arrested and tried for crimes against humanity. He was sentenced and later released for health reasons.
Since then, Iraq has been in constant turmoil. Their infrastructure has been destroyed and terrorists now control it.
Who were the first to use guns for war?
Humans have used guns for thousands of years.
They were initially only used by the wealthy and powerful. However, over time, more commoners started to use them.
The Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) brought the first gunpowder weapons to China.
Additionally, until 1406, the Mongols used bows-and-arrows to guide their troops. Then they switched to firearms.
In 1522, King Francis I of France issued a decree stating that everyone must own a musket.
Henry VIII finally ordered all men between 18 and 60 to learn how shoot a weapon in 1526.
What are the sources of military history?
The great war changed everything. From 1914 when it began to end in 1945 the Great War saw millions die and empires crumble, as well as nations rise and fall. It was life-changing for the combatants. They lost their homes and livelihoods and suffered the loss of loved ones.
The Great War has been a time of discovery, exploration and controversy for historians. It has been a discipline academic that provides context to understand how humans respond to extreme stress and pressure.
While much of our knowledge of the Great War derives from official documents and memoirs written by participants, there is another source of information - the stories told by those who lived through the conflict. These personal accounts provide insights into the motivations behind the decisions made during wartime.
They reveal the feelings and emotions experienced by soldiers and civilians alike, and they help us better understand why events unfolded as they did.
How long has the U.S. army been around?
The United States Army's roots can be traced back to 1775, when General George Washington created the Continental Army. Congress created the United States Marine Corps with legislation passed in 1784.
The birth of the Navy can be traced back to March 27, 1794, when President George Washington signed an agreement establishing the United States Navy.
In 1815, during War of 1812, U.S. Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS) was created to collect customs duty along America's coastlines.
During World War II the United States Office of Strategic Services, (OSS), was founded. The OSS was transformed into the Central Intelligence Agency in 1947.
The Department of Homeland Security was created to consolidate federal agencies involved with domestic security after the September 11th attacks.
The U.S Armed Forces comprises the Army, Air Forces Coast Guard Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and National Guard.
What was the Vietnam War like at its beginning?
As the war started, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), had more soldiers, better equipment and superior training. American soldiers were more firepowerful, with air support and artillery.
The NVA also enjoyed an enormous advantage in manpower. They had nearly twice the number of Communist troops to fight them than U.S. soldiers.
After two years' of continuous combat, however, the United States military force grew stronger as its enemy became more weaker. In 1969, Americans had more deaths in combat than the World War II casualties.
This was possible because of the advancements in weapons systems and tactics. In particular, the introduction of helicopter gunships and aircraft carriers allowed U.S. commanders to strike deep within enemy territory.
This made the conflict less popular among the general population, especially young people. One poll showed fewer than half of college students supported the war effort. During this time, the U.S. and South Vietnam were using chemical warfare against the Viet Cong. Students for a Democratic Society was one of the many groups that protested this tactic.
What is the difference in a war and revolution?
A war refers to a situation in which you wage war on another country or group of people. You fight them until one side wins or loses.
Revolution is when your life changes. You overthrow your government and start over again with new laws and rules.
It is not always easy to discern the difference between these things.
They may look very similar at times. They can look very similar at times. For example, the French Revolution began as a rebellion against the monarch but was transformed into a revolution when the king was murdered.
The United States fought the Viet Cong, a communist group, during the Vietnam War. However, it eventually changed its tactics.
Before becoming a democratic country today, the United States experienced many changes.
Who won the Battle of Gettysburg?
This battle took part in the American Civil War (1861-65). General Ulysses S. Grant, Union Army, defeated Confederate troops led General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870).
The battle's outcome had an enormous effect on both sides. It was the turning point for the war. It signaled the end for slavery to the Union.
Lincoln's famous Emancipation Proclamation, which was published in 1863, freed slaves from rebel states. He signed the 13th Amendment in the Constitution, which effectively abolished slavery throughout America.
General Robert E. Lee surrendered before General Ulysses S Grant in Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865.
Lee was made prisoner of War after his surrender. He died in 1870.
Grant was awarded a Medal of Honor in recognition of his leadership during battle.
He died in 1885.
Statistics
- Of military historians, 0% are Socialist, 8% are Other, 35% are Liberal, and 18% are (en.wikipedia.org)
- Kimball reports that: Of historians in the field of diplomatic history, 7% are Socialist, 19% are Other, 53% are Liberal, 11% are None, and 10% are Conservative. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
history.army.mil
networks.h-net.org
web.archive.org
- Documenting Shock and Awe in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom
- HELLAS:NET - Warfare
How To
What did the U.S. and Russia do during WWII, China?
China, Russia, United States and Russia had been allies from 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Hitler turned his attention toward the Soviet Union, however, after Germany invaded Russia June 1941. Operation Barbarossa became an invasion of Soviet Union by Hitler in December 1941.
Hitler wanted Stalin to agree to peace negotiations, which would give him more time to prepare to fight against Britain. He also hoped for the destruction of the Red Army to allow German troops to focus on the British Royal Air Force.
Stalin continued to fight, even though it was clear that the war was over. He believed that the USSR needed to hold out long enough to continue its industrialization efforts.
But the Soviets' biggest mistake came later. Hitler sent General Heinz Guderian and Field Marshal Erich von Manstein to Moscow in July 1944 to convince Stalin to surrender. Stalin refused to listen, believing that the Germans had already lost too much blood and wealth to defeat the Russians.
In August 1944 the Red Army began counterattacks against East Prussian Wehrmacht troops. Hitler ordered the encirclement, destruction and extermination of the Red Army on September 2, 1944.
The German army took Stalingrad in February 1943, and Leningrad on January 1944. During the summer of 1944, Hitler began a massive offensive against the Soviet Union. Hitler had plans to invade Finland in July 1944.
On August 21, 1944 the Allies landed on France. The Soviet Union declared its war on Germany two days later. This led to the Battle of Kursk. The Red Army was defeated by the Germans.
Hitler launched an enormous attack on the Western Front after the battle. His goal was Paris capture. However, Allied forces stopped the German advance at the River Seine.
At the exact same time, the Americans dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima in Japan and Nagasaki in Japan. Emperor Hirohito accepted unconditional surrender. World War II came to an abrupt halt on August 14, 1945.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://lessonsbeyondthestory.com/world-wars/the-p51-pioneers-breaking-in-the-mustang
