Writer and journalist Sebastian Junger, who spent much of 2007 and 2008 embedded with Battle Company of the 173rd Airborne in the Korengal, pens a farewell to the embattled six mile long valley in eastern Afghanistan. He worries about the emotional repercussions of the pullout on the many soldiers who fought there and saw their companions killed and maimed over a valley of “dubious strategic value.”
“For soldiers, the fight is what gives a place meaning, rather than the other way around. In that sense, the Korengal was literally sacred ground. Every man in Battle Company lost a good friend there, and every man was nearly killed there. These soldiers did not require “strategic importance” or “national interest” to give the place value — it already had that in spades.
Outpost Restrepo was named after Juan Restrepo, a platoon medic who was killed on July 22, 2007. He was one of the best-liked men in the platoon, and his death was devastating. The men took enormous pride in the outpost they built, and they can now go online and watch videotape of it being blown up by an American demolition team. It is a painful experience for many of them, and in recent days, e-mail messages have flown back and forth as the men have tried to come to terms with it. One man became increasingly overwrought from watching the video over and over again, wondering what all the sacrifice had been for. Another soldier finally intervened.
“They might have pulled out but they can’t take away what we accomplished and how hard we fought there,” he wrote to his distraught comrade. “The base is a base, we all knew it would sooner or later come down. But what Battle Company did there cannot be blown up, ripped down or burned down. Remember that.”
– Greg
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Today, no planes flew into building. Today no bombs went off in malls.
It is not about the fort, or the strategic value.
It was always about a group of men who put themselves in harms way to protect the rest of us from a bunch of dedicated nuts who have a lot of guns and money.
I know it does not mean a lot, but I would like to thank them.
It may have not seemed like it at the time, the stress, dealing with each other, living in such conditions; but at that time you were the best of us.
No disrespect to the dead war fighters/heros, but if memory serves me right, no Afganis were involved in 9/11. Certainly they were not on board the aircraft.
If you want to invade a country by the use of 'association', then why didn't you invade Saudi Arabia instead of a couple of third world countries that had nothing to do with 9/11?
The deaths of your soldiers was totally pointless as once the US finally leaves Afhanistan (as is already a foregone conclusion), then what difference did they make whatsoever. About as much difference and relevance as I would give a dead Soviet soldier (in the '80's), or even a British one in the 1920's I would imagine, nothing.
If anything there is more chance of a plane flying into one of your buildings as a result of your military adventurism stirring up religious instability.
No Afghans were involved in 9/11? Your facts are imprecise. Nearly all of the attackers and planners of 9/11 trained in Afghanistan or resided in Afghanistan or both at the time of the attacks. Since the Taliban admittedly hosted Al Qeada and are in league with Al Qeada, it is not possible to say "no Afghanis were involved in 9/11". I would argue that the Bush administration had no desire to "invade" Afghanistan and I would back this up by referencing the constant under resourcing of the theater under the Bush administration. After all, there were only about 25k US troops in Afghanistan until 2008. Hardly an invasion force or an occupation force. And those 25k were almost entirely focused on anti-Al Qeada activities. Since the majority of Al Qeada in Afghanistan has been dismantled and Al Qeada in Southwest Asia is a mere shadow of it's former self, your assertion that the deaths of US soldiers there was "pointless" holds no water.
Well put sir
We (presumably) know where the base is. And the Taliban are going to occupy it. A target rich environment?
No, the Taliban are not stupid, its why they are winning, and you are retreating.
Good luck with that, "Pete."
Join Us and see for your see. It's your turn now to share the bruden of 1% of US population.
pete they arent stupid…….but we hold the high moral ground. think about all the women,kid,s they have killed in the name of their god…..they are not stupid. they just dont give a shit as long a they kill someone that ,s not of their ……..faith.
No Pete your stupid, it's why you are a loser.
Hey Pete if they are winning why don’t you join that so called winning team! I promise you will not like the fight that not only me as a ETT who was there but my fellow brother in arms will inflict on you!
That’s what inevitably happens when you leave any fought for real estate. That’s just life. Better not give too much thought about what it was all for.
I hope not though. I’ve found out that single mother welfare is not really worth it. You know I have a reason behind everything.
Throughout it's distinguished history, the 173rd Airborne Brigade has been one of the meanest, baddest units in Any valley, let alone Korengal. In Vietnam, so many casualties were suffered by 173rd Line Dogs, that the unit had to be deactivated. Their Warrior spirit is unmatched. I also noticed a few 10th Mountain Division ("Legs") in news photos. Great unit from Ft. Drum. I salute you all. Whereever they send you, I know you'll always be In It!!!
Join Us and see for your self and experience it before you talk about it. It's your turn now to share the burden of 1% of US population.
Read more: A Farewell to the Korengal | Defense Tech
Khe Sanh
This war in Afghanistan is not about seizing and holding land. It is about killing enemy combatants. If there aren't enough Taliban in the area to be worth keeping our people, then we're going to move them to an area where there are more Taliban to kill.
Who cares whether a dozen people "over-ran" the base? Big deal. Those few folks are just lucky they weren't worth keeping the base for.
The Korengal had very little to do with the Taliban and a lot to do with Al Quaida. Some of you might not remember, but the Korengal was one of the places where AQ married into the local population around the end of the Soviet war. After the Soviets left, a lot of Muj associated with AQ settled there. The US presence there made sense because the valley had a very high concentration of AQ senior fighters. Now they aren't there anymore. Neither are their sons. The bulk of the volunteers in the East used to pipeline in there, now they don't. It was a rough fight, but ultimately a victory for the US. Now that the people we wanted are gone (read: DEAD) there isn't any reason to keep troops in there. The locals still alive are xenophobic and don't want a road or anything else from Outside. Fine with me. Moving on.
They married in 20 years ago? Wow, that's what you call long-term planning. Does that mean they've been breeding new generations of fighters all this time? is it still going on? Maybe we should do something to cut off the supply of new babies? I hear napalm sticks to kids.
John,
"…the Korengal was one of the places where AQ married into the local population around the end of the Soviet war.."
Got a source for that brother?
SkySoldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade:
I know who you are.
I knew the first day you and your brothers stepped foot in Zabul.
And then, for fifteen months, I watched over you and worried about you as you moved to the Korengal Valley.
In the Valley, your courage,your dedication, and your love for your brother paratroopers became legendary.SkySoldiers who served in that other war,the one in Vietnam, say you are cut from the same cloth as they are.
SkySoldiers, I do know who you are.
You are America's real national treasure.
Not to take anything away from anybody else,you understand.
It's just that you are special.
God bless my friend Matt Blaskowski,and God bless the SkySoldiers whom he loved with all his heart.
Like the Gentleman said Khe Sanh. But as the old saying goes "You can TALK WHEN YOU WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES" I am one of those lucky Vets' that never actually saw first hand combat, but I hold those who have to the highest esteem. Having lost my only brother in Vietnam I respect those that serve. Before you speak " WALK A MILE"