there is no goat
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Despite this, I have such fond memories from my time in Afghanistan. I witnessed pain and destruction but also achievement and optimism. I saw uneducated men accomplish tasks they never thought they could. I left with memories of a lifetime and stories I will tell for decades to come. I want my family, friends and readers to know that Afghanistan is not just another Muslim country in the Middle East. It is full of men, women and children who, despite their complicated backgrounds, are overwhelmingly friendly and caring.
My job in Afghanistan brought me a considerable amount of laughter, which helped to bring light to the daily reality of being in a war zone. I will never forget the man whose uncles were named Toti (which means “parrot), Cigarette and Naswar (the Afghan word for dipping tobacco). He and I laughed until we cried over his grandfather’s choice of names for his sons. Another man told me of his solution to keeping dry when having to ride his motorcycle in the rain. His fix for this was to put a trash bag over his head. According to him, “I don’t need to see because I have the road memorized.” And, one other local Afghan, in response to me asking him where he lived, told me “I live at home.” Simply stated.
After nine airline flights and six days of traveling, I finally returned home from Afghanistan, shortly before Christmas. The holidays were bitter sweet. It was comforting to be back in the U.S. and witness the freedom of religion and spend time with loved ones. I cherished having a kitchen with electricity where I could craft my own baked goods and hot meals. Cruising the aisles at the grocery store was almost overwhelming. I had not had to pick out my own food for over a year. I stood there thinking how lucky we are to have so many choices in every aspect of our lives.
Despite enjoying the comforts of my own home and family, I sadly realized how commercialized our holidays are and how material items often outrank the simplicity of spending time with family and friends. I remember giving my extra pair of running shoes to an Afghan man who had been robbed of everything except his shirt and pants on the way to work. To me, this was a small gesture. To him, this gift was worth hundreds of hours of labor and was something he never would have been able to afford for himself. My teammates and I provided simple items such as soap, socks and deodorant to many Afghan men we knew. In their eyes, these objects were as valuable as a brick of gold. That is how the gift of giving should feel. It is not about the amount of money spent or having the newest item on the market. It is about making a positive difference in someone’s life. My life was definitely impacted in a positive way by many Afghans. I only hope I returned the favor to some of them.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The writing of this book never would have been possible without the support and encouragement of my husband, friends and family, many of whom gracefully adopted the role of pseudo editors for me. I want to extend my deep gratification to the following people for helping me proof-read and remaining patient through this process: Jesse Bucholtz, Don & Suzanne Gladstone, Michael Gladstone, Jerome Bucholtz, Nancy Bucholtz, Ann Angst, Tom Moore, Jay Persson, Mahmoud Sharifi, Karmella Bebla, and Jason Nicklaus.
The cover art and design was expertly created by my brother, Michael Gladstone, a fabulous graphic artist. Please take the time to peruse more of his work at www.michaelgladstone.com.
I must thank my two mentors and confidantes in Afghanistan, Jerry O’Dell, “JD”, USAF (Ret), and Benjamin Luster, USMC (Ret.). We parted ways unexpectedly and without an official goodbye. However, I will never forget their never-ending support for our mission, no matter how difficult or seemingly impossible. Their guidance and humor kept me sane many days in country.
I also want to recognize my friend, Alex Calderon, a Navy veteran, who taught all who knew him the true meaning of bravery and courage, as he battled pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, he crossed the finish line of life earlier than we all had hoped, but I will never forget his perseverance, grace and humbleness. A project is in the works to set up a donation fund for his children’s future college costs. When established, the link to donate to that fund will be listed on this book’s website (www.thereisnogoat.com).
To all the men and women, who currently serve and have previously served in our military, I want to thank you for your service to our country. No matter your job and mission, your dedication is valued. Your presence and interaction with those from foreign countries has touched lives and your hard work has not gone unnoticed. Never let one day pass by where you are not proud of your service and hard work.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Dunham served in the U.S. Army as a Counterintelligence Agent. She completed tours of duty at Fort Carson, CO; Operation Brightstar 2001 (Egypt); Wonju, South Korea; Fort Meade, MD; and Baghdad, Iraq. She served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for her unit at Fort Carson, CO; Special Agent in Charge for her team in South Korea; and as a Force Protection Advisor to her unit in Iraq. She was awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and Joint Service Commendation Medal.
After honorably separating from the military, Jennifer worked for several years in the Force Protection/Anti-terrorism field, providing support to Department of Defense facilities and personnel worldwide. She spent fourteen months as a contractor in Afghanistan, working under the Department of the Army as a Senior Counterintelligence Support Specialist.
Jennifer now resides with her husband in Colorado and teaches Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences courses online. She has also pursued her passion for photography and runs an online photography gallery which can be viewed at www.jenbucholtz.com.
NOTES
[1]
Central Intelligence Agency, "CIA - The World Factbook," 3 January 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html. [Accessed 12 January 2013].
[2]
Government of Afghanistan, "The Constitution of Afghanistan," Government of Afghanistan, Kabul, 2004.
[3]
National Priorities Project, "Cost of War," January 2013. [Online]. Available: www.costofwar.com/en. [Accessed 12 January 2013].
[4]
B. a. L. L. Roggio, "Long War Journal," Long War Journal, 8 January 2013. [Online]. Available: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/08/green-on-blue_attack.php. [Accessed 12 January 2013].
[5]
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "Afghanistan Opium Survey 2010," December 2010. [Online]. Available: http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/Afghanistan/Afghanistan_Opium_Survey_2010_web.pdf. [Accessed 12 January 2013].
[6]
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime," 27 November 2008. [Online]. Available: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2008-11-27.html. [Accessed 12 October 2012].
[7]
H. a. L. M. Khan, "ABC, The Blotter," ABC News, 23 May 2012. [Online]. Available: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/shakil-afridi-pakistan-doctor-aided-bin-laden-hunt/story?id=16412064. [Accessed October 2012].
[8]
Afghanistan National Legislative Bodies, "Shiite Personal Status Law," March 2009. [Online]. Available: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a24ed5b2.html. [Accessed September 2012].