Master Sgt. Sonya Couture, an Afghan Air Force aviation life support adviser with the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, discusses a training program with AAF life support section leaders
(not shown) at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept., 4, 2011. U.S. Air Force photo
by Staff Sgt. Matthew Smith |
|
KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS - 9/6/2011) -- As Sept. 11 approaches, I
find myself once again in Afghanistan, this time for a year. This
mission is different from the last. Instead of supporting missions
to "seek out and destroy the enemy," I am here to train members of
the Afghan Air Force on how to do my job: aircrew flight equipment.
I'm also teaching them how to manage their people and resources as
well as how to solve problems on their own. I assure you, it's not
an easy task with their lack of classroom education and cultural
differences.
Thinking back on where I was and what I was
doing on 9/11, I'm reminded of the pain and anger I felt at such a
senseless act. On 9/11, I saw every one of "them" as the enemy. My
anger was boiling over and I wanted all of them eradicated from this
earth. I'm sure many others felt the same way as they watched the
horrors unfold on the news, replayed repeatedly. What came to mind
later as I calmed down were the millions of innocent men, women and
children who had nothing to do with these acts of terrorism. I
slowly began to realize that 9/11 was not the work of all the people
who are Muslim or from the Middle East, but the work of small
extremist groups. I reserved my anger for the ones responsible, the
factions and groups of extremist Muslims who hate Americans and wish
to see us die. I consciously decided it was not right to judge them
all on the actions of a few.
However, on April 27 this year,
nine of my friends and coworkers were killed by one of the Afghans
we were training. It was by far the single most horrifying
experience of my life. My reaction of rage and disbelief was very
similar to my feelings on 9/11. I felt an overwhelming anger that
sickened me. Why did my friends have to die so senselessly? I felt
myself looking at every Afghan I saw with pure hatred.
After
the shootings, I struggled to regain my enthusiasm for what I was
doing here. How could I help these people, not knowing if their
secret agenda was to kill me? On my first day back to work it was
clear that "my" Afghans had no such intentions toward me. The
sadness and pain in their eyes told me what I needed to know. They
feared I would hate them for their fellow comrade's actions and
decide to no longer help them. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't
hold it against them. These men didn't kill my friends. They were
trying their best to do what any of us would want: to make a better
life for themselves, their family and their country. |
Weeks later during a conversation with my Afghan
interpreter, I asked him if he thought his country would
ever be able to get rid of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the
warlords who ravage the country. Were we here for nothing,
wasting our time and money? He asked me if the U.S. has ever
been able to get rid of all its "bad guys," those who rob,
rape and murder.
"No", I said. "Of course not, but we
will always keep trying to make it better."
"That's
all we are trying to do as well," he responded.
His
simple statement stuck with me. They should have the chance
to try and make a better world for themselves, for the good
men who are weak to become strong and capable of fighting
the evil men.
I see the innocent children smiling
and waving excitedly, giving us the "thumbs up" as we convoy
down the dirty streets of Kabul. We are hope to them and
their future. I visit injured children in the hospital and
absorb some of the positive, radiant energy they each have
despite their injuries and constant struggles. These kids
deserve to have a better life. The men I am training are
trying to make this a better place for their families, the
same thing we strive for every day, and I am proud to be a
part of it.
On Sept. 11 at an Afghan Air Force base,
we will read the names of the 3,000-plus victims who died on
that day and raise our flag in their honor. Who would have
ever thought we would get to this point? As we pay tribute
to and honor those who lost their lives on that day, let us
not forget how blessed we are to be citizens of the United
States. It is by the grace of God that we did not find
ourselves born into a country such as Afghanistan where life
is harder and more uncertain than we could ever imagine.
In February next year, I will be on my way home to my
family. I will leave this country behind and wish them well
in their endeavors to become a better, stronger country.
Nothing can change what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, nor
bring back the loved ones, family and friends who were lost
then or during the war that followed. All we can do is
continue to honor their memory, to never forget and to keep
fighting for something more -- a better world so this never
happens again. We will never be able to wipe out all of the
"bad guys" in this world, but that doesn't mean we should
ever stop trying.
By USAF Master Sgt. Sonya L. Couture
438th Air Expeditionary
Wing
Air Force News Service
Copyright 2011
Comment on this article |
