12 Strong

12 STRONG - The Movie

The current THOR movie features Chris Hemsworth as the title character, capable of using a magic hammer to bring down destruction upon the forces of darkness. A fun fantasy, the film provides escapism for viewers.

At least for a couple hours.

Next, premiering on January 19, the movie 12 STRONG also features Hemsworth wreaking havoc upon the forces of darkness. Portraying a U.S. Army captain, Hemsworth calls down destruction not from Norse Gods, but from the even more potent United States Air Force. His enemies are al Qaeda and Taliban fanatics who provided safe haven in Afghanistan for the plotters of the 9/11 attacks.

Unlike Thor, the army captain is real—Hemsworth’s Mitch Nelson is based on Green Beret Mark Nutsch—and 12 STRONG will capture the imagination of countless viewers. Nelson/Nutsch was one of a dozen soldiers who infiltrated into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan soon after the wanton Sept. 11, 2001 murder of thousands of innocents.

I was one of the few aware of this mission during that tumultuous autumn of 2001. Following the 9/11 attacks, I’d returned to active duty as a Marine Corps infantry officer to work at the ground operations desk in the top-secret Central Command war room at MacDill AFB in Tampa. CENTCOM tracked the perilous journey of these brave soldiers as they flew a terrifying night insertion mission through towering mountains—from Uzbekistan to northern Afghanistan. They hoped to link up with anti-Taliban elements and eventually attack and liberate the key city of Mazar-E Sharif, thus paving the way to topple the Taliban regime.

Some feared it to be a suicide mission but all were relieved to learn that the operatives landed safely to link up with anti-Taliban Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum. Soon the Americans were riding with Dostom’s men towards their objective.

Like 21^st Century Arthurian knights, the Americans rode into battle on horseback, wielding not Excalibur swords but small arms—and radios capable of calling in that awesome U.S. air power.

The area of operations featured the 12 Americans and their new Uzbek allies against around 50,000 Taliban fighters. But in one of the truly stunning military operations of all time, Mazar-E Sharif fell to the unlikely coalition. Northern Alliance forces then moved south towards Kabul and by Christmas the Taliban regime collapsed.

The exploits of these horse soldiers were top secret, but eventually Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld couldn’t resist sharing the story at a news conference. The remarkable saga was later chronicled in a book by Doug Stanton, which inspired the coming film.

The movie trailer/previews of 12 STRONG bring tears to my eyes, as I hearken back to those poignant weeks late in 2001. But my anticipation of this film is also heightened because one of its actors is Fahim Fazli, an Afghan-American Marine Corps interpreter that I met in Afghanistan when I later deployed there.

A refugee from the Soviet Union’s Afghan invasion, Fahim waited for years in Pakistan to come to America legally. He learned English and studied American history and became a citizen. After years of perseverance he earned a Hollywood Screen Actors Guild membership and later worked with many of Hollywood’s top stars.

Fahim was perhaps the only SAG actor to leave Hollywood and put on a uniform to go into harm’s way during the War on Terror. He asked to serve in the most dangerous part of Afghanistan, with the Marines in Helmand Province. The charismatic actor was so effective at bringing together Americans and Afghans that the Taliban put a price on his head. But he survived to return to Hollywood. We stayed in touch and co-authored an award-winning book, “FAHIM SPEAKS: A Warrior-Actor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back.” Tom Hanks wrote a cover blurb for us.

Fahim went on to numerous film and television projects, to include ARGO and AMERICAN SNIPER. Now comes 12 STRONG. I can’t wait for January 19. Time will tell as to whether the film will succeed. I sense it will be a blockbuster.

The War on Terror continued after the fall of the Taliban and the unity we experienced that autumn later dissipated amidst debate about whether President Bush should have gone into Iraq, or whether President Obama should have dramatically escalated our Afghan commitment. But for several weeks in late 2001 Americans came together in a way we had not since Pearl Harbor in 1941. Hopefully this true story about brave knights on horseback will be a vehicle to transport us back to that special time of national unity.

At least for a couple hours.

An Italy Adventure

A 2017 ITALIAN ADVENTURE

Many of us have “bucket lists” of things to do or places to go to before we shed our mortal coil—i.e. kick the bucket. With Ireland already checked off my bucket list, my attention—and Beth’s—turned to Italy. Yes, that Mediterranean nation that was once the center of the universe when “all roads led to Rome.”

Interestingly, our Roman holiday commenced via Aer Lingus, the Irish airline which brought us from Boston to Dublin to Rome. The delightful ginger-haired flight attendants with their Irish brogues made us quite comfortable on both legs.

As we approached Rome’s International Airport, I looked out the window, anticipating metropolitan structures and ancient ruins. But while descending, all I saw were green fields, a few trees and some cows. The airport was well outside Rome-proper, necessitating a 30-minute train ride, through graffiti-covered residential neighborhoods. But finally we pulled into the Eternal City’s train-station. And on time!

WHEN IN ROME …

Rather than a hotel, Beth (our tour planner) opted for a “Bed and Breakfast.” The BnB was in south Rome, near the Apian Way, and the location allowed us to experience a real Roman neighborhood, with its little cafes, pizzerias, stores, and wine shops, as well as real Italians—and their dogs.

A nearby bus-stop was our launching point for numerous forays into the great metropolis, starting with a visit to Vatican City, where we actually saw—and were blessed by—Pope Francis, along with many other thousands of visitors to St. Peter’s square. It was magnifico!

Subsequent trips brought us to such “must see” attractions as the Coliseum, the Forum, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and so much more, including a visit to our American embassy.

For a history person, Rome represents an overwhelming challenge. Consider that “historic” Boston has a 300 year time-line. Rome’s narrative is over 3000 years. The layers of history are mind-boggling. We never made it to the Pantheon. One could spend weeks seeing all there is to see. We had to pick our spots and they were all memorable.

A “KEY” LESSON

Finally it was time to check out of our BnB and take a bus to the train station to head to Florence. We were to leave the keys on the table. But we needed one of the keys to open the gate to leave the very secure apartment complex. A quandary. But one easily solved by me taking the keys to unlock the gate, then propping it open, and throwing the keys back up to Beth on the third floor balcony. Good idea?

“Bad idea,” said Beth.

“Trust me,” said Mike.

I went below and unlocked and held open the gate. I looked up at Beth—who is much smarter than me—nervously peeking over the third floor balcony.

“Stand by for incoming!” I yelled. I then tossed the keys skyward—but didn’t get quite enough on my throw. Beth leaned and reached but couldn’t quite grab the keys, which fell onto the second balcony, arousing a huge dog which commenced to bark viciously.

“I TOLD you!” said Beth.

“You just needed to reach a couple more inches!” replied Mike.

“#$@%&!!!” yelled Beth.

We were about to miss our bus and then our train. We were screwed.

I stood slack-jawed.

“Just stay there and don’t move,” yelled Beth. My quick-thinking spouse had a translation app on her smart-phone and she created the following message on her screen.

“Mio marito ha lanciato le nostre chiavi sul tuo terrazzo!” (My husband threw our keys on your deck!)

Fortunately, the woman who owned the big dog on the second floor was home and Beth retrieved our keys and we made our bus and train connections.

“Grazie Dio!”

TO FLORENCE (FIRENZA)

A 90-minute train ride through the beautiful Italian countryside brought us to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance and home to the likes of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Machiavelli, Galileo, Dante, and so many more. The Uffizi Museum contained an astonishing number of priceless works of art—and it was but one of many museums. Imagine being a passionate baseball fan and dreaming of one day visiting Cooperstown, and upon arriving there finding not one Hall-of-Fame/Museum, but a dozen! 

Such it is for lovers of history and the arts when visiting Italy.

Once again we opted for a BnB and our location put us across the street from the Accademia, which always had long lines outside it.

“Why are there always so many people out there?” I asked Dr. Beth—who is much smarter than me.

“That’s where Michelangelo’s ‘David’ is,” she replied. “The world’s most famous statue.” (We visited, of course.)

Florence is also home to the massive Il Duomo, a gigantic church that took many decades to build.

That such a structure was created many centuries ago without modern construction equipment also boggled my mind. Less imposing but also remarkable were such landmarks as the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the Santa Croce Cathedral, and the Baptistery.

A day trip to an ancient winery allowed us to learn much about the craft of wine-making while also allowing us numerous samples of vino. Along with the other tourists in our group we learned how to make pasta from scratch, which was fun, educational, and delectable.

Magnifico!

Another day-trip, via bus and train, brought us to the northwest coastline, where we hiked the Cinque Terre Trail, just south of Genoa—home of Christopher Columbus. The tiny, historic seacoast villages we visited are protected under a UNESCO fiat, and owners are not allowed to modify their properties. (So much for local control!)

We saw where there was bomb damage from World War II, speaking of recent Italian history. It was a torturous time for Italy when its Fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) unfortunately cast his lot with Adolf Hitler’s Nazis—with dreadful consequences.

TO VENICE

We regretfully left our Florentine delights and took a train to Venice. En route I did some homework, via the www, and learned that Venice was ranked as the most beautiful city in the world (meshnews.com). I imagined gondolas, music, wine, and great food. The reality would surpass my imagination!

Originally founded as a refuge from invading hordes, Venice grew into a center of trade between the east and west.

A visit to the Venetian Palace that once housed the Doge—the Venetian ruler—further demonstrated the incredible wealth accumulated in Italy over the many centuries. Six hundred years ago Venice was the world’s greatest city, and Venetian fleets brought back riches beyond imagination, booty that that resulted in the City State creating edifices and infrastructure beyond belief. Just the artwork in Rome, Florence, and Venice is worth billions of dollars. While Venice now shows much decay, that there were glory days remains obvious.

When Mark Twain visited Italy in the 19^th century, he was stunned by the riches accumulated by the city-states. Much of the wealth accrued to the Catholic Church, and in his book “Innocents Abroad,” Twain’s narrator seemed to urge Italian locals to rob the rich Catholic clergy. (Twain, of course, was a Protestant!) But those works of art—paintings, sculptures, and architecture—are what brought the likes of us to Italy to spend lots of dollars/Euros that clearly help sustain the Italian economy. A rising tide lifts all gondolas!

The packed plazas resounded with English voices and the many Yankee caps indicated a strong American tourist presence. Although, I suppose Italians may opt for the Yankee attire to honor “the great DiMaggio,” as Ernest Hemingway might put it.

We got boat passes—instead of bus passes—and traveled all over greater Venice, to include the island of Murano with its glass-blowing wonders. Then Torcello, where Atilla the Hun once holed up between sacking expeditions—a year before he died on his wedding night!

Our local travels exposed us to countless shops, pizzarias, osterias, trattorias, farmicias, thousands of pigeons, and water rats. Venetian rats are amphibious, as one would expect. And there were lots of beggars and street musicians.

It was an adjustment to continually have to fork over a euro or two to use the rest-rooms. Considering all the vino we bought and consumed, free water closets should have been a fringe benefit.

Our return home meant boarding a water bus bound for Venice’s Marco Polo Airport and Aer Lingus, where we were reunited with the delightful, ginger-haired flight attendants with their Irish brogues. I pondered the next place to visit to cross off my bucket list.

Or should we just return to Italy?

I decided to just return to Italy. Heaven can wait.

Italia es Magnifico!

.

Bennington, Beth, and John Stark

BENNINGTON, BETH, AND JOHN STARK

Once upon a time, on a wintry Valentine’s Day Eve, Beth and I traveled across southern Vermont en route to a charity fund-raiser in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Caught in a major blizzard, we took refuge at the Four Chimneys Inn in Bennington, on the New York border. It was there I decided to offer Beth a diamond engagement ring, which she accepted—to my great joy.

As Bennington thus became a special place in our life journeys, we decided to return there for a private wedding ceremony 15 months later. Somehow, Bennington seemed to call to us.

As a former history teacher, perhaps part of the appeal for me was that greater Bennington was the site of an important Revolutionary War battle in 1777, where New Hampshire’s General John Stark led American forces to an improbable victory over the British that changed the course of history.

Beth and I were married in front of the old First Congregational Church in Bennington. The adjacent cemetery included the final resting place for New Hampshire’s famous poet Robert Frost. As Beth was also a published poet, we paid a visit to Frost’s grave for a special photo.

GHOSTS?

Years later, as a New Hampshire legislator, I was informed by Secretary of State Bill Gardner—a renowned Granite State historian—that that cemetery also included a mass grave that held the remains of scores of British, Hessian and Tory soldiers who were killed by Stark’s New Hampshire men on August 16, 1777.

This sobering information only increased my fascination with Bennington. Concurrently, a friend and amateur genealogist informed me that I was a direct descendant of Nathaniel Balch Sr., who was First Deputy of the New Hampshire Provincial Congress in 1775—a forerunner to the N.H. legislature in which I now serve. I asked Gardner if he knew of Balch and the Secretary of State said he’d have his staff look into him.

True to his word, Gardner brought me into his office on June 22, the legislature’s last session day for 2017, and handed me a folder with intriguing information on Nathaniel Balch Sr. Not only was Balch a senior member of the revolutionary legislature, but was a contemporary of patriots such as William Whipple, Matthew Thornton, and Josiah Bartlett (signers of the Declaration of Independence) as well as the likes of General Enoch Poor, John Langdon and others.

(Included in the information Gardner shared with me was the fact that Balch also served on a committee tasked with finding ways to collect taxes from out-of-staters. Clearly he was a man ahead of his time in New Hampshire!)

These Granite State revolutionaries collaborated on a state constitution which was proclaimed in January of 1776, six months before the Declaration of Independence.

Inspired by Gardner’s research—and perhaps by certain spirits—I took it upon myself to better understand the monumental significance of Bennington.

OUR REVOLUTION WAS DYING

The United States of America celebrated its first birthday on July 4, 1777. But it seemed likely that the young country would never celebrate another one.

The fledgling nation was in dire straits. Most “Americans” either remained loyal to the British Crown or were uncommitted in the ongoing revolutionary struggle. The southern states in particular avoided armed conflict.

Patriotic fervor remained strongest in New England, so the British devised a plan to isolate the region from the rest of the country, crush the rebellion, and reestablish the King’s authority throughout the “colonies.”

A gigantic British fleet landed a mighty army in New York, chasing away George Washington’s outgunned American forces. With autumn approaching, Washington’s demoralized army withered away on the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border—barefoot and unpaid. The British soon occupied the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia, which Washington was unable to defend.

America’s hopes traveled with Ben Franklin, who went to Paris to plead for French assistance and an alliance. But as much as the French wanted to counter their British rivals, they were reluctant to support a lost cause.

The British were utterly confident that the rebellion was in its death throes and sought to deliver a coup-de-grace to end the revolution and then hang its leaders.

A huge pincer movement would feature the large Redcoat army under General Clinton moving north from New York City to link up around Albany with an even larger British force moving south from Canada under General Burgoyne. This would effectively sever New England from the rest of the colonies, to be then punished and ravaged. With no significant army in New England and with Washington helpless to assist, the rebellion would be crushed.

King George III and his ministers were utterly confident of their plan. The war was all but over.

And then New Hampshire changed everything.

THE GRANITE STATE COMES THROUGH

Bad news travels fast—even in 1777. New Englanders were in a panic. When the giant British armies joined forces and turned east towards Boston, there’d be no hope of stopping them.

Terrified settlers in what is now Vermont desperately pleaded with New Hampshire authorities for help. The Granite State’s revolutionary legislature convened and spirited debate ensued. Defeatists argued that here was no hope of stopping the British and urged accommodation and appeasement. There was no time, money, or leadership to do otherwise.

But some legislators—like Nathaniel Balch Sr.—refused to give up. They turned their eyes to the Granite State’s top military man—John Stark, a hero of Bunker Hill. An officer with the legendary Rogers Rangers during the French and Indian War, Stark had also excelled with George Washington’s army in the months after the Declaration of Independence. But in March of 1777 Stark resigned his commission in disgust when lesser men were promoted ahead of him due to political connections.

But Stark was a true patriot who could not ignore his state’s plea for help. He agreed to return to uniform as a Brigadier General under the condition that he answer only to New Hampshire—not to any political generals in the Continental Army.

News of General Stark’s return to duty thrilled local patriots who’d not yet given up. Within six days over 1200 men from all over New Hampshire gathered—ready to fight. Langdon provided personal funds to support Stark’s force.

Among those who fell in behind Stark was Nathaniel Balch Jr.—my fourth great grandfather, and son of the revolutionary legislator. Balch Jr. signed up with Stickney’s Militia on July 20, 1777, and was soon marching westward, musket in hand.

As Stark and his troops trudged on, they picked up more and more volunteers. The poignancy of the time can scarcely be imagined today, as wives and family members—tears streaming down their cheeks—pleaded with their men to stay home. But hundreds more fell in behind Stark—ill-clad, ill-equipped, and ill-trained, yet eager to take on the most powerful army in the world.

True patriots, these men believed in America, but equally important, they believed in John Stark. When the bedraggled column reached Fort #4 in Charleston, N.H., Stark had over 1500 men. They then ferried across the Connecticut River into what is now Vermont.

By the second week in August, Stark’s force had reached Manchester, Vermont, where they met General Benjamin Lincoln of the Continental Army. Lincoln ordered Stark to move his men to the Hudson River Valley to reinforce General Philip Schuyler, who was desperately trying to organize a force to slow down Burgoyne.

Lincoln was one of the political generals for whom Stark had such contempt. Stark refused Lincoln’s order, explaining that he answered only to the New Hampshire legislature.

Stark instead headed towards Bennington to link up with three hundred Green Mountain Boys, led by Colonel Seth Warner. Stark had intelligence that Burgoyne’s big army had slowed in its march, and needed supplies that could be commandeered in Bennington. Stark got there first and prepared to engage a large force sent by Burgoyne, who did not anticipate that Bennington would be well-defended.

Leading the British force was LtCol Freidreich Baum, a Hessian mercenary who commanded hundreds of brave, well-trained regulars, along with many more Canadians, Tory/Loyalists, and Indians.

Stark’s Granite Staters were untrained and undisciplined, but comfortable in the woods, and confident in their leader. Knowing his men’s limitations, Stark ingeniously split his forces to outflank Baum.

Harassed by Granite Staters on both sides, Baum’s troops were channeled toward a battle area favorable to the Americans. Stark then took personal charge of his remaining men—including Nathaniel Balch, Jr.—on August 16 and famously cried "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"

The subsequent battle resulted in Baum’s death along with 200 of his men—ten times as many casualties as the Americans suffered. Around a thousand prisoners were taken. A relief force sent by Burgoyne was routed by Colonel Warner’s men, further enhancing a marvelous victory.

That you’re reading this narrative is living proof that Nathaniel Balch Jr. survived the battle.

BENNINGTON CHANGED EVERYTHING

Burgoyne was stunned by the defeat at Bennington. The needed supplies didn’t materialize and the loss of 1000 men was a huge blow. His movement southward slowed to a crawl. The myth of Redcoat invincibility was shattered, and Burgoyne’s Indian allies abandoned him.

On August 28 Burgoyne learned that major British reinforcements coming east through the Mohawk Valley under Colonel Barry St. Leger had turned back towards Canada. News of the American victory at Bennington similarly unnerved General Clinton in New York, who dithered and delayed his move north to link-up with Burgoyne.

Washington replaced Schuyler with General Horatio Gates and ordered troops commanded by Israel Putnam to reinforce Gates’ forces. Stark also marched troops into New York to augment the growing American army, whose numbers were further swelled by other militiamen, who—inspired by Bennington—rallied to the cause. Numerous sharpshooters soon picked away at the increasingly demoralized British.

By October, Gates’ force finally outnumbered Burgoyne’s, and the Americans closed in and surrounded the British at Saratoga. Burgoyne surrendered an army of 7000 men on Oct. 17.

Historians rate the Battle of Saratoga as one of the most significant battles ever—anywhere. The American triumph breathed life into a moribund cause. New England was safe. Washington and his men took heart and the revolution would continue. When news of the Americans’ stunning triumphs reached Paris, Franklin convinced the French to recognize the United States and form an alliance. With French help the Americans eventually prevailed at Yorktown in 1781, guaranteeing total victory and independence.

Many factors influenced the outcome at Saratoga—but none more than Stark’s victory at Bennington. If Stark and his New Hampshire men had not responded as they did, history would have unfolded very differently. Without French help the Revolution would have likely failed and without the victories at Bennington and Saratoga a French alliance would have been quite improbable.

STARK’S PROPER LEGACY

Nathaniel Balch Jr. and most of the Granite Staters mustered out right after Saratoga and marched back to New Hampshire, hailed as heroes all along the way. Stark stayed with the Continental Army and helped see the American cause through to victory. He then retired to New Hampshire and died in 1822 at the age of 94. The last surviving American Revolutionary War general, Stark arguably saved the young country with his actions during the summer of 1777.

Invited to a reunion of Bennington survivors, Stark demurred due to the infirmities of age. He did send a famous message to the commemoration which included the immortal phrase “Live free or die,” which became New Hampshire’s motto.

August 16 marks the 240^th anniversary of Stark’s heroics at Bennington and hopefully people throughout New Hampshire and beyond will reflect on how the Granite State’s citizen legislature and its citizen soldiers came through to save the country when America’s prospects were never bleaker.

As a state representative, I'm especially proud that my fifth great-grandfather was a leader in that revolutionary legislature. And as a United States Marine, I’m equally proud that my fourth great-grandfather picked up a musket and was in the middle of the fight at Bennington.

Maybe it was more than a blizzard that stopped us in Bennington on that snowy February night, once upon a time.

Afghanistan, Hollywood, and Memorial Day

Afghanistan, Hollywood, and Memorial Day

By Michael Moffett

Recent media opinion pieces have rightly focused attention on Afghanistan, the site of America’s longest war, and a place where President Trump wants to increase our presence to 12,000 troops. So should we? Force level questions bring us back to 2001 and the 9/11 attacks.

Like millions of fellow citizens, I responded to 9/11 by offering to do what I could for our country. I was soon back in a Marine Corps uniform, working for General Tommy Franks at the ground operations desk in the top-secret War Room at Central Command at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla.

We received updates there on the latest Afghanistan developments—where we had ZERO troops. We moved some CIA people and Special Forces to Karshi-Khanabad in Uzbekistan, north of Afghanistan, as the first step in engaging Afghanistan’s Taliban regime, which provided safe haven to Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaida plotters who masterminded 9/11. All this was then top-secret.

A perilous infiltration brought around a dozen operatives into Afghanistan to connect with anti-Taliban elements. While tracking their progress at CENTCOM, we also noted the defeatist commentary from numerous pundits, claiming that a ground war to dislodge the Taliban could take years, countless troops, and end up like Vietnam. The Soviet Union’s defeat in Afghanistan, after all, had prompted the end of the USSR. But the remarkable events which then took place are no longer top-secret. Our infiltrators linked up with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance and acquired horses. A dozen or so Americans actually participated in cavalry charges, while calling in air strikes on Taliban positions. We tracked these remarkable exploits on a daily basis at CENTCOM. America’s awesome air power vanquished the Taliban, and in December the Northern Alliance rolled into Kabul. Essentially, a dozen Americans overthrew the Afghan regime.

These astounding developments are chronicled in a book by Doug Stanton titled HORSE SOLDIERS, which inspired an upcoming American war drama film of the same name directed by Nicolai Fuglsig. (The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Austin Stowell, Trevante Rhodes, and Rob Riggle, and will be out by the end of the year.)

This 2001 victory did not end the fighting in Afghanistan—a vast country inhabited by 40 million people of numerous tribes and ideologies. The Taliban didn’t disappear. Still, the leaders at Central Command and the Bush administration sought to keep a minimal US presence there. If a dozen people could overthrow the Taliban regime, then we didn’t need a massive occupation force. Within the top-secret War Room, it was clear that the administration wanted to minimize our “boots of the ground” to 5000 or so.

Inspired by how our Special Forces toppled the Taliban in 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sought to replicate the feat in Iraq in 2003. We overthrew the Saddam Hussein regime with only around 120,000 troops, even though the generals had requested three times that number to successfully occupy the country. The subsequent shortage of personnel resulted in five years of bloody battle, before a “Sunni Awakening” in Al Anbar Province in 2008 routed Al Qaida in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan saw a Taliban resurgence. The Obama administration then deployed almost 120,000 troops there after 2009—while completely pulling out of Iraq.

History will judge as to whether or not the US withdrawal from Iraq led to the establishment of an ISIS state that filled the vacuum left by American forces. But our commitment to Afghanistan clearly turned the tide against the Taliban in 2010-11, when I once again put on my Marine uniform and traveled on special assignment to Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

The Taliban was no match for the full power of American and NATO forces. The Hamid Karzai regime there was given breathing room to train an army that might secure a non-fanatical future.

While in Afghanistan’s volatile Helmand Province, I met an extraordinary person named Fahim Fazli. A native Afghan who escaped to America as a refugee, Fazli became an American citizen and eventually a movie actor with 50 films on his resume, including IRONMAN, ARGO, AMERICAN SNIPER among many others. He bravely put on a uniform to return to his native country as an interpreter with the Marines, where the charismatic actor was so successful as a translator—bringing together Americans and Afghans—that the Taliban put a price on his head.

After surviving Helmand we stayed in touch back in American and collaborated on an award-winning book called “FAHIM SPEAKS: A Warrior-Actor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back.”

It happens that Fahim also has a nice role in HORSE SOLDIERS. I can't wait to see it. And interestingly, my co-author and I share the same birthday—May 30—the traditional Memorial Day.

Having been in harm’s way, we make it a point to stay in touch and remember those who died in the line of duty. Such is the purpose of Memorial Day. So should we support President Trump’s plan to increase our presence in Afghanistan?

Maybe. But we must be very careful. Eventually the Afghans themselves need to work out their country's future. And we may need to tolerate war lords in some areas, in lieu of the Taliban. Still a minimal USA/NATO force that prevents the Taliban from re-taking the reins of government makes sense. The Iraq pull-out yielded painful lessons.

So on this Memorial Day, we should think of the all Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion to our national interests—including over 6000 killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. And we should also expect that our national leaders will fully explain and justify any decisions to put any Americans in harm’s way, whether it involves 12,000, 120,000—or only 12.

MARINES, MOFFETTS, AND MARATHONS

Fitness is part of the Marines Corps ethos. If you want to be a Marine, then you need to be able to run. My brother John was a cross-country standout in high school, so when he joined the Marines running was not a problem. Because he could shoot, move, and communicate he was the honor graduate for his Parris Island recruit training platoon. He later became an officer.

I followed John into the Marine Corps and for a while we were both lieutenants stationed in California. It took me longer than it did John to become a shooting expert but I eventually made it. I also recorded some excellent run times but never could quite match those of John.

After finally beating him in a 10K road race on a Marine base, I immediately called our mom with the great news. Always careful not to show favoritism, she congratulated both of us instead of just me!

John eventually ran in the Marine Corps Marathon, the same one that Oprah Winfrey famously completed. John’s time was considerably better than Oprah’s fairly impressive 4:29:15.

Years later, while stationed in Hawaii, John met and married Mette, a beautiful Danish girl. He retired from the Marines and then they moved to Boulder, Colorado, where they had two beautiful children, Kristian and Malia. Then, to honor their Danish heritage, they all moved to Copenhagen in 2007.

Tragedy struck in Copenhagen on Sept. 6, 2007. John was competing in a road race when he suffered a cardiac seizure and died right on the course.

It’s always painful to lose a family member, and it’s especially hard when that member is still relatively young with two small children.

In part to honor John’s memory, Mette literally hit the road and became a regular runner. A year ago she traveled from Denmark to Edinburgh, Scotland, to run in a marathon. She surprised even herself with her fast time and her strong finish actually qualified her for the Boston Marathon.

Last August she and the kids moved back to America—to Concord—and Mette continued to train with a goal of completing the Boston Marathon.

My brother Jim, nephew Caleb, and I drove into Boston on April 17 to see the Marathon and to support Mette. Our mom, Mette’s mom, and Malia traveled down separately.

I was struck by the thousands of female runners, and thought about Kathrine Switzer, who used her initials to register for the 1967 Marathon, for which she received bib number 261. (Mette’s bib number of 20164 would include Switzer’s numbers.)

Midway through that 1967 race, a Marathon official, Jock Semple, realized that a woman was running in what had always been a males-only competition, and he stepped onto the road in front of Switzer to forcibly remove her from the marathon. A Kathrine supporter literally knocked Semple off to the side of the road and the young woman continued running towards Boston, where she became the first female to officially finish the historic race.

Many runners just can’t complete the Boston Marathon, for any of a myriad of reasons. I hoped that Mette would make it, but whatever happened, I’d remain proud that she’d tried.

And finish she did, with a very credible time of 3:44. Through the magic of cell phones, Mette’s fans all linked up with the triumphant runner on the Boston Common afterwards to celebrate. Mette had accomplished her goal of honoring John’s memory with a completed marathon ten years after his death.

And on the subject on anniversaries, we later learned that Kathrine Switzer celebrated the 50^th anniversary of her historic 1967 marathon run by also completing the 2017 race. The 70-year-old icon, wearing bib number 261, finished with a time of 4:44—exactly an hour behind Mette.

A marathon is the most difficult of sporting events to watch. It’s not like a basketball game in a gym. It’s a 26.2 mile course. Spectators have to pick their spots to get glimpses of their favorites. I found a perch by the Buckminster Hotel—near Fenway Park—to watch the field and try to get a photo of Mette. It was a joy to see just a tiny part of this Hallmark sports event, with its diverse thousands of runners drawing inspiration from the continuous cheering from hundreds of thousands of spectators.

It then occurred to me that maybe John was somehow in a position to see the whole race, not just a piece of it.

I'm sure he was very proud.

Lithuania and Life!

LITHUANIA AND LIFE

Following a recent speech to a Marco Island (Florida) veterans group, I mingled with attendees—using sports to find common ground.

“You’re from Dallas? So what’s going to happen to Tony Romo?”

I was introduced to a couple people who came from even further away than Texas. Rimas Ragalevicius and his daughter Lina hailed from Vilnius, Lithuania.

“You're from Lithuania? A great basketball country, yes?”

Lina nodded in agreement.

“We won an Olympic Bronze Medal in 1992, right after we became independent from Soviet Union.”

That was the year of the first USA Dream Team. Michael Jordan and Company beat Lithuania by over 50 points in the semifinal.

Having just read “Lenin’s Tomb,” David Remnick’s Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the fall of the Soviet empire, I was not only intrigued by Rimas’ and Lina’s accents, but by their life journeys. While they’d come to hear me speak, I ended up asking THEM question after question.

They recalled being in Lithuania’s Baltic capital of Vilnius in January of 1991 when the Soviets tried to impose a bloody crackdown on the burgeoning Lithuanian independence movement. But before the year ended it was the Soviet Union that disintegrated. 

Remnick’s narrative reinforced my sense of the abject horror that marked what Ronald Reagan referred to as the Evil Empire. That Josef Stalin was personally responsible for the deaths of over 40 million people was mind-boggling enough. That so many millions more spent countless years in Gulags—Soviet Concentration Camps—seemed beyond comprehension. And those who were not killed or incarcerated remained prisoners of a totalitarian police state where no one could be trusted.

The Soviets had occupied Lithuania following a dastardly 1939 deal with the German Nazis, who in turn took over the country in 1941. But by 1945 the Soviets were back.

Lina’s English was a bit better than her dad’s and she shared that life was hellish for Lithuanians in those days. Her grandparents met as 17-year-olds during a month-long journey in a railroad boxcar to a prison camp near Irkuts in Siberia. While many did not survive the trip, her grandfather Jonas kept spirits up by playing an accordion every day. That he made music during those dreadful times made Brone fall in love with him. In subsequent years, Jonas survived as a slave laborer in a gold mine while Brone became a camp midwife.

They’d have likely perished in the Gulag but for the fortuitous death of Stalin in March of 1953. Soviet policies softened somewhat and Jonas and Brone were allowed to return to Lithuania. They married and Lina’s mother Vida was born in 1954. Vida eventually studied chemical engineering at a college where she met and married Rimas. Lina was born in 1982 and enjoyed a relatively happy childhood. Rimas parlayed his education into entrepreneurism, making jewelry out of aluminum—eventually saving enough money to send Lina to law school.

Lina qualified for a travel visa to the USA in 2003. While visiting Maine she met Chad Upham, whom she eventually married. They ended up moving to Marco Island in late 2004 and have happily lived there since, along with daughter Karla, whom Lina described as a proud American redneck who loves reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Lina delighted in showing her parents around south Florida, a local tour that included taking in my speech—which they hopefully enjoyed. But I thought THEIR life stories were much more compelling. I wished that more Americans appreciated the USA as much as did Lina, Rimas and Vida.

Getting back to sports, Lina pointed out that at the 2004 Athens Olympics the Lithuanian basketballers were the first-ever to defeat an American Dream Team—which then included LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Tim Duncan, and nine other superstars.

To which I replied, “I guess after you’ve overcome an Evil Empire, a Dream Team isn’t that intimidating.”

Long live Lithuania!

MIM and Lina Upham

Lina's grandfather Jonas with accordion