ON THE OTHER SIDE…
By FATHER DAN BERGBOWER, LTCOL USAF
W
here were you on Sept 11, 2001?”
I asked. It is a common question that breaks the ice when a Chaplain is visiting with our young military men and women. “I was in grade school” he said. “Which grade?” I pressed. “Third grade” was the reply!
S
o what does it mean to be 18 years old and literally on the other side of the world preparing to go into harm’s way? It means that for over half of your life your/our nation has been engaged in the War on Terrorism and now you are about to step into it. So at an undisclosed location in a relatively safe and scenic
38 s p r i n g / 2 0 1 1 /
part of the world, 12 times zones or more from home, you and 1,000 of your battle buddies unload all your gear and repack for Afghanistan.
A
fter a meal and a good night’s sleep it’s time to explore your temporary home and that is when