Operation Enduring Freedom - A 25 Year LEgacy 8/22/2026 8:07:29 AM
August 30, 2026 marks the 5th year since U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
It began on October 7, 2001 and ended on August 30, 2021.
A total of 7,286 days. This story is personal. In the spring of 2012, I spent 6 weeks in country. In addition to military personnel, I had the unique opportunity of spending time with civilians at a Widow and Orphans compound (more on that later), in family homes, and at on base bazaars.
That summer I spent 7 weeks on the road (6 of them continuous) talking with women and men had done tours in Afghanistan.
Staring in Mountain Home, Idaho and ending in Indian Gap,
Pennsylvania, I recorded or just listened to well over a hundred stories.
A few months, later lot of these stories and often traumatic
memories, fleshed out my book Enduring Freedom Enduring
Voices, U.S. Operations in Afghanistan, the only narrative
non-fiction written about the war.
Along with information on U.S. operations, will be Russian
operations and oral histories (of which I have one of only two copies in the U.S.) juxtaposition with U.S. and British operations in the 19th century.
More posts will follow, but I can’t promise they’ll beat set
intervals.
Each is to be informative and informal. The stories, not the history that are important.
I welcome your thoughts, feedback, questions and suggestions.
Please, no blatantly negative comments. If there’s a problem, state it then offer a solution.
I may be reached at: wallingmike505.gmail.com
Thanks,
Mike
