Cousin Mark Is Home!

My cousin Mark, who is serving in the US Marine Corps, is finally home, safe and sound, after a grueling year of service in Afghanistan.

He was never involved in serious gunfire, but mostly patrolled the streets of Afghanistan, building bridges, digging wells, and altogether keeping the peace in the war-torn country.

Sitting around my grandparents' living room, the family listened attentively as he told stories of his deployment. Most of them convinced me to never join the Marines (such as going without a shower for six months), but a few suggested that being a Marine is the best job in the world. Apparently, Mark and his platoon frequently watched movies, listened to iPods, and surfed the Internet, not to mention they bought a dog to keep them company!

However, Mark's deployment wasn't all fun and games (but pretty close, I'm sure). He related to us how, as he was driving a Humvee across a narrow, rickety bridge, his front right tire slid off the metal bridge, causing the large vehicle to flip upside down. Nobody was injured, but they had to wait six hours until someone could come help them out, and then they had to take a long, winding path to base, merely to keep the Taliban guessing.

Another negative aspect of Marine life is foot patrols in the middle of Afghanistan desert. Mark tells us that the terrain is perfect for a twisted ankle, plus the weather is either boiling hot or freezing cold. The patrols lasted for hours, and were largely uneventful and dull (sometimes, Mark said, their dog would come with them on patrols).

Living in the dirty, unsafe conditions of Afghanistan, halfway across the world, to spend countless hours risking your life, for a whole year, takes true bravery, courage, selflessness, and patriotism. I'm relieved that he's home.