American Platoon Pros And Cons

Sebastian Junger is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair. Who, within a time period between 2007 and 2008 follows an American platoon deployed to Afghanistan. Korangal Valley to be exact, which is roughly twenty five miles from the border of Pakistan. The United States goal was to put our American troops there to over throw the Taliban regime. We intended to help Iraqi’s clear and secure neighborhoods, and to protect their local population. Sebastian followed the second of Battle Company, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He studied how these people evolved under extraordinary circumstances, and how it was like to live in implorable conditions for days, weeks, and months at a time, “There is no electricity at Restrepo, no running water, and no hot food, and they will be up here for most
of the next year.”(Junger P. 65) The soldiers in this platoon came from many different backgrounds. But that didn’t make a difference. Because once you arrived for you assignment you were a team. You had to exercise sound judgment with your duties, because keeping everyone in your platoon alive was of most importance. A platoon consisted of 16-50 men. These men had to exhibit mental agility, good judgment, self-control, and innovation. Most of all you had to be willing to give your life to save your fellow platoon members.
“Every platoon also has a headquarters element composed of a medic, a forward observer, a radio operator, a platoon sergeant, and a lieutenant who had graduated from officer candidate school.”(Junger P. 20,21) This actual platoon ended up having three different lieutenants. The final one being Steve Gillespie. Although it was necessary to have the lieutenant’s knowledge while in combat, they didn’t have much experience. So to balance this out a sergeant was designated as well. Many of the sergeants have been in the Army for several years, so that’s where the experience came from. Second platoon was considered one of the toughest ones. They were put in their location Firebase, Phoenix. Because they were not afraid of anything. “Wars are fought on physical terrain-deserts, mountains, etc.-as well as on what they call “human terrain.”(Junger P. 43) They would find a lot of their information through “Prophet”, which was eavesdropping on enemy radio. Everyone in second platoon had their favorite weapon they would like to use while in combat. “There are mark guys and .50 guys.” (Junger p.150) Mark is a
grenade that shoots a 40 mike mike round a .50 is a machine gun that can only come within eighteen inches of you and tear you open. (Junger p. 151) There are a good amount of rules when fighting the enemy. They’re not able to shoot at houses unless a shot came from it first. They’re permitted to shoot at people with weapons, and who shoot at them. Because this is very well known to all. Often times the Taliban would use this against them. If they needed to refill ammunition or use their radio, they would have children stand by them. The Taliban is aware Americans have more morals then them, and we definitely try never to harm or kill children. Although we were far more equipped for war, the Taliban held their own. We may have had more advanced equipment, they would often times find ways to outsmart us. They would cover themselves with blankets on a cold rock so we would not be able to trace their body heat from the Apache helicopters. We used drones to find the enemy, and they would watch for crows to circle above them. We had an unlimited amount of ammo, yet the Taliban’s would send one individual to take on the whole platoon because it wasn’t relevant whether he came out alive or not. Therefore that was one power they had over us. They didn’t follow our standards of brotherhood, or value life. So it was easier for them to walk into any situation, and be ok with not making it out. One thing both the Taliban and the American army had in common was religion. The Taliban take to a level of dying for Ala, and they used to give them the strength to make it through each minute of the day. That didn’t necessarily mean each individual in the second platoon felt the same way. Often times they were more concerned with failing their brother. Honestly dying was easier to them than letting that happen. So many time praying to God was the last things on their mind. “Cowardice lingered forever.”(P. 210) I would say overall throughout this book. Yes, there is a lot of killing, and losing lives. But some of the things that they obtained throughout this journey they chose in their life. Never would have happened outside of combat. Defending their platoon is insanely compelling, and once they have been exposed to it most of them would prefer to nothing other than that. The bonds of brotherhood in war are psychologically necessary in war. They were many instances where soldiers dies, and the other member’s breakdown and lose control. But it makes it much easier to fight their next encounter. Because it’s fought with more passion than the last. “One of the beguiling things about combat and other deep games is that they’re so complex, there’s no way to predict the outcome.”(Junger P. 239) War is much deeper than bullets and explosions. Once the adrenaline wears off, and your tour is over. Going back home for them is just as hard. Many of them can’t sleep, freak out with loud sounds. They have everything but a normal life afterwards. “That bond is the core experience of combat and the only thing you can absolutely count on.”(Junger P. 239) Everything else, when they close their eyes. They relive every horrific event over, and over again.