Deployment Journal: God bless Japan, ANA

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
HERAT, Afghanistan --  I spent a good deal of time this weekend watching world media outlets reporting on the tragedy in Japan, and for good reason.

While watching an Associated Press story on an Italian television network, I saw news about an elderly couple.

Although I couldn't understand the Italian, I could pick up a good bit of the original Japanese broadcast, which I can usually understand, and learned the husband had been looking for his wife for two days, and media was asking him about it.

As he was being interviewed, his wife rounded a corner across the street and the elderly couple ran to each other and embraced with a very emotional hug. I could clearly see tears of joy running down the husband's cheek.

Thinking about my own wife, children and entire wife's side of my family living out in Japan, and me helplessly here in Afghanistan, that story really hit home. I had to try hard to keep my tear chalice from overflowing right here among my coworkers.

Luckily, my family is in Okinawa Prefecture, more than 1,100 miles from Sendai City - the hardest-hit part of Japan.

However, I'm proud to say that my wife didn't take any chances as she lives a few hundred feet from the ocean, and there's no sea wall or barricades protecting her area from high waters, much less a tsunami.

She packed her car with food and water, then drove my family up to one of the highest points in Okinawa and waited several hours up there.

I never doubt her abilities to think quickly on her feet or respond, but am proud of her actions.

As best I can, I shield my family from situations here in Afghanistan as I never want them to worry about me - but I certainly don't ever want that shoe on the other foot.

It may sound like a selfish double standard, but when I couldn't get in contact with my family through their house phone, cellular phone or e-mail, I was petrified.

As you can imagine, it's quite hard to keep your wits about and stay vigilant when your mind is consumed with other matters. Well, I can testify that it was hard to concentrate.

People talk about the fog of war, and I agree that in moments of turmoil or when you're under attack, things get very blurry. But, when compared to worrying about your own family's safety, that fog is quite translucent.

I suppose for my Afghan National Army friends here, there's a constant feeling of worry about their loved ones.

Somehow, they continue to fight their nation's struggle on their own soil and with their own families sometimes nearby.

I can't imagine what that feels like and I both honor and envy their strength.
As ironic as it seems, I'm content to be deployed here. More often than not, I actually enjoy my job.

Perhaps it is easy for a foreigner, because I know my own family is somewhere safe.
I got a small glimpse of a typical ANA soldier's life this weekend, when my family's safety was challenged and I had to continue to focus on my job. Believe me when I say it scared me.

As nations continue to come together to help Japan, just as they've been doing here in Afghanistan, I'll keep my heart full of hope, and my mind on the job. May God bless the people of Japan and the ANA.