A Heartfelt Thank You …

Dear Editor:
Afghanistan is a very beautiful, mountainous country beset with great challenges after many years of war. It is a very poor country struggling to gain independence. As I travel to the Afghan military prison to mentor the senior leadership there, I see almost unimaginable hardships. Families living in mud houses, children without the basic necessities, donkey carts as a major mode of transportation are all par for the course. Forced marriages are still common, many involving girls as young as sixteen. Yet all of these issues are increasingly minor to the average Afghan as suicide bombings are steadily increasing, killing scores of innocent people doing ordinary things like shopping or going to and from work. With the country’s entire problem, the people are still very optimistic, friendly, giving and very intent on making their country better.

After ten months of being deployed here and recognizing just how blessed we are as Americans, I have also seen similarities to home. Poor is poor and the reasons do not make a difference to a hungry child. Extreme hunger is still an impediment to learning. Violence is violence and does not make a difference to a child whether it’s from bombings or constant gunfire. Education is a key predictor for success in Afghanistan as it is in South Carolina. Women and children visiting loved ones in an Afghan prison share the same despair as women and children visiting prisoners in America. Afghan prisoners need education and vocation skills to reduce the chances of recidivism just as prisoners in the U.S. Corruption in law enforcement must be rooted out regardless of in which country it occurs. These scenarios have strengthened my resolve to do my absolute best to help the people of Afghanistan to the best of my personal ability coupled with the abilities of my team. It has also served as a reminder that there are also plenty of issues to be challenged head-on at home through volunteering and soliciting others to participate.

Although this beautiful country is in turmoil, I believe that with the help of the U.S. and the many other coalition countries, Afghanistan will one day be a peaceful and independent country. It is also my fervent hope that as the thousands of U.S. soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines have worked to make Afghanistan a better place to live, work, and play, we have made ourselves better as well.

Sincerely,
Alex “Herc” Conyers
Kabul, Afghanistan

Ed. Note: Lt. Col. Conyers is a Manning native and a graduate of Manning High School and South Carolina State University.