By Sgt. J. Lavoie, RC-East PAO
GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Though improved streets are being laid here, small winding dirt roads meant to support donkeys, motorcycles and the occasional small tractor are the norm throughout the area.
When U.S. troops from the Provincial Reconstruction Team travel to evaluate projects and meet with local villagers, it is not unheard of to have difficulties moving the giant, armored vehicles from point to point.
Recently, while traversing an unfamiliar village to evaluate a dried well, the PRT had trouble on a tight corner and ended up with one tire in a ditch.
Once soldiers dismounted, local villagers immediately gathered around to see what the commotion was. After watching an attempted recovery, village leaders and PRT leadership knew it was going to be difficult to move the 43,000 pound MRAP back on the road. Though usually the PRT is helping the Afghan people, this time the villagers stepped up to help coalition forces.
Pictured: U.S. Army Sgt. Jay McCarthy, a Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team member from Nantucket Mass., and a local villager move a log into position to support recovery efforts. The trucks tire fell into an irrigation ditch, and would not have moved without the help of local villagers
“The local villagers were very supportive throughout the vehicle recovery,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr Matthew Cook, the convoy commander from Johnstown, Colo. “They quickly offered labor and materials to get the vehicle out of the ditch.”
Initially the villagers brought several large logs to support the truck’s tire. They then helped the PRT acquire large rocks to support the vehicle’s weight. PRT soldiers began to fill in an irrigation ditch to move two other trucks in front of the stuck lead vehicle, but villagers soon pitched in and eventually took the shovels from soldier’s hands to fill the ditch in themselves.
“It turned what could have been a very tense and negative experience into a very positive experience with the local community,” said Cook.
With the assistance of the villagers, the truck was soon back on the road, and the PRT was able complete the mission, and evaluate the dried well. For a unit whose entire mission is based on building strong relationships with the local community, the cooperation when coalition forces were in need was inspiring.
“You can go a whole deployment without seeing tangible results of your efforts, which can be frustrating,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Garrett, a platoon sergeant from Weymouth, Mass. “Then one simple act can make it all worthwhile.”
Stumble It!
