Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
7:26 | They kept seeing flares in the distance at night, or fireworks. The lieutenant was sure it was the Taliban up to no good. But Jasdeep Singh and the rest of the troops were sure it wasn't anything. Still, they had to saddle up and walk out into the cold night when the lieutenant said they were going out to catch the bad guys. Part 1 of 2. (Caution: strong language)
Keywords : Jasdeep Singh Afghanistan Firebase Bruin flare fireworks James Nolan cold booby trap
As the son of immigrants from India, Jasdeep Singh was expected to become a doctor or an engineer. The only problem was, how? He was the youngest of three and resources were not unlimited. He began to wonder about his options.
Jasdeep Singh had a friend who gave his name to an Army recruiter as someone who might join on the buddy system. He was walking home from work in the rain when the recruiter called him. Can we meet?
Jasdeep Singh had a talent for remaining under the radar which served him well during basic and jump school. When he got to the 82nd Airborne, the hazing was bearable and he began to prepare for a possible deployment.
When Jasdeep Singh arrived in Afghanistan, he was sent to Firebase Bruin which had just been vacated by another unit. What he found was a mess. No real towers and half-built barricades, there was a lot of work to do.
A lot of cool dudes. That's how Jasdeep Singh describes the men in his platoon. It's a good thing they had trained and lived together so long because life at the firebase in Afghanistan was harsh, even without the war that was going on. (Caution: strong language)
It was cold. Jasdeep Singh and one of his buddies were laying on wet snow, huddled up together for warmth. He was sure they were on a fool's errand, out to catch whoever was shooting off flares. Finally, they saw another one go up. It was on the other side of the river. Discipline would now be tested. Part 2 of 2. (Caution: strong language)
Alone in a guard tower, a private took his own life and the camp was turned upside down. Jasdeep Singh recalls how the investigation became a very big thing and some of the NCO's were reassigned. One good thing was that one of the new sergeants was a very good leader. (Caution: strong language)
Jasdeep Singh was on a patrol in Afghanistan with a comrade who was killed in action. He made an effort to contact the man's family when he got back home but it never happened. Finally, years later at a reunion of the unit, it happened and he could get a little closure.
Was it worth it? Are we safer? Jasdeep Singh served in Afghanistan with the Airborne infantry and he has some definite opinions on those questions. (Caution: strong language)
There was all kinds of music played by the boys in the 3rd platoon, from Hip-Hop to Country. Jasdeep Singh liked it all. And he likes the fact that, years later, he and his buddies can carry on at a reunion like no time at all had passed. (Caution: strong language)
