For over two decades, thousands of service members and civilians from dozens of countries answered the call to assist in the conflict in Afghanistan following the devastating 9/11 attacks. This multinational effort, led by the United States and invoking NATO’s Article 5, saw British, Canadian, Danish, Estonian and Afghan forces endure some of the fiercest fighting in Kandahar and Helmand provinces.
The initial years of the US-led “Operation Enduring Freedom” were relatively quiet, but the situation changed dramatically after 2006 when the UK deployed in force to Helmand. The Taliban made it clear they would fight any foreign presence, and the British paratroops soon found themselves in intense combat, calling in “danger close” mortar and artillery strikes to prevent their bases from being overrun.
Over the next eight years, until the end of combat operations in 2014, service members from multiple nations risked their lives to serve in Afghanistan. They faced not only blast walls, rocket attacks and ambushes, but the ever-present threat of expertly concealed improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These devastating weapons could claim lives or lead to catastrophic injuries in the blink of an eye, leaving many soldiers praying for below-the-knee amputations rather than worse.
The courage and resilience of those who survived such horrors is truly humbling. They represent the thousands who answered America’s call for help after 9/11, and it is disrespectful to suggest they somehow avoided the fighting. The sacrifices made by all who served in Afghanistan, regardless of nationality, deserve our utmost respect and recognition.
