Minnesotans in Afghanistan: Living, Working, Being Missed…Sarah Carlson
The Minnesota National Guard sent 22 Minnesota Soldiers to Afghanistan. This isn’t a splashy headline. In recent years the Minnesota National Guard has sent troops to Iraq and Kuwait numbering in the thousands. It is easy to lose sight of the 22 Minnesotans currently living in places like Shah Joy, Qalat and Tarnak Wal Jaldak.
The numbers are small, the places are foreign. However, for the family and friends of these 22 soldiers the size of the Unit makes no difference, the location of the deployment makes no difference.
Whether it is one, one hundred, one thousand, or twenty-two the simple fact is Brian, Ken, Cheryl, Dan, Jenna, Sarah, Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa and Auntie are gone. They are away from home. They are missing birthdays and holidays. They are missing Wednesdays.
Right now Kevin, Brian and Eric are living, working, and serving in unfamiliar towns and villages in Afghanistan; however, they call cities I saw on this morning’s weather map home. They are from Morris, Bloomington and White Bear Lake. They are all from Minnesota.
Over the course of the next few posts I’ll introduce you to a handful of the Soldiers making up the Agribusiness Development Team in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.
Sarah Carlson is a Mom. In the short time I spent with her I could tell she misses her daughter tremendously. She was talking about some fancy new kicks she had just bought for her from Amazon.
In addition to the sit-down interview I conducted with Sarah I asked some not-quite-ready-for-Prime-Time questions.
BEST MOVIE SHE’S SEEN WHILE DEPLOYED – Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star
WORST MOVIE SHE’S SEEN WHILE DEPLOYED – (tie) The Hunger Games, Horrible Bosses
BEST BOOK SHE’S READ WHILE DEPLOYED – Jack Kerouac’s On the Road
Naomi got the shoes in the mail today ! Pink and turquiose cutom designed Nike high tops with her name on them. She said… “Wow, they are aesome…and I love love love love you alot !”
She sure does make me smile.
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We are grateful for Sarah and all the rest of the 22 Soldiers — and for their precious families — for their service. THANK YOU ALL!
P.S. We hope to send readers to your blog — just “pinned” Sarah’s photo and a link to this post on one of our Pinterest boards.
Thank you for the attention. I appreciate your willingness to spread the word.
Luke
Our pleasure! ANYTHING to support the troops, veterans, wounded warriors and their families.