AUBURN - While some in his unit are disappointed with serving in what they refer to as a “forgotten war” in Afghanistan, Charles R. Augello feels a quiet glory in what he is doing.
“I really don't care about that. I know what kind of help we've given and the people know, and they're thankful,” said Augello, who is back home in Auburn on a 30-day leave.
The recently promoted U.S. Army sergeant, and recipient of the Army Achievement Medal, had been in Afghanistan for nearly a year and a half. He enlisted fresh out of high school in 2003, with a desire to serve his country.
Planning past his career in the Army, Augello is considering a degree in psychology.
“My aunt works in the field, and I was talking to her recently,” he said.
But for now, he balances the challenge of duty with a sense of achievement.
“I miss so much my family, my friends, going out and having fun,” Augello said. “Some days when you're so tired, you don't want to do it, but you know you have to.”
Still, that hasn't prevented him from volunteering for missions with the infantry, or standing guard on tower duty reporting mortar fire.
“When I first got there, our base was being attacked almost on a weekly basis,” he said.
Fortunately, direct assaults on his camp, located in a valley near Khost in the eastern part of the country, have lessened. Valley locations, while vulnerable to vantage points in the mountains, are necessary to provide flat surface for airstrips, he explained.
While the general population near the Pakistani border can be trouble, many of those near the camp have become friends, of sorts.
“Most of the people I've met, especially around the base, are thankful,” he said. “They seem very happy. We brought peace, schools for the children. There's a few workers, laborers that work on the base, that know my name and they'll wave.”
Picking up trash to bring to burning pots, emptying porta-potties, and filling sand bags helps bring valuable employment to 200 Afghans, most of whom live in poverty.
“There's nothing they can do. There is agriculture, just for sustenance,” Augello said. “In the cities they'll work as butchers, blacksmiths, but there's no stores. They buy from one another.”
While there is still tribal fighting between families, primarily concerning land, where once the Taliban ruled there now is democracy, with presidential and provincial elections taking place, he said.
“The voting turnout while we were there was really good. A lot more voted than anyone thought would,” Augello said, adding the culture still remains very religious.
And while they respect American customs, some habits do offend.
“The biggest thing is, if you show the bottom of your foot to them it's offensive,” he said.
Augello said the Afghans now have their own police and army, but have a long way to go. One of his duties is watching citizen workers while they are on base. Also, he is taking Army law enforcement classes, another possible career choice when he gets out. It's an occupation his father, a captain with the Auburn Police Department, knows something about.
“There's no gauge to measure the pride I have in him,” said Charles F. Augello. “When he graduated from basic training, I was the proudest father there.”
The recently promoted U.S. Army sergeant, and recipient of the Army Achievement Medal, had been in Afghanistan for nearly a year and a half. He enlisted fresh out of high school in 2003, with a desire to serve his country.
Planning past his career in the Army, Augello is considering a degree in psychology.
“My aunt works in the field, and I was talking to her recently,” he said.
But for now, he balances the challenge of duty with a sense of achievement.
“I miss so much my family, my friends, going out and having fun,” Augello said. “Some days when you're so tired, you don't want to do it, but you know you have to.”
Still, that hasn't prevented him from volunteering for missions with the infantry, or standing guard on tower duty reporting mortar fire.
“When I first got there, our base was being attacked almost on a weekly basis,” he said.
Fortunately, direct assaults on his camp, located in a valley near Khost in the eastern part of the country, have lessened. Valley locations, while vulnerable to vantage points in the mountains, are necessary to provide flat surface for airstrips, he explained.
While the general population near the Pakistani border can be trouble, many of those near the camp have become friends, of sorts.
“Most of the people I've met, especially around the base, are thankful,” he said. “They seem very happy. We brought peace, schools for the children. There's a few workers, laborers that work on the base, that know my name and they'll wave.”
Picking up trash to bring to burning pots, emptying porta-potties, and filling sand bags helps bring valuable employment to 200 Afghans, most of whom live in poverty.
“There's nothing they can do. There is agriculture, just for sustenance,” Augello said. “In the cities they'll work as butchers, blacksmiths, but there's no stores. They buy from one another.”
While there is still tribal fighting between families, primarily concerning land, where once the Taliban ruled there now is democracy, with presidential and provincial elections taking place, he said.
“The voting turnout while we were there was really good. A lot more voted than anyone thought would,” Augello said, adding the culture still remains very religious.
And while they respect American customs, some habits do offend.
“The biggest thing is, if you show the bottom of your foot to them it's offensive,” he said.
Augello said the Afghans now have their own police and army, but have a long way to go. One of his duties is watching citizen workers while they are on base. Also, he is taking Army law enforcement classes, another possible career choice when he gets out. It's an occupation his father, a captain with the Auburn Police Department, knows something about.
“There's no gauge to measure the pride I have in him,” said Charles F. Augello. “When he graduated from basic training, I was the proudest father there.”