Helmand was in the British AO and they had their own OMLT, just like us, so we weren't exactly sure why we were going. I spoke to Captain Shafiq Ullah, who told me that about forty ANA soldiers were on a bus going home on leave when they were forced to pull over at an illegal vehicle checkpoint and then were kidnapped en masse by the Taliban. We were joining the ANA on a hostage rescue mission. God help the hostages—and us! We packed up and joined a battle group convoy under Major Obermann heading to Masum. Once we got there, thankfully without incident, I was gobsmacked when I realized we'd forgotten our new terp, Max. I told Major Hobbles, who just stared at me when I related the news. I accepted full responsibility, and he told me to quickly go and grab another terp from the pool of OMLT interpreters at Masum. Froggy, the interpreters' boss, recommended another terp, also named Max. Sean and the major collected int throughout the day and it was decided we would travel with our ANA early the next morning to Helmand.
What do You think about The Taliban Don't Wave (2012)?
