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May 06, 2009
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Afghanistan
Pfc. Timothy Gustafson looks out over the peaceful countryside at Forward Operating Base Bostic in the Konar province of northeastern Afghanistan, enjoying a well-deserved break from his time at Combat Outpost Lowell. Gustafson, from Phoenix Ariz., is currently deployed with 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.
JALALABAD AIR FIELD, Afghanistan
by Staff Sgt. David Hopkins
The Soldiers who man Combat Outpost Lowell near the Pakistan border see combat action almost daily.
Army Pfc. Timothy Gustafson is one of these Soldiers and his story of his time at COP Lowell is about survival and brotherhood. However, he will tell you he's just like any other American Soldier, fighting for his country and the Afghan people.
Gustafson, a cavalry scout with 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, has been living and fighting at the remote outpost since early July 2008 and has many stories about what he's done and seen.
The broad-shouldered, battle-worn Soldier leaned back against a stack of sandbags during a much-needed rest at Forward Operating Base Bostic as he explained his first days at COP Lowell.
"On my second day there I spent the night in a C-hut with the finance guys and some KBR employees. I woke up to the sound of gunfire. At first, I didn't know what it was and then bullets were coming through the wood walls. I couldn't believe it was happening," Gustafson said, shaking his head. "I ran through the building to make sure everyone else was getting up. I found a KBR guy sleeping. He must have thought it wasn't real or he's a heavy sleeper. I grabbed him and pulled him up. Right when I lifted him a bullet landed where he was lying. It was very intense."
The day's events seemed a lifetime away from the 22-year-old's hometown of Phoenix, Ariz., where his wife Katheryn waits for him to return at the end of his deployment.
"I miss a lot of things being out at Lowell, but I would have to say I miss my family and friends the most," Gustafson said.
Gustafson enlisted in the Army to take care of his family and have a stable life, but his start in the Army was a little rough.
"I joined the Army in 2006, but was medically discharged from Basic Training after an injury on the Victory Tower," Gustafson said, but he was determined to serve his country and after a year of rehabilitation he was ready to give it another try. He enlisted again in 2007 and that time made it work.
Gustafson worked hard to build himself back up and dedicated himself to serve in the Army and fight. He considers himself a hard worker and feels that's what helps him make it through the hard days on the front lines.
He said he takes comfort in the days where he and his fellow cavalrymen are able to fight off an attack or save someone who was hit in an attack.
Gustafson still isn't sure if the Army is going to be a career for him, but he knows what he wants to do after the Army.
"I just want to get stable when I get out," Gustafson explained. "When I get out I plan to go to college and be an electrician journeyman. I want to start my own business."
Until the day Gustafson gets out of the Army, he said he will continue to work hard and make a difference in the lives of the Afghan people and his brothers in arms.
"I feel we are helping the Afghan people have a better life," Gustafson said, "and it feels good to make a difference. I will keep doing this for the rest of the deployment. It isn't easy, but knowing that my friends and battle buddies are out there makes me do this every day. We are a family out there...brothers."
Wild Thing's comment........
God bless Pfc. Timothy Gustafson and his family. I love how he went back and enlisting a second time.
Posted by Wild Thing at May 6, 2009 05:40 AM
Comments
Please pray for these Soldiers - they just lost fellow soldiers:
Sgt. James D. Pirtle, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Spec. Ryan C. King, 22, of Dallas, Ga.
These soldiers died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using direct fire.
Staff Sgt. William D. Vile, 27, of Philadelphia, Pa. is now listed as DUSTWUN (MIA)from this same incident. He is assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Posted by: yankeemom at May 6, 2009 08:27 AM
Great story WT. Pfc. Timothy Gustafson has real grit, most who don't make it through boot don't try again.
I had a fellow NCO who slept through a 122mm rocket attack in the cab of a truck, it tore up a lot of our gear, he wasn't harmed but that man could sleep through anything.
Spent some time around the Big Red One at Quang Tri, great bunch of soldiers, often just show up with a mermite can of beer and swap lies with them after along day.
Thanks Yankeemom. My heart and soul goes out those soldiers and their families, I don't hold out any illusions about Staff Sgt. William D. Vile and pray for his safe return also.
Posted by: Jack at May 6, 2009 08:52 AM
I'm praying yankeemom. I pray for our troops and our country every day. Extra prayers now for these three soldiers.
Posted by: TomR at May 6, 2009 02:09 PM
Yankeemom, oh noooo I am so sorry. This is
very scary to hear one of them is listed
as MIA as well.
Thank you for sharing about these heroes.
I sure will pray for them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 7, 2009 12:01 AM
Jack, thanksd for sharing about the NCO
that slept like that too. It is so funny,
but only if they don't get hurt or anyone
else gets hurt or worse. May they always
live to laugh about it later.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 7, 2009 12:05 AM
