Across Afghanistan suicide attacks are on the rise and in much of the country U.S.-allied forces confront a revived Taliban. A surprising exception is the eastern province of Khost, a hotbed of insurgent activity and al-Qaida ties since before 9-11 but today an unlikely oasis of hope in a troubled land.
Afghanistan: Lucky Charms
Published October 12, 2007
Like baseball players, Maj. Michele Curtis-Jackson, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade physician's assistant, says all medics fly with luck charms... she carries seven.
1) Heart Shaped D-rings -- the rings in all colors are used to hang up IV bags and secure other things in the helicopter. Curtis-Jackson says they represent the heart of the soldier.
2) Secret Squirrel -- Hooked to her "monkey tail," the strap that connects her to the helicopter so that she can stand up and work on patients, is a stuffed squirrel. It was given to her by the chief of surgery. She strokes it before take-off so that the mission will get launch approval faster.
3) POW/MIA flag -- In her right leg pocket, she has the flag given to her by Thomas Parent, who was killed in a motorcyle crash days before she deployed...
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On one of my last days in Khost in 2007, I remember the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers guarding Forward Operating Base Salerno's main gate were shocked that we'd go into the city without guns
In March 2008, The Pulitzer Center partnered with Helium to launch its first round of the Global Issues/Citizen Voices Contest. Find the winning essays here.
Grantee
Kevin Maurer has covered the military as an embedded journalist for The Fayetteville Observer for four years.
In 2003, he followed 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers in Iraq during the...
