You've seen this image before if you follow Spirit of America at all. It's a photograph of Army Sergeant Major James "Mack" McDowell, along with an Afghan soldier and two farmers. Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day in the United States, and when I pause throughout the day to think of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, for me Mack McDowell will take the point.
The best part about the opportunity to serve as executive director of Spirit of America is the frequent opportunity I have to meet America's best. Simply put, there is no better fighting force than ours, and I am often inspired by their dedication, professionalism and sense of duty. Spirit of America communicates with the lowest enlisted ranks, all the way up through the highest officer ranks, and the common denominators we see in each of them are love of country, commitment to protecting it, and passion for those peripheral to the fight.
Mack gave a series of presentations for Spirit of America a few months ago, after having completed one our most successful projects to date - the wholesale eradication and conversion of a poppy field in Sangin, Afghanistan (the origin of 65% of the world's heroin supply) into a high-yield saffron industry. For his efforts, Mack was awarded CNN Hero status. As he gave his presentation those three common denominators really came through. Mack is obviously a great America hero and proud member of its Armed Forces. His primary job as a Soldier was to rid his particular area in Afghanistan of the Taliban, which he did quite well. But what really shines above all else with Mack, in my opinion, is his true passion for the Afghan people. Just watch these three 10-minute videos of Mack's presentation at DeAnza College if you aren't convinced: Part 1 (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD-HkOg4rDg); Part 2 (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bNEXxmlIH0); and Part 3 (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n26i21Xmg44).
Mack talks about the photo above of a young boy that was brought to a shura with his father early in the process to discuss plowing under the poppy and growing saffron. Of course, seated beyond the photo, but near enough to see who came and show their interest, are unarmed Taliban members who drift in and out of the villages and gather intelligence. For bringing his son and trying to teach the next generation of Afghans the right way to live and prosper, the father pictured here would have his eyes gouged out a few days later by the Taliban. As Mack says in the videos above, it's for this little boy that we have to get it right in Afghanistan - a little boy who now has a blind father because that father had the guts to take a stand and commit to a better life for his family. There are no better people to take on the task of ensuring that little boy's future than American fighting forces - people exactly like Sergeant Major Mack McDowell.
Please take a moment tomorrow to think about the sacrfices made by our friends and family in the United States military. It doesn't matter what you think of the wars and conflicts of the past or present - these individuals have earned our respect. Let them know how deeply and sincerely you appreciate them, even if it's just with a positive thought. Thank you.
Dennis Norris
Spirit of America’s Founder and Chairman of the Board, Jim Hake, was honored by the U.S. Marine Corps on May 22nd at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC. The host for the evening was Lieutenant General Joseph F. Dunford, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations. General Dunford is also a long-time supporter and friend of Spirit of America.
Spirit of America is the only nonprofit organization that fulfills requests from members of the U.S. military for goods that will help local people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. In October 2009 we will turn our focus almost exclusively to Afghanistan in response to the troop build-up in that country. Through the Americans for Afghanistan Campaign, United States citizens will come together in support of the efforts to rebuild the Afghan nation after decades of warfare.
You've seen this image before if you follow Spirit of America at all. It's a photograph of Army Sergeant Major James "Mack" McDowell, along with an Afghan soldier and two farmers. Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day in the United States, and when I pause throughout the day to think of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, for me Mack McDowell will take the point.
Here I am in Farah Province, Afghanistan, chatting with LtCol David Odom. Colonel Odom is the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion/8th Marines at Deleram FOB. The 3/8 has been in the thick of it for months. Spirit of America has provided them with materials to help train Afghan Security Forces, as well as medical supplies for a regional medical clinic being constructed in the village right outside their door. We will continue to work with the Provincial Reconstruction Team 
(PRT) for Farah Province and its commanding officer, Navy CDR Benjamin Nicholson, in the coming months and years. Thanks to the 3/8 for being the pioneers for us in this region of Afghanistan. There is a lot of work to do, but we're good to go.
I would venture to guess that the first thing a typical American realizes when flying over southern Afghanistan is that he/she is a long, long way from home. There are no signs of civilization below, other than occasional mud-brick evidence of a village or a few haphazardly organized green pastures that follow rivers and streams. Gone is the geometry and concrete permanance of life as we generally know it.
The impression I had of Afghanistan was less about the country and its people, and more about my hosts, the United States Marine Corps. I kept hearing myself saying that popular phrase, "No better friend. No worse enemy." On the "no worse enemy" side of that equation, what I saw were a few remote FOBs consisting of maybe 1,000 Marines, all covering an area the size of Vermont. Spread this thin, the FOBs could still function because they are populated by the best fighting force on the planet. As a veteran myself I am not green to the military or the Marines for that matter, but in this surreal landscape I really got a sense of the organization and the power of our boots on the ground, and the unquestionable stupidity of anyone who would opt to mess with them. I also understand completely that the Taliban is a formidable enemy for any fighting force, but in the months to come as more and more American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines enter Afghanistan and venture into all corners of the country, one can't help but stand in awe of the comprehensive and well-deserved beating that the Taliban are about to receive. 
This past week I was able to make a quick journey to Kandahar, Afghanistan and surrounding areas, thanks to the hospitality of the United States Marine Corps. Special thanks to Lieutenant General Joseph Dunford for setting the trip up, and to Brigadier General Ronald Baczkowski (pictured here on the left) for being such a gracious host. I'd also like to thank Colonel Michael LeSavage (pictured center) and Captain William Milana (pictured right) of USMARCENT in Tampa, FL for allowing me to join them and for providing me with so much valuable information.
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