Afghanistan

After more than 16 years of war in Afghanistan, our military’s sacrifices are not slowing down. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

For the first time in three years, according to this Fox News report, A-10 Thunderbolt jets are in Afghanistan to strike at the heart of terrorist groups like ISIS, al Qaeda and the Taliban. The article notes that less than 24 hours after the jets arrived at Kandahar Airfield, as seen in the above photograph, American A-10 pilots were flying crucial combat missions above the war-torn country.

More brave men and women in uniform are also likely headed to Afghanistan, according to this Washington Post piece. The newspaper’s report says the military’s plans “could increase the total force in Afghanistan by as many as 1,000 U.S. troops this spring beyond the 14,000 already in the country.”

When reading about troop levels, particularly in wartime, it’s important to remember that these 1,000 American service members are real people with families. They are moms, dads, wives, husbands, brothers and sisters. In many cases, a young child is praying for their mother or father’s safe return. We join them in asking God to keep these American heroes safe as our country’s longest war continues amid three horrific terrorist attacks this week in Kabul.

Iraq

More U.S. troops are also deploying to Iraq, including 500 soldiers from Fort Drum in New York. WWNY-TV reports that preparations for the spring deployment are well underway, and that upon arriving in Iraq, the Army and National Guard warriors will be battling ISIS.

Syria

While Beltway politicians and pundits were playing a government shutdown blame game last weekend, U.S. forces in Syria were busy killing terrorists. The Hill reports that, according to U.S. Central Command, approximately 150 enemy fighters were eliminated in precision airstrikes directed at an “ISIS headquarters and command and control center in an exclusively ISIS-occupied location in the contested Middle Euphrates River Valley.”

Homefront

Just because the following heroic acts didn’t occur on the battlefield doesn’t mean we should ignore them. In the North Georgia mountains this past summer, Afghanistan and Iraq war veteran U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Davis saved a married couple who he found drenched in gasoline after their vehicle flipped over. Despite severe burns, the husband and wife survived. The American hero who saved them from the fiery wreckage, who himself suffered burn injuries, was honored with the Soldier’s Medal this week at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

“You’re an inspiration to us all, Staff Sgt. Davis,” U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew Poppas said at the January 22 ceremony. “Thank you for your actions; we all have something to learn from you.”

We also have something to learn from U.S. Army Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah, who will receive the Soldier’s Medal as well. Tragically, Pfc. Mensah lost his life after saving four people from a massive December 28, 2017, New York City fire that killed 13. According to The New York Daily News, officials in The Bronx are planning to name a local street after the fallen hero, who came to our country from Ghana before joining the military.

The 28-year-old soldier raced in and out of the burning building three separate times to save the innocent, according to the article. Please pray for this departed warrior’s family and friends.

Coming Home

U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to Task Force Southwest are greeted by friends and family after returning from a nine-month deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan Jan. 21, 2018 on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Last Sunday, a large group of U.S. Marine and U.S. Navy sailors returned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from a nine-month deployment to southern Afghanistan.

Please join the overjoyed young lady in the above photo in welcoming these heroes home! We thank God for their safe return.

Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of three books about U.S. military heroes: 8 Seconds of Courage, Brothers Forever and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo.