09/21/2026
That olive green collar sits tight against his neck as he stares straight at us.
Tuesday feels exactly like Thursday when you are out there. The dry heat does not change. Dust stays in your teeth. You go through the same motions and watch the sun go down over a landscape that is not yours.
It is like those phone calls home. You get a few minutes of static and a voice on a bad line telling you everything is fine. You can hear the silence between the words. You know how much effort it takes to keep that voice steady.
Watch the clip again. Look at his face just before he asks for that follow. There is a tiny hesitation there. American soldiers are tough, but they are also human beings sitting thousands of miles away hoping someone remembers them.
I have played this twelve second video five times now. He is not asking for much. Just a quick hello to break up the long hours. A tiny reminder that people back home are watching.
Leave a comment for him. Do not just use a generic thumbs up. Take a second to write out a real thank you in your own words. Let him know we are listening. 🫡