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Lost To History
by James Glaser October 10, 2009 In my war they were named Khe Sanh, LZ Stud, Phu Bi, Da Nang, Dong Ha, The Rock Pile, and Signal Hill. Bases where I lived for a time and where American troops gave their lives in defense of their comrades-in-arms. Today some of those places are still talked about when Marines are waiting for an appointment at the VA, or in a VFW Hall or at the Legion. Other than the troops that fought there, those bases are lost in the history of war. This week another base has been added to all the lost bases from all the wars fought. Kamdesh Outpost, a little American base at the bottom of some hills in Afghanistan was abandoned by the United States Army. Eight American troops were killed there last week, and the Soldiers who fought with them will never forget the place. Forty years from now some Soldier from the 61st Cavalry Regiment will be telling about the horror of that battle to some veterans around him, but when he dies, and his comrades of that day die, Kamdesh will be forgotten just like the bases I fought at will be forgotten, Battles mean little and in truth, so do the wars.
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