When I lived in Hokkaido, I became close friends with an American named Mark, from Illinois.  We did a lot of hiking - and partying - together, and Mark sometimes told me about his brothers, who are both serving in the military, one in Iraq, one in Afghanistan.  

Both have had very close calls.

Mark wrote a really heart-felt, informative story about his brother's experiences in Afghanistan.  It's important for all Americans to read, regardless of your opinion of the wars and our foreign policy, in order to develop a sense of empathy for what our friends and family are going through over there.

Here's the link to the article:

Traveling Warrior