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Article: Just 'like Vietnam without the napalm'; For Strykers, a bitter Afghan valley of death; 10 in Fort Lewis battalion have been killed since August.(News)
- Article from:
- The Seattle Times (Seattle, WA)
- Article date:
- October 3, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 The Seattle Times. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Hal Bernton; Seattle Times staff reporter
JELAWUR, Afghanistan u The men of Bravo Company have a bitter description for the irrigated swath of land along the Arghandab River where 10 members of their battalion have been killed and 30 have been wounded since the beginning of August.
"Like Vietnam without the napalm," said Spc. Nicholas Gojekian, 21, of Katy, Texas.
A prime agricultural area of vineyards and pomegranate orchards, the 18 miles of valley that the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment patrols includes Taliban insurgents, booby traps and buried explosives. The troops call the area the "green zone," but unlike Iraq, where it's ...