“Damn the Valley” was written by Will Yeske and describes his deployment to the Arghandab River Valley in Afghanistan. The valley has seen its share of conflict. From Alexander the Great up to the Russians – and now Americans. To US troops it became known as “the meat grinder”. Will was posted there with Bravo Company of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regim
ent of the 82nd Airborne. During their time there, his unit suffered a 52% casualty rate.
Damn the Valley has an interesting “origin” story. Will was inspired to write it in response to another book by Ben Kesling titled “Bravo Company: An Afghanistan Deployment and Its Aftermath.” Many of Will’s comrades who saw conflict in that valley felt that Kesling’s book fell short in telling the full story of their deployment. Kelsing was supportive of Will undertaking the project.
Damn the Valley does an excellent job of communicating the hardships of being stationed in such a remote location over and above the combat. This includes basic issues like staying clean. Sometimes patrols would even be routed through shallow rivers just so the soldiers could rinse off. In addition to the Taliban, wild life like mountain lions and bears also posed a threat.
Will gives credit to our opponents in that valley. He says they were very shrewd about adapting their tactics, including “assembly” line methods of planting improvised explosive devices that took advantage of the US troops’ strict rules of engagement. Helmand province was considered the “silicon valley” of IED manufacturing.
Readers will get a firsthand accounting of the “fog of war”, the brutality of this conflict and the second order effects upon those who fought there. Will says that he experienced real struggles upon returning to civilian life and for a while engaged in high risk behaviors to address the “numbness”.
TAKEAWAY: “If any Freedom was won, it was providing sleep and security to those who had never had it before”
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