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It appears that the field to the right of Shanahan in the top picture is full of marijuana plants--not the first time we've seen a whole lot of cannabis in a picture from Afghanistan.
Chris Hondros / Getty Images
Staff Sgt. Dustin Shanahan of Susanville, California with U.S. Army's EOD demolition team carefully carries a powerful Taliban-planted bomb made from a mortar round and a rocket-propelled grenade before blowing it up to neutralize it October 8, 2010 in the village of Zoldag Mongah west of Kandahar. Shanahan is attached to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, the storied "Black Hearts" that won fame on D-Day and in other battles and are now spread out in the Taliban-infused badlands west of Kandahar.
Chris Hondros / Getty Images
Shanahan was called upon to defuse four different bombs aimed at American troops today.
Defusing a Taliban bomb
Explore related topics: afghanistan, marijuana, cannabis, rpg, ied, u-s-army, chris-hondros, 101st-airborne, eod
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Brave young man. Throughout history guys like this have died so that we get to live comfortably. Not all wars are just, many are motivated by evil agendas on both sides of the fence, but nothing can taint the valor and moral fiber of the honest soldier.
Absolutely right
I can agree with that.
I totally agree with that as well. And is it just me, or does this incredibly brave young man really look like he's every day of fourteen? No offense intended to this amazingly brave individual, he just looks so young my heart stopped for a moment.
hello from westyy vancouver,bc,canada-these absolutly dedicated young men-they are the new generation of ww1,ww2 vets-they have read the entire story-and msnbc,s lead commentator suggests the www2 men/women are/were the finesr generation-well-these fighters od iraq/afghanistan are right up there in the dirtiest of conflics.................
Sgt Shanahan reminds me so much of my 17 year old grandson, my heart too stopped for a moment.. But my stomach turns that our most valuable natural resource, our youth, had to be put in such a situation.
We have a grandson in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division and every time I see pictures of our young men defending us my heart leaps into my throat. And, every time I hear that one of them has died I get tears in my eyes. So often they were only eighteen to twenty years old. This weekend we grieve for a young soldier from McKinney, Texas who just graduated high school last year. God bless these young men and women; and God bless America.
He is a kid from my hometown, he may have been in my own son's class. Like many who fight this war for us, he is from a small-town in the USA who wants something more. Join the military to mature and see the world and maybe get an education out if it too. These kids make us so proud. The look on his face says a lot of how he must have felt, SCARED but he did his job. Were we that baby facedonce? What a man he has become. We are so very proud of our young men and women who have made the choice to go to a far off land and fight the people who murdered citizens on 9/11. What a sacrafice this young man is makeing so we can live in freedom, freedom to vote, to think for ourselfs and pary how we wish to. Everyone pray for these freedon fighters. Lord, please watch over them and the land of the free, home of the very brave.
Wow, is this real? That is what came to mind when I seen these pictures. These kids have made us so proud. Especially this one, never in my wildest imagination I would ever think my son would be doing something like this. I didn't even want to think of him doing this, but reality hit when I seen these pictures. Staff Sgt. Dustin Shanahan I am so proud of you and all you have done. I love you
Penny, my first thought was, "His mother is going to see this! Oh, that will be too REAL and present, and no one is going to warn her."
Please accept my thanks and my prayers. Our oldest son (a Marine) served in Desert Storm, and our youngest is still in the Navy.
I was in total shock when I wrote my first comment on this article. My heart has been in a knot ever since. I wasn't prepared for what I had seen, the look on my sons face took everything out of me. As a mother I am suppose to protect my children, but here Dustin is protecting us. This very proud and terrified mom asks you to please keep these young men and women in your prayers, and pray they all come home safe.
Thank you very much for your comments here, Penny--and to Jeff below. Much appreciated.
Holy crap. This brought tears to my eyes. Never in a million years would I have ever expected that of Dustin ( not that he isn't capable ) . But I just remember that little skinny boy I would hang by his ankles and tickle till he would almost pee. I'm at a loss for words. My thoughts are definitely with him Penny. Lots of love to you sweetheart...our whole family is keeping him in our thoughts...staff sgt. shanahan how freaking awesome is that...
We love our brother very much! We pray for his, and every troops safe return. Keep your head up and prayers strong Penny. Staff sgt. Shanahan we are proud of you!