FORWARD OPERATING BASE BERMEL, Afghanistan (Army News Service, Sept. 14, 2006) – Spec. Jose Pantoja shows off the danger of his mission along the border region of eastern Afghanistan: a scar on his cheek from an enemy bullet. During one of the longest firefights his company has encountered – nearly four hours long – three others sustained gunshot wounds, and nearly everyone took minor wounds from rocket propelled grenade shrapnel. “One of our guys actually got shot in his helmet,” Pantoja said. “It knocked him down, but he got up and kept fighting.” Engaging in firefights is almost daily life...