Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #welcomethemhere
Most recents (2)
Had an incredible day yesterday at the International Institute of St. Louis in our first mission with military volunteers from the region. On Weds morning they asked me if I could find 20 volunteers to help move some of the flood of donations from their site to their warehouse. 
I wasn't sure if I could pull it off. I only started volunteering with them this week and hadn't really done any outreach to the organizations in St. Louis yet. But, I had an ace in the hole. I had waved down an Air Force Captain at @IISTL on Tuesday as he dropped off donations.
I intro'd myself and asked if he could help me at @ScottAFB with some connections. Well, Evan wasn't playing. The next morning I had an email with a host of POC's he'd already spoken to and wanted to help. I wrote 2 of them asking for 10 volunteers for the next day.
I didn't serve in Afghanistan. My connection starts with 9/11 and voluntarily getting mobilized by my Reserve unit that first night for "just 2 weeks" that led to another 9 years of service and 3 Iraq tours. I lost interpreters, local partners, and friends in that time.
My own mental health collapsed years after I took off the uniform. I saw death, loss, joy, triumph and pain but it led to so much. I've made a post-service life of continued service. I've been able to help fellow veterans and work to save our democracy.
My feelings today are decidedly mixed. I believe it was time to end this 20 year war. I am frustrated with the chaotic departure. I am sad knowing so many will suffer under the Taliban and we could have done more for our interpreters and partners for the last decade.
