Earlville Afghan veteran comes home for the holidays
EARLVILLE – Earlville resident Robert Alexander Orellano, 23, a member of the U.S. Army currently stationed in Fort Campbell, KY, is coming home for the holidays on Dec. 20, after finishing a tour in Afghanistan in November. He reminds people not to forget the troops that are still stationed in the Middle-East and other areas around the globe who are not as fortunate as him to be safe at home with their families for Christmas.
“One of the most important things I want people to know is, there is a generation that's growing up not knowing what it's like to not be in a war. My sister is ten years old, and we have been at war since she was born,” said Orellano.
“There are still soldiers over there. They are not home,” Orellano continued. “They are going to miss Christmas. We are still at war, even though some are coming home. We are still all over the world. There are still troops in Korea, left there after World War II. Anything can break out at any moment in the places where troops are stationed.”
Orellano was stationed at the infamus Combat Outpost Wilderness, located in the heart of a gap in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. He was a member of the Gunfighter Company of the First Battalion of the 506th Regiment and a platoon of the 320th Field Artillery Regiment, all members of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, KY.
“I was part of the crew that shoots canons. I also am a driver,” said Orellano.
Combat Outpost Wilderness was recently closed and the troops were sent home, as is the case with many bases in Afghanistan, because the military is pulling out of the country. The base Orellano was stationed in is a notoriously dangerous spot because of the consistent firing of rockets and mortar rounds directed at the base.
“It was one of the last places that was fighting the Taliban. I saw a piece about how dangerous it was on “60 Minutes” after I enlisted. When I found out I was deployed there, I couldn't believe it,” said Orellano.
“When I first joined the army, I didn't think it was going to be the way it was. I had rockets land within 50 meters of me. Everyone runs to the bunker at first; but eventually, you have to run out there and shoot because they keep firing at you.”
It is close to the Pakistan border and directly at the center of a passageway, named the K-G Pass, which eases travel between Pakistan's capital and a province in Afghanistan. The Taliban can easily send in replacement fighters from refuges in nearby Pakistani cities, which allows them to have an endless supply of reinforcements to continuously attack the base.
“I have jumped out of helicopters and ridden roller coasters, but when you hear a rocket come whistling at you, it is on a whole other level. They say if you hear a whistle, you are good, but that whistle can be a half a second long and land right next to you,” said Orellano.
“Three of my brothers were killed and five were injured. I didn't think it was going to be like that. You have to appreciate what you have. The money is good, and you don't have a lot of expenses while you’re deployed. You come back and have some money. But if you don't make it, it doesn't matter.”
Orellano grew up in Earlville. While in high school, he always wanted to join the army but his parents encouraged him to go to college. He humored them at first and went to Morrissville State College. He was five credits from graduating with his Associates degree after taking 55 credits and receiving honors. That is when Orellano decided to to enlist. He enlisted April of 2012 and was deployed in April of 2013. He was stationed in Afghanistan for more than seven months.
“I didn't want to go to college then, even though I do now. I also didn't see a lot of job opportunities that interested me in Upstate New York, so I chose to enlist,” said Orellano. “Now I would like to go back to college for chemistry or physics.”
Orellano calls his brothers in the military his family because “sometimes people at home say they would die for you, but the people I am enlisted with are actually willing to get in front of a gun for me,” he said. He has not forgotten his family at home, despite gaining a new family overseas.
“I am excited to come home for Christmas. I want to see my family and what has changed. I am looking forward to relaxing and doing nothing. I don't have to pull guard and be up all night. I get to hear new music and see new movies. I haven't been home since last March, so I am sure a lot has changed,” said Orellano.
“When you are deployed, you think about your loved ones all the time. It's hard. You are always hearing about new things happening at home that you are not there for. I have always had animals, and I missed having them. It's difficult to have a relationship. You miss out on a lot of things like that. You also realize what you do have. I gave my mom a hard time growing up; but now, I realize how much she did for me and my brother. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck. Now, I see how difficult that is, and how I am lucky I do not have to struggle like that.”
The biggest shock to Orellano was that he imagined it would be easy to fight people overseas because he thought they would be running around barefoot without resources.
“They can handle themselves though. You don't want to go over there and slaughter everyone. You are trying to work with these people. We are just trying to help them out pretty much but someone is making money somewhere and they don't want us there,” said Orellano.
“There are some people that will give you the shirt off your back if you need it. If you help them out, they will trust you and build a relationship with you. They are appreciative. Everybody wants to come to the United States. It's unrealistic to them. It will sometimes cost them thousands of dollars to get a physical, visa and a plane ticket. They want to improve the conditions for their families, but for some of them, that will just never happen. They do not have resources.”
Orellano says that America is very lucky, and that the developed countries helped us become what we are. He also says that there is more than just “ourselves,” and he thinks people should be willing to risk what they have for someone else.
“I know they say America needs help, but we are in a global community now. I asked one of the Turks what they export from there and he said, 'Drugs and rugs.' There are a lot of people that are less fortunate around the world and who go without. They are people just like us, even if they have a different language or culture. No one wants to die or lose buddies, but maybe they can make the world better for someone,” said Orellano.
Orellano is considering reenlisting in the future and becoming a structural engineer in the service. If he does not reenlist, he will be released from duty in August of 2015. His brother is currently in the ROTC program in Upstate NY and will be enlisting in the future.
“The thing to remember is not all of us are home, and some of us are never coming home. I am lucky to get to come and be with my family,” said Orellano.
He encourages us to remember our troops this holiday season and appreciate what we do have.
“One of the most important things I want people to know is, there is a generation that's growing up not knowing what it's like to not be in a war. My sister is ten years old, and we have been at war since she was born,” said Orellano.
“There are still soldiers over there. They are not home,” Orellano continued. “They are going to miss Christmas. We are still at war, even though some are coming home. We are still all over the world. There are still troops in Korea, left there after World War II. Anything can break out at any moment in the places where troops are stationed.”
Orellano was stationed at the infamus Combat Outpost Wilderness, located in the heart of a gap in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. He was a member of the Gunfighter Company of the First Battalion of the 506th Regiment and a platoon of the 320th Field Artillery Regiment, all members of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, KY.
“I was part of the crew that shoots canons. I also am a driver,” said Orellano.
Combat Outpost Wilderness was recently closed and the troops were sent home, as is the case with many bases in Afghanistan, because the military is pulling out of the country. The base Orellano was stationed in is a notoriously dangerous spot because of the consistent firing of rockets and mortar rounds directed at the base.
“It was one of the last places that was fighting the Taliban. I saw a piece about how dangerous it was on “60 Minutes” after I enlisted. When I found out I was deployed there, I couldn't believe it,” said Orellano.
“When I first joined the army, I didn't think it was going to be the way it was. I had rockets land within 50 meters of me. Everyone runs to the bunker at first; but eventually, you have to run out there and shoot because they keep firing at you.”
It is close to the Pakistan border and directly at the center of a passageway, named the K-G Pass, which eases travel between Pakistan's capital and a province in Afghanistan. The Taliban can easily send in replacement fighters from refuges in nearby Pakistani cities, which allows them to have an endless supply of reinforcements to continuously attack the base.
“I have jumped out of helicopters and ridden roller coasters, but when you hear a rocket come whistling at you, it is on a whole other level. They say if you hear a whistle, you are good, but that whistle can be a half a second long and land right next to you,” said Orellano.
“Three of my brothers were killed and five were injured. I didn't think it was going to be like that. You have to appreciate what you have. The money is good, and you don't have a lot of expenses while you’re deployed. You come back and have some money. But if you don't make it, it doesn't matter.”
Orellano grew up in Earlville. While in high school, he always wanted to join the army but his parents encouraged him to go to college. He humored them at first and went to Morrissville State College. He was five credits from graduating with his Associates degree after taking 55 credits and receiving honors. That is when Orellano decided to to enlist. He enlisted April of 2012 and was deployed in April of 2013. He was stationed in Afghanistan for more than seven months.
“I didn't want to go to college then, even though I do now. I also didn't see a lot of job opportunities that interested me in Upstate New York, so I chose to enlist,” said Orellano. “Now I would like to go back to college for chemistry or physics.”
Orellano calls his brothers in the military his family because “sometimes people at home say they would die for you, but the people I am enlisted with are actually willing to get in front of a gun for me,” he said. He has not forgotten his family at home, despite gaining a new family overseas.
“I am excited to come home for Christmas. I want to see my family and what has changed. I am looking forward to relaxing and doing nothing. I don't have to pull guard and be up all night. I get to hear new music and see new movies. I haven't been home since last March, so I am sure a lot has changed,” said Orellano.
“When you are deployed, you think about your loved ones all the time. It's hard. You are always hearing about new things happening at home that you are not there for. I have always had animals, and I missed having them. It's difficult to have a relationship. You miss out on a lot of things like that. You also realize what you do have. I gave my mom a hard time growing up; but now, I realize how much she did for me and my brother. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck. Now, I see how difficult that is, and how I am lucky I do not have to struggle like that.”
The biggest shock to Orellano was that he imagined it would be easy to fight people overseas because he thought they would be running around barefoot without resources.
“They can handle themselves though. You don't want to go over there and slaughter everyone. You are trying to work with these people. We are just trying to help them out pretty much but someone is making money somewhere and they don't want us there,” said Orellano.
“There are some people that will give you the shirt off your back if you need it. If you help them out, they will trust you and build a relationship with you. They are appreciative. Everybody wants to come to the United States. It's unrealistic to them. It will sometimes cost them thousands of dollars to get a physical, visa and a plane ticket. They want to improve the conditions for their families, but for some of them, that will just never happen. They do not have resources.”
Orellano says that America is very lucky, and that the developed countries helped us become what we are. He also says that there is more than just “ourselves,” and he thinks people should be willing to risk what they have for someone else.
“I know they say America needs help, but we are in a global community now. I asked one of the Turks what they export from there and he said, 'Drugs and rugs.' There are a lot of people that are less fortunate around the world and who go without. They are people just like us, even if they have a different language or culture. No one wants to die or lose buddies, but maybe they can make the world better for someone,” said Orellano.
Orellano is considering reenlisting in the future and becoming a structural engineer in the service. If he does not reenlist, he will be released from duty in August of 2015. His brother is currently in the ROTC program in Upstate NY and will be enlisting in the future.
“The thing to remember is not all of us are home, and some of us are never coming home. I am lucky to get to come and be with my family,” said Orellano.
He encourages us to remember our troops this holiday season and appreciate what we do have.
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