SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois National Guard has had a longstanding partnership with Poland. And, on Aug. 28, 2013, members of the two forces occupied an Afghan base under attack by Taliban insurgents.

“We train for these events. We plan for these events,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (ret.) Lester Edwards of Petersburg. “But when it happens, 100 percent of everything I’ve trained for had kicked into gear to say, hey, it’s time to put all that training into practical use now.”

The attack is now the subject of a documentary, FOB Ghazni: The Day the Enemy Breached the Wire, which will be screened – followed by a panel discussion – Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Lafore Lock VFW Post 755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road.

Edwards said he and a Polish general, who caught shrapnel near his shoulder, dispatched three insurgents one at a time. “All of them, we discovered later, had suicide vests on,” said Edwards. “And they all came on the base with the intent of doing as much damage to forces as possible.”

“The look I saw in Sgt. Maj. (Edwards’) eyes that day,” said Capt. (ret.) Tristan Myers of Effingham, “that was a look I’d never seen before. And a look that I hope and pray I will never have to see again.”

Capt. Tristan Myers (Retired) of Effingham speaks at the WTAX studios.
Capt. Tristan Myers (Retired) of Effingham speaks at the WTAX studios. (Dave Dahl)

The attack on FOB Ghazni was probably the most intense during Edwards’ five deployments. And such experiences over a long career changed him.

“I look at the world a lot differently now,” he said. “I look at it with a softer eye. I look at it with a kinder eye than I had previously.”