"My Brother is in Afghanistan"

07/20/2002
"My Brother is in Afghanistan"

The Fighting Cook

Kurt, my step-brother who is five years younger than me, wisely decided to join the Army right out of high school. He was always a little on the rowdy side and the Army exerted a rigid lifestyle that he's adapted to quite well. I like to think that the military and he made a good match for each other.

He's a Sergeant in the Airborne division, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which means he gets to jump out of planes and knows how to assemble an M-16 blindfolded. But his regular job is as a cook. Apparently Kurt had seen the Steven Seagal movie "Under Siege" where Mr. Seagal plays a military special forces cook. I think it won the Palm D'Or at Cannes. The movie impressed him so much that he decided to become a cook, too.

And cook he does - usually for about 500 guys at a time. When he comes home during holidays he cooks for the family and, I must admit, he is really good, but he makes so much food that Dad ends up taking extras to the neighbors and to work and to just about anyone else who will take food.

Kurt left last week for Afghanistan. Apparently he must do a hardship tour once every so many years. He's presently in Kandahar and will be there for a while and then head on to Bagram(sp??) to finish out his six month tour. If you'd like to write or send goodies, here's his address.

SGT Kurt S. Littlejohn
HHC, 1-505 PIR
82nd Airborne Division
APO AE 09355

Replies: 2 comments

Hey, did you notice that right behind Kurt is a picture of us?

Posted by michelle
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 11:24 AM EST

My son is SGT George Barbary IV. with A Co. 1/505 PIR is also stationed in Afghanistan . He is right there with your brother at the same places. I watched the news every night to try to get a glimpse of him there. I miss him so much right now.

Posted by George Barbary III
Thursday, August 29, 2002 at 05:49 PM EST