reporter: this kabul native is well aware of the taliban savegery. his family fled eventually to atlanta and he became a u.s. citizen. we had threats you either leave afghanistan or you will get killed. oliver: local knowledge and expertise like his are crucial. i felt obligated as an american. i have the skills and chance to help my other fellow americans. it was the perfect time for me. college can wait, but this can t. oliver: next, on war stories the u.s. marines return to afghanistan and go head to head with a vicious enemy in some of the most inhospitable terrain on earth. don t go away. [ male announcer ] for fastidious librarian emily skinner, each day was fueled by thorough preparation for events to come. well somewhere along the way, emily went right on living
i always wanted to serve my country, sir. i knew i always wanted to but i knew i was going to on 9/11, sir,, when that happened i knew that i wanted to be a marine and come to afghanistan and fight the taliban. oliver: it has been a decade since america went to war against al-qaeda and a the taliban. 1,685 americans have made the ultimate sacrifice in operation enduring freedom. general william caldwell, commander of the nato training mission in afghanistan says the key to victory is afghan forces taking on their own security. it became very apparent if we are going to make this thing last where it is going to stick and going to endure, we have got to give them the basic level to do the reading and writing required of any professional police force. the literacy training has become a key part of building this army. it is. we recognize that that is the essential enabler to everything
they were afraid of their lives. if i accept h help from marines or americans, then when they leave taliban come back and they will execute us. they don t like the taliban. the taliban take their money and take their houses and food. pretty much whatever they want. the people just don t have the poured concreter to fight back. we sleep on gun trucks or arm s distance from them. it was hotter than anybody ever thought it was going to be. i think the hottest day was 128. just the heat alone can drive any individual crazy since we are not used to it. come of the compounds have working hand pump wells and that is great if you can have a compound of that because you have access to water. pour water all over yourself. if you have soap you use it but