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US Army Soldiers Hike Afghan Terrain

WEDNESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2007

The United States Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade hiked the renowned Hindu Kush neither for exercise nor to appreciate the hundred valleys and mountain peaks of the region but to hunt down al-Qaida and Taliban operatives.

During the said hiking trip, the brigade has gone through the trails of nearly four provinces, including Lagman, Nangarhar, Nuristan and Kunar.

Another noticeable difference between the hiking soldiers and normal hikers is that their backpacks are packed with water, 60 to 100 pounds of guns and other ammunition.

After 10 hours of hiking, the company, which was led by 29-year old Captain Louis Frketic, reached the end of their trail. The men, although clearly tired and thirsty, met up with Afghan villagers to gather information about the Taliban.

For more details on this news story, please visit www.estripes.com.

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