Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Jerome Young. - File

In one night, he survived at least 24 rocket attacks after the camp where he was based in Slaverno, Afghanistan, came under attack by Taliban fighters hiding in the mountains. In the midst of the darkness, he and his colleagues ran from their tents and dashed under bunkers.

"This was one of my worst experiences during my tour of duty in Afghanistan," says Jerome Young, a Jamaican who has served in the United States army, fighting in Iraq and, more recently, in Afghanistan.

Numerous rocket attacks

According to Young, the city of Slaverno has been nicknamed 'Rocket City' by him and his colleagues. This is because of the numerous rocket attacks on the city, which he says is located about five miles from the Pakistan border.Three weeks ago, when he was getting ready to return home, six Canadian soldiers were ambushed and killed by insurgents in the city.

"I went on a mission to help the people of Afghanistan. What was shocking to me was the high level of poverty and culture that exist," the former Holmwood Technical schoolboy relates. He says the Afghans are very religious, praying at least five times per day.

"These people are very humble, but they need help. I shared whatever I could share with them. I remembered teaching a 23-year-old man how to brush his teeth with a toothbrush. All his life he has been using 'chew-stick' to brush his teeth," says Young.

Apart from making friends and protecting them from invasion by the Talibans, he and his colleagues took time out to teach the children what they could because they don't attend school.

"Where we were, there were no televisions or cellular phones. At nights, the place was in darkness," recounts Young, who is popularly called '3 Star'.

Died in his arms

He got the name after his comrade and good friend, André Chuck, alias 'Chuck Star', another Jamaican, was killed during combat in Iraq on December 21, 2003. Chuck died in his arms after he was struck by a bullet, which put a large hole in his face.

Gripped by the many painful memories and experiences from the horrors of the war, Young is ready to call it a day. While others have gone to seek counselling, he destresses himself by writing songs based on his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Right now, I am thinking about starting a family and I want to be around for my children, plus, I also want to advance my music career," he tells The Sunday Gleaner.

He has written more than 30 songs, 12 of which he has recorded with video shoots of footage from the war-torn countries.