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Understanding History

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Richard Williams
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  The word history has many definitions. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines history as "a chronological record of significant events (as affecting a nation or institution) often including an expansion of their cause."

The understanding of history is something Mr. Douglas Beckstead, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing historian, has made a lifelong ambition.

He hoped to share the knowledge he has amassed during his deployment with Airmen at Bagram Airfield during a seven week course designed to enhance everyone's knowledge on Afghanistan's history and how the country has become the nation it is today.

"When I first arrived in Afghanistan I knew nothing about its geography or rich history," said Beckstead during his week seven and final installation of the course. "I thought Afghanistan was north of India not northwest."

As Beckstead began reading and exploring this vast history, he wanted to share the knowledge with others. "I spoke with the wing's leadership and the commander had an idea to start a course and we took that idea and ran with it."

When the course began Beckstead, a Department of Defense civilian deployed from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, wasn't sure how many people were even interested in the history course. He soon learned that there were many more people who were ready to learn.

"The first night of the course, I thought maybe five people would show and I really wasn't even sure we would have another one," said Beckstead. "To my surprise there were 15 people on the first night and it really blossomed from there."

During the course, Beckstead explored history beginning with the origination of many of the tribes and how their tradition has shaped the country. He also touched on Alexander the Great's conquest of the area and his failures. The course taught about rich ethnic diversity and religious history and how war has shaped the country the world sees today.

"I think the one thing people need to understand is that Afghanistan is a real country with real concerns," said Beckstead. "The people here want the same things we want, to take care of their families and live a peaceful life. The Afghans are a proud people with a rich heritage and history and it is important that we understand and respect their tradition."

Through the previous six weeks, Beckstead had received help explaining and understanding Afghan history and culture with the help of local nationals--who are employed to assist coalition forces and Muslim-American servicemembers serving in Afghanistan--to give a perspective on the religious significance in the history of this ancient country.

The seventh week of the course led to discussion on the Soviet invasion on Dec. 31, 1979. During this lesson, Beckstead received assistance from someone who is not only serving in Afghanistan during current coalition operations, but who also served in the Soviet army during its Afghanistan campaign 30 years earlier.

"I was a soldier in the Soviet army as a truck driver during that time and it was very different here," said Maj. Vladimir Berkovich, a medical officer, U.S. Army 405th Civil Affairs Battalion. "I cannot speak much on the Soviet campaign but I can say that it was very different being a soldier in their army than it is in our."

After completing his service in the Soviet army, Berkovich immigrated to the United States in 1981 and gained his citizenship. He joined the U.S. Army because he wanted to help after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, sees the job that he is doing here as a much more beneficial trip than his previous one and he's pleased to assist.

"I have been able to see, interact and I think help the Afghan people by providing medical care," said Berkovich. "I think that is the most rewarding part of my deployment."

The primary mission of Berkovich's team here has been to go outside the wire and teach and assist Afghan doctors with medical care and render human aid to locals, and this has enabled him to experience what he refers to as "the real Afghanistan."

"I heard about the course from one of our sergeant majors, and he told me 'We are having the course and we are beginning to discuss the Russia/Afghan War and you would probably fit perfectly into our discussion,'" said Berkovich, a native of Moscow, Russia who now lives in Jackson, N.J. "I really love history and this is the main reason I came."

Berkovich said that one of the most interesting aspects of the course was the interest shown by individuals who wanted to learn about the Afghan culture and the Islamic faith.

"This is a unique opportunity for all of us who come from different backgrounds to share our backgrounds and find a common ground," he said. "Once we do this, we can see the other side and we find out that there are many similarities between our cultures."