KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Less than two years ago, Cotey A. Knudsen didn't have a lot on his plate. He worried about graduating high school, not getting fired from his part-time job and having enough gas money to get home. But since the age of 10, he's wanted to do something extraordinary.
Now, U.S. Army Pfc. Knudsen and his friends hold each other's lives in their hands at a small combat outpost in the treacherous Kunar River Valley in eastern Afghanistan.
"It was a big jump, but I've handled it all right," said Knudsen, a cannon crewmember from Jacksonville, Fla. "All my buddies are around and my chief taught me a lot."
Knudsen and his buddies assigned to Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Bronco, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, have been at Combat Outpost Monti for less than a month.
Their job is to provide artillery support for the infantry soldiers stationed at the COP. When soldiers on patrol make contact with the enemy, they call back to the artillery soldiers manning the M1198 Howitzers to put rounds downrange.
"It gets hairy and if I mess up, a lot of the wrong people could get hurt," said Knudsen, who is on his first deployment.
He said, that's why these soldiers who live, eat and sleep within seconds of their guns have to lean on each other in order to survive.
"Before I became a gunner, I had never seen this type of camaraderie," said U.S. Army Sgt. Jordan S. Davis. "Have you ever heard the term 'artillery thick' before? It means tight, like a fist, like our section."
The last unit stationed here said they received contact almost every week and urged them to be close-knit.
"We got briefed before we came out here that we were coming to one of the most dangerous areas of operation out here," explained Davis, a native of Jacksonville. "The only thing that did was help us to realize we had to be close in order to make it."
Since they've been here, they've experienced just how dangerous this plush valley can be.
"At times, it can be crazy as heck before you know it," said Davis. "You see mortars hitting on this side, you see mortars hitting on that side and the only thing you can do is be prepared to man your guns."
Some of the other soldiers expressed regret about not being able to leave the COP and go outside the wire said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Benny E. Campbell, a platoon sergeant from Corpus Christi, Texas.
He said their job on the guns is different, but no less critical.
"Our mission is just as important as theirs," explained Campbell. "Where they're getting attacked is from across the river and from high elevation positions, so it's almost impossible for them to take care of that stuff without us."
Whenever a mission comes down from the fire direction center, the soldiers spring to life and the valley echoes with thunder.
"I love shooting the gun, I love it," said Davis. "When you're actually firing on an enemy, the only thing you can think is, 'May God have mercy on his soul', ‘cause there ain't no surviving that."
Yet, Campbell has to constantly remind his young troops that there's a reason they're being called to fire 105 mm shells into the valley.
"I hope we shoot more, but I hope we don't shoot more," said Campbell. "If we shoot more then someone's getting attacked."
A few weeks ago, Campbell and his soldiers were firing round after round at the enemy.
"We shot about 50 rounds and every one was really excited, then we saw the medevac birds coming in and dropping people off," said Campbell as he dropped his head. "So, it's OK to get excited about doing your job, but you have to understand there are real effects out here. It's war."
Davis, on his third combat tour, agreed. He said they're out here to try to keep International Security Assistance Forces safe at all costs.
"Whenever they're out there and they call for fire it's all about speed, it's all about accuracy, it's all about those guys getting the support that they need when they need it," said Davis. "Because if not, what else are we here for. If we can't make sure they make it home to their family’s safe, there's no point of us being out here."
Although many of the artillery soldiers in TF Bronco face a precarious task over the next year, if Knudsen and his fellow artillerymen stay “artillery thick”, they hope to prosper.