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I’m writing to protest the removal of some Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities in Afghanistan (“McChrystal orders AAFES scaled back,” article, Feb. 10).

While I understand the need to focus on the mission, I believe that removing such facilities will have a negative impact on the soldiers, airmen and Marines here.

I have been deployed to Afghanistan since June 2009, and I, for one, have been grateful to have a little taste of home while in this harsh environment. I am stationed at Bagram Air Base, and although I do not eat at the restaurants here on a regular basis, I do enjoy the occasional pizza or burger. The dining facilities are nice, but sometimes nothing beats the taste of home!

Put yourself in the boots of your basic infantryman: You just came off of a combat patrol and you’re tired and hungry. The chow hall only has some cold sandwiches available because it just closed after dinner. So, you walk up to the AAFES area and order a medium Pepperoni Lover’s pizza. You wait about 20 minutes or so and speak with your battle buddies about what you’re going to do when you get home. When you finally get your hands on the pizza and take that first bite, everything else dissolves away, and for a brief moment, you are home.

Just as a side note, I think it is interesting that they are removing Pizza Hut, Burger King, Popeyes and other restaurants, yet they are keeping Green Beans.

Spc. Jason B. HaynesBagram Air Base, Afghanistan

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