MIDDLEBURG — A surge in troop strength in Afghanistan would have the same positive effect as the surge in Iraq, a 21-year-old Middleburg soldier said Tuesday from Forward Operating Base Sharanah in eastern Afghanistan.

Army Spc. Shawn Dyer and his fellow soldiers are very aware of the debate going on in Washington about whether to send more troops into Afghanistan.

“This is a big issue and needs to be addressed,” he said. “In my opinion, sending more troops to Afghanistan will take some of the burden off those of us who are already here.

“An extra 40,000 or 60,000 troops would ease the workload of units that are already stretched thin from patrolling and fighting in their regions.”

Think of having a group of 500 men patrolling an area the size of Pennsylvania, he continued.

“That battalion would have a hell of a time keeping the peace, but if that same battalion patrolled an area of the size of Union, Snyder and Northumberland counties, you would be able to fight back and help all of the problems of the people in that area.

“Now, picture having battalions all over Pennsylvania taking three or four counties each, depending on the population. This is the way to quell the insurgency in Afghanistan and help the local populace.”

Dyer has been in Afghanistan for 10 months.

“The war has changed my life,” he said. “I’ve been in some difficult situations, under fire. I’ve lost friends over here. I lost them on missions and seen the horrors of war.”

On this Veterans Day, he wanted to honor their sacrifices.

“To give your life for your country or your comrades is an ultimate price they have paid, and for that I am humbled by their bravery,” he said.

Travels with infantry

Dyer is a specialist in intelligence analysis. He finds patterns, conducts analyses and travels with the infantry on missions.

“I help them to collect evidence and speak with the locals,” he said. “I don’t speak very much Pastun (the language of the area) so I use an interpreter.”