Photo By Sgt. Clay Beyersdorfer | Second Lt. Alan Larpthaveesarp, the convoy commander of the “Iron Horse Express”...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Silicon Valley is nestled in northern California near the San Francisco Bay, an area widely considered a hub for technology and software development across the United States.
As with most of California, it bodes plenty of sunshine, palm trees, a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean and other luxuries found on the west coast of the U.S.
Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, in no way, shape, or form resembles Silicon Valley. There are no palm trees, no beaches, no fancy hotels or booming technological ventures.
The phrase “sunshine” still applies, yet that is a bit of an understatement in southern Afghanistan.
Here, in this place, nearly 7,500 miles away from Silicon Valley sits 2nd Lt. Alan Larpthaveesarp, a platoon leader in Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colo.
Larpthaveesarp once lived the booming lifestyle of a software mogul working in Silicon Valley, for small start-up software companies to large companies like Google.
He was in the business of developing software, managing projects and designing web pages.
A hard work ethic led to exciting opportunities, more money than the average person imagines and the world in front of him.
In 2011, he gave all that up to serve in the U.S. Army.
“It had been something I had wanted to do since high school,” Larpthaveesarp said. “My teacher brought in two Marines and they gave us their whole recruiting speech. I was more interested in the camaraderie and the stories they had to share.”
Initially, Larpthaveesarp’s parents rejected the idea, as he was their only son and had brought great honor to them and the rest of the family by his hard work ethic in the world of technology.
Larpthaveesarp explained to them that serving your country is the ultimate form of honor.
“I told them how honor is defending your country, sacrificing your life for people in this country, a country that brought them so much opportunity and wealth,” Larpthaveesarp said.
Larpthaveesarp’s parents immigrated to the U.S. when they were young, with four suitcases in hand and $1,000 to their name. They have turned that into a fortune and become successful themselves, passing their work ethic and motivation on to him, he said.
Larpthaveesarp commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 2012, and after signal officer school, was assigned to Company C, HHBN, 4th Inf. Div.
Eight months later, he found himself in Afghanistan, expected to lead Soldiers who have been in longer than he has, some with deployment experience.
“When I initially found out we were being deployed I was shocked,” Larpthaveesarp said. “My friends thought I was crazy, but I knew that this was something I had to do.”
When he first arrived on ground, Larpthaveesarp said he felt overwhelmed, but “knew that I had a job to do and had to be a leader for my Soldiers.”
Specialist Darin Annear, a satellite communication systems operator in Company C, HHBN, 4th ID, who deployed to Iraq before his current deployment with Larpthaveesarp to Afghanistan, talked about the growth he has seen in his platoon leader.
“He has a tremendous urge to want to get better and to learn from those of us who have been doing this for awhile,” Annear said. “I think what makes him so great as a leader is the fact that he is incredibly humble, and will be the first to admit his mistakes, and works very hard to correct them.”
Here at KAF, Larpthaveesarp is the convoy commander of the “Iron Horse Express,” a security detail that uses a motorized convoy to provide armed forces personnel transportation and security outside the confines of KAF.
He also oversees security operations at the Regional Command (South) headquarters compound located on KAF.
Annear said that Larpthaveesarp cares a great deal about his Soldiers, and that has brought the group together.
“He fights for us no doubt,” Annear said. “Anything we need, he just goes out and gets it. When things go wrong, he takes the blame, he takes that burden on himself. To see that, for me is really incredible.”
Daniel Butsick, a combat medic with Company C, HHBN, 4th Inf. Div., echoed that statement.
“He has such a great ability to talk with us and let us know what went wrong and what went well,” Butsick said. “We work hard for him because he works so hard for us.”
When he is not coordinating security measures or commanding the Iron Horse Express, Larpthaveesarp still keeps up with the ever-changing world of software technology.
“Oh, I definitely like to know what is going on,” Larpthaveesarp said. “The good thing about all of that stuff is it’s more than just a job for me. I take an active interest in it. I have goals that I want to still accomplish in that field.”
So if he had the chance to go back in time to 2011, would he make the same decision? To give up all the money, the good fortune, success, and amazing opportunities - was it worth it to him?
“You know, I think about that all the time. I once had a mentor of mine ask me, ‘What do you say to people who thank you for your service?’ I sat there and thought, ‘Well I tell them that they are worth it,’” Larpthaveesarp said. “I take pride in serving this country, and the mission we are doing here. The people of the U.S., my friends and family, their safety and freedom are totally worth it.”
Even though there are no palm trees or beaches, Larpthaveesarp has found a new home, a new sense of purpose, and has found his own definition of success.
“I love what I do and the opportunities that the Army has given me,” Larpthaveesarp said. “I am a better person because of this. All my success on the civilian side - the money, the opportunity, the lifestyle most people dream about - it doesn’t compare to this.”
KEY WORDS: Operation Enduring Freedom, RC(S), Afghanistan, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Technology, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, California, software, Google, San Jose, ISAF
Marketing Notes: Please market this to the Colorado Springs area, the San Francisco area, the San Jose area, and Sacramento area. The following papers would be good outlets to push this to: Colorado Springs Gazette, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, San Jose Mercury News, The Sacramento Bee, the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
| Date Taken: | 10.24.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.24.2013 09:29 |
| Story ID: | 115644 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 354 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Soldier from Silicon Valley trades software for service, by SGT Clay Beyersdorfer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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