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Serving in Afghanistan, Oak Park's Jason Dorsey witnessed a number of firefights, some that surely ended in loss of life. But he also experienced a softer side of war — when American soldiers lent their hands to the oppressed Afghan population.
Both are on display right here in Wheaton, as Cantigny's First Division Museum unveiled its newest exhibit earlier this month featuring a collection of photos taken by Dorsey, various artifacts and uniforms, and other equipment plucked from Operation Enduring Freedom.
Through Dorsey's lens, museum-goers are given a candid look into life during the war — for both soldiers and Afghanis. It's a depiction the 29-year-old said gives civilians a true telling of the realities of the operation.
“(The photos) put a raw face on what's going on over there,” said Dorsey, who toured Afghanistan for a 10-month period in 2008-09. “I felt the media wasn't really putting out an accurate depiction of what's going on, whether that's intentional or they just weren't spending enough time there.”
Among Dorsey's 28 photos on display are snapshots of young and old Afghanis, the Afghanistan landscape and culture, and of course, the soldiers themselves.
One photo, Dorsey explained, exhibits the cultural separation between Afghani men and women.
“It features an Afghani elder and a very young boy leaning on a tree,” he said. “To me, the tree represents time. And the elder and the little boy symbolize the cultural system out there — men run everything and women don't really have a face out there.”
Another photo shows the American soldiers' softer side.
“They show that we're not just savage beasts out there to kill people — they show that we were there to really help people,” Dorsey said. “We were out there to protect America's interests, not to kill anyone.”
A third photo shows the bond between man and dog, specifically in battle, Dorsey added.
“This one photo shows soldiers on a mountaintop pointing their rifles, with a dog, named Wags, looking at the camera. I think it just indicates how much of a counterpart the canine is to soldiers during the war,” he said.
Dorsey was given the all-clear to bring his “Delta 50B Canon” camera along with him during the tour by war officials, he said.
“I'm an infantryman by trade, but I also would capture photos on my own time,” explained Dorsey, who served in the Marine Corps for six years before transferring to the Illinois branch of the Army National Guard. “I ended up catching the attention of some officers while I was over (in Afghanistan), and they said they could use some of the photos, and that I could basically be a public affairs representative.”
Serving in Afghanistan, Oak Park's Jason Dorsey witnessed a number of firefights, some that surely ended in loss of life. But he also experienced a softer side of war — when American soldiers lent their hands to the oppressed Afghan population.
Both are on display right here in Wheaton, as Cantigny's First Division Museum unveiled its newest exhibit earlier this month featuring a collection of photos taken by Dorsey, various artifacts and uniforms, and other equipment plucked from Operation Enduring Freedom.
Through Dorsey's lens, museum-goers are given a candid look into life during the war — for both soldiers and Afghanis. It's a depiction the 29-year-old said gives civilians a true telling of the realities of the operation.
“(The photos) put a raw face on what's going on over there,” said Dorsey, who toured Afghanistan for a 10-month period in 2008-09. “I felt the media wasn't really putting out an accurate depiction of what's going on, whether that's intentional or they just weren't spending enough time there.”
Among Dorsey's 28 photos on display are snapshots of young and old Afghanis, the Afghanistan landscape and culture, and of course, the soldiers themselves.
One photo, Dorsey explained, exhibits the cultural separation between Afghani men and women.
“It features an Afghani elder and a very young boy leaning on a tree,” he said. “To me, the tree represents time. And the elder and the little boy symbolize the cultural system out there — men run everything and women don't really have a face out there.”
Another photo shows the American soldiers' softer side.
“They show that we're not just savage beasts out there to kill people — they show that we were there to really help people,” Dorsey said. “We were out there to protect America's interests, not to kill anyone.”
A third photo shows the bond between man and dog, specifically in battle, Dorsey added.
“This one photo shows soldiers on a mountaintop pointing their rifles, with a dog, named Wags, looking at the camera. I think it just indicates how much of a counterpart the canine is to soldiers during the war,” he said.
Dorsey was given the all-clear to bring his “Delta 50B Canon” camera along with him during the tour by war officials, he said.
“I'm an infantryman by trade, but I also would capture photos on my own time,” explained Dorsey, who served in the Marine Corps for six years before transferring to the Illinois branch of the Army National Guard. “I ended up catching the attention of some officers while I was over (in Afghanistan), and they said they could use some of the photos, and that I could basically be a public affairs representative.”
After returning from the war, Dorsey assumed he possessed a valuable personal collection of war photos that he'd one day show his children and grandchildren. He likely will, but his snapshots will be shared with a bigger audience as well now that they're on display at Cantigny.
“It's a great honor,” he said. “I hope my images help people understand the war a little better.”
Teri Bianchi, exhibits manager at the First Division Museum, hopes the Operation Enduring Freedom exhibit shows Americans the bravery and value of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.
“Our goal is to show the public, from a soldier’s viewpoint, the range of roles that First soldiers played and continue to play in Afghanistan,” Bianchi said. “I think visitors will get a good sense of what our troops are experiencing and how they go about their dangerous jobs on a daily basis.”
Bianchi said in addition to Dorsey's photographs, a big draw at the 2,700-square-foot exhibit is an armored Humvee door used to protect soldiers from roadside bombs.
“It's on a hinge so people can appreciate the size and weight of it,” Bianchi said.
The exhibit will be on display until Labor Day, Bianchi added. The only admission cost to the museum is a $5 parking fee to park at the museum at Cantigny, 1s151 Winfield Road in Wheaton.
With news last week that Armed Forces will begin to withdraw from Afghanistan and hand over power to the Afghani forces U.S. Soldiers have rigorously been training the last few years, the exhibit's value and popularity likely have increased a bit.
And that news was met with enthusiasm from Dorsey.
“It's a good thing. Americans — our servicemembers — need a break. This war has been going on for what, 11 years now?” he said. “It's time to hand that responsibility over to the Afghan people.
“Are there still bad people out there? Yes. But we've given them the training they need so they can push on and build their own government.”
