Dec. 11--

On the three month anniversary of the September 11th attacks, a Special Forces soldier from Utah talks about what it's like fighting for freedom on the front lines in Afghanistan.

Only a small number of American military troops have been wounded in the fighting in Afghanistan. One of them is a Utah man who has since returned home.

He shared his insight with us, into what it's like on the front lines, and how American morale is holding up in the heart of the Afghani battleground.

News Specialist Sam Penrod has the exclusive story.

Hundreds of Utahns, mostly reserves in the National Guard, have been called to active duty.

This solider serves in the Special Forces of the United States military and was ordered to duty on September 11th, immediately after the attacks, three months ago Tuesday. And because of the sensitive nature of his work, he spoke to us on the condition that we mask his identity.

"IF I AM NOT THERE, I ACHE TO BE THERE. SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT A SOLDIER FEELS."

This Utah solider recently returned from Afghanistan.

While he can't give specifics, his mission was to give guidance and support for the Northern Alliance and other groups in Afghanistan who've been fighting against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's terrorist group.

"THEY WANT TO ERADICATE THE AL-QUAIDA OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY. THEY WANT THESE PEOPLE GONE."

This solider specializes in intelligence and reconnaisance missions. He suffered a wound to his arm from schrapnel during the second week of November, near the Afghanistan city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

But it wasn't serious enough to shorten his mission. He stayed until it was complete.

And with nearly 20 years experience in secret military missions, for this solider this time it was different.

"THIS MISSION ABOVE ALL THE OTHERS THAT I'VE EVER GONE ON, BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED IN NEW YORK, THE PENTAGON. YOU FEEL IT, EVERYONE ABOARD A SHIP, EVERYONE IN COUNTRY, EVERY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, EVERY COUNTRY THAT IS THERE. IT'S JUST NOT THE UNITED STATES THAT IS FIGHTING THIS WAR AND IT'S THE MOST TEAM ATMOSPHERE THAT I THINK I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED."

And as the battle against terrorism continues, even with the success of the military missions, this soldier hopes Americans won't forget the men and women who are putting their lives at risk to preserve freedom in this country.

"WRITE THEIR SOLIDERS, TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AND NO MATTER IF THE NEWS IS BAD THAT DAY, DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM."

This solider says he stands ready to return to military service, if or when he's called to do so.

He's just one of many Utahns fighting against terrorism.

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