"You are just going and going and going, and the mission doesn’t stop." (Audio Interview, 23:45)

Marissa L. Pelke

War: Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, 2001-present Branch: Army Unit: 210th Forward Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division Service Location: Fort Drum, New York; Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan Rank: Captain Place of Birth: Malone, NY

As a paying agent, Captain Marissa Pelke had to deal with the logistical nightmare of a foreign occupation from the ground up. She was part of a team that established an American military presence in Kabul, setting up post-offices and military compounds, negotiating contracts with local Afghani vendors for everything from computers to furniture to paper goods. Her interview reveals the unique experiences that came from working so closely with the local population.