Daniel Foster spent four months in Afghanistan and said the mission is the same today as when he was there -- to train Afghan soldiers to provide their own security.
Foster described it as a fatal game of cat and mouse.
"If they go inside of a building, you’re not allowed to go inside the building," Foster said. "If it’s nighttime, you’re not allowed to go out at nighttime. You get your hands tied behind your back."
NBC 4 talked to Foster in the wake of an attack by a U.S. soldier that left 16 civilians dead. He suspects there is more to the recent rampage in Afghanistan.
"As horrible as the killing was, I don’t think anyone understands the friends he may have lost or the things he’s had to deal with while he was there," Foster said. "The only real solution is to leave. You can’t make war a safe place."
Foster, 23, said he faced charges for shooting at a car that drove toward his convoy. It turned out to be a civilian. But two weeks later he saved 22 soldiers in a similar incident.
"A car bomb came through the gates," Foster said. "I shot and stopped it but it still went off, hurting me. Then the base was attacked for what lasted 40 minutes."
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For that, the Costa Mesa man received a Silver Star. He lost 13 teeth and is still awaiting surgery.
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