Spring Break
Coming Back Home
Kate King
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
This is the second in a two-part
series spotlighting three UConn students
returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
During a year of active duty in Afghanistan, UConn students Dave Flint, Kevin Moll and Alex Riley served in the 1/102 infantry with the Connecticut National Guard. While overseas, their lives were not about studying at Bookworms or going to parties with their friends. Their days in Afghanistan consisted of guard duty, long missions across the desert, and active combat against the Taliban and local warlords. This semester, the three friends are back at UConn readjusting to their lives as students after a year of being soldiers.
A Lasting Friendship
While in Afghanistan, Flint, Moll and Riley developed an intense friendship undeniably influenced by their experiences together as soldiers. The three are best friends who know everything about each other and are fiercely protective of one another.
"You definitely meet people you're never going to forget and who you know want the best for you and they become like part of your family," Flint said. "I look at [Kevin and Alex] as part of my family. If anything happened to them I would kill whoever did it," Flint said.
A poster-sized picture of Flint, Moll and Riley shows the three dressed in army fatigues and smiling at the camera. The picture hangs on the wall in Carriage 14A, where the three now live together and reminds them of one of their best memories from Afghanistan.
Moll and Flint's platoon was on a mission for an inaugural opening of a new base and stopped at Riley's base to refuel their trucks and rest for the night. The three friends spent the night hanging out, playing poker, and watching the movie "Mean Girls". Moll and Flint then convinced Riley to go on the mission with them the next day.
"It was the only mission we all went on together," Moll said.
Homecoming
After completing their year of active duty and handing in their weapons, Flint, Moll and Riley underwent a demobilization process marked by long airplane rides and high anticipation for their homecoming.
series spotlighting three UConn students
returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
During a year of active duty in Afghanistan, UConn students Dave Flint, Kevin Moll and Alex Riley served in the 1/102 infantry with the Connecticut National Guard. While overseas, their lives were not about studying at Bookworms or going to parties with their friends. Their days in Afghanistan consisted of guard duty, long missions across the desert, and active combat against the Taliban and local warlords. This semester, the three friends are back at UConn readjusting to their lives as students after a year of being soldiers.
A Lasting Friendship
While in Afghanistan, Flint, Moll and Riley developed an intense friendship undeniably influenced by their experiences together as soldiers. The three are best friends who know everything about each other and are fiercely protective of one another.
"You definitely meet people you're never going to forget and who you know want the best for you and they become like part of your family," Flint said. "I look at [Kevin and Alex] as part of my family. If anything happened to them I would kill whoever did it," Flint said.
A poster-sized picture of Flint, Moll and Riley shows the three dressed in army fatigues and smiling at the camera. The picture hangs on the wall in Carriage 14A, where the three now live together and reminds them of one of their best memories from Afghanistan.
Moll and Flint's platoon was on a mission for an inaugural opening of a new base and stopped at Riley's base to refuel their trucks and rest for the night. The three friends spent the night hanging out, playing poker, and watching the movie "Mean Girls". Moll and Flint then convinced Riley to go on the mission with them the next day.
"It was the only mission we all went on together," Moll said.
Homecoming
After completing their year of active duty and handing in their weapons, Flint, Moll and Riley underwent a demobilization process marked by long airplane rides and high anticipation for their homecoming.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Shaun R Moll
posted 10/13/07 @ 10:37 AM EST
Dear Ms King,
My name is Shaun Moll, the mom of Kevin Moll. The article was superb and I just loved it. My family and I are so happy to have him home, safe and sound. (Continued…)
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