Hans Tolpingrud (VU 2006) is on two weeks leave from his tour of duty in Afghanistan with the US Armed Forces.

He'll be in the Huegli Hall Lumina Room, Tuesday, April 6, 8:30-9:30 p.m., speaking candidly of his time in Afghanistan, showing photos and answering questions. He'll also explain how it is that he made his way into military service following his graduation from Valpo.

This is a great opportunity for Valpo students to hear some of what their peers in military service experience and to reflect on the role of the American military abroad. Readers of "Three Cups of Tea" and "The Things They Carried" promise to gain another perspective on their reading.

Hans is a Lieutenant in the Army Infantry. He leads a group of soldiers in their work to a 30 km stretch of road in southern Afghanistan free and safe for trade and humanitarian traffic. He'll be describing how American foreign policy plays out on the ground, the strengths and weaknesses, from his perspective, of the current strategy and his experiences with Afghani civil society as well as his perspective on the hope for a western style democracy there.

Hans Tolpingrud is presented as one of the Social Action Leadership Team's (SALT) Pepper Forums. This event is CORE 5th Hour approved. All are welcome.