Dmitrij Michailov

This chapter describes the story of Dmitrij Michailov, who was conscripted into military service on May 7, 1979, before the Soviet War in Afghanistan began. Michailov was in Afghanistan from February 14, 1980, until June 20, 1981. He was the commander of a unit that specialized in radioactive chemical research, and he also worked as an artillery specialist. Speaking thirty years after his service, Michailov tries to keep the war off his mind. Seeing friends who spent time in Afghanistan and watching media coverage of the various conflicts in the Middle East trigger his memory. Thankfully, he says these triggers have grown weaker with time. Upon his return, Michailov not only received support from other veterans of the war in Afghanistan but also from his mother, a Soviet army veteran from World War II. They were able to relate to each other's experiences and reach an unlikely understanding that Michailov credits with facilitating a far smoother transition into civilian life.