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Ê He controls a killing machine with bullets described in size as, "picture a metal toilet tissue tube with a small missile on its end."

Ê Through his goggles, the sands and the heat haze however, he often sees much more.

Alex Harper's mother is Claudia McDermid, who lives with her husband, David McDermid in Eastport.Ê She, like most parents of soldiers, lives with the daily, even hourly uncertainty of her son's circumstances and whereabouts.

Ê She expressed her situation and efforts to cope. "I just try to think positively all the time, and not to think about what Alex might be doing every single minute. I hope for the best and that these soldiers will be home soon," she said.

"Lately, I find that my whole body is reacting since Afghanistan has been in the news more. I get a tight pit in my stomach. There is a terrible conflict of emotions when I hear a report on the television or the radio. First there is fear of the news, then, if there is a list of casualties and the announcer says, 'from Iraq,' there is relief.Ê Not soon after that though, I feel guilt for feeling relief at someone else's grief."

Lieutenant Commander Harper's assignment was unexpected. He is 37, and a District Attorney in Bakersfield, Ca. He joined the Navy upon completion of college. After five years, he joined the Naval Reserves as a supply officer.

Ê Within the last year, right on the heels of getting married to his wife, Stephanie, and just after buying their first house, Alex learned of his new assignment.

Ê As part of an apparent shortage of soldiers, he was included in a retraining program that involved seamen.Ê He showed particular prowess shooting the large machine gun, and his reward became his current assignment.

Ê McDermid lamented, "Did he have to be so good at that?"

Ê The District Attorney, from the comforts of a new home and the joy of newly-wedded bliss, from duty as a supply officer, came a drastic change for Alex, his friends and family: on the other side of the world fighting in what many call "the Forgotten War," in a remote, dangerous outpost called Camp Clark in the Khowst Province.

ÊÊÊ It did not take long for Alex to broaden his vision from the scope of a gun, even looking beyond the destructions of a war-torn countryside, to see the needs of its people, especially its children.

In an email, Commander Harper described situations he observed, "The Afghan National Army (ANA) provincial clinic located here on this side of Camp Clark offers clothing, small stuffed animal, toys, and some school supplies to needy children and adults when they show up for routine medical checkups and other ailments. It is part of their humanitarian assistance missions. They distribute school supplies to local provincial schools that often consist of little more than a few bed sheets stretched between two buildings for shade, with students sitting in the dirt."

Ê The view from his gunnery position also revealed his broadening vision.

"As a gunner in my vehicle, I often throw food and other small items to the hundreds of children who line the roads to watch us pass by," Harper said. "It's a very rewarding thing to do, and helps foster a friendly relationship between us and the people we are trying to help.Ê A lot of these children may never get to our (or any other) clinic to benefit from the school programs.Ê This may be their only contact with Americans.Ê They wave at us, smile a lot and give us the thumbs up.Ê These kids are hungry, dirty and destitute, and really could use some help."

Ê Commander Harper put out the word to the folks back home of the need that he saw.

Ê Of course the word first found an empathetic ear in Eastport, a half a world away, where McDermid swung into action and alerted the Antrim County Democratic Party.Ê She was able to share photos and stories and email accounts with the party's executive board and general membership.Ê She credits Corresponding Secretary Nancy DeWeese for the response.Ê "Nancy deserves all the credit for organizing the party's reply to Alex's request," she said.

Ê By broadcasting messages to the party faithful, approximately $500 was quickly collected and a shopping excursion planned. McDermid and fellow party member, LeAnne Gilbert of Central Lake plan to focus their shopping on school supplies. Gilbert, who works at the Char-Em Intermediate School District, even hopes to enlist the buying power of her office to stretch the dollars as far as possible.

Ê In Afghanistan, Harper is feeling support from home already as a result of his request. "I am very happy to get these emails from ACDP.Ê Please let these folks know that I'll answer any questions and help however I can," Harper said.

"I am starting to receive packages from my listing on www.anysailor.com, directed to help Afghan children."

Members of the Antrim County Democratic Party commented on their decision to support the "Alex" project.

Ê"We (the ACDP) do as much as we can for the community: food bank collections, major money donations to the Family Resource Center, etc., so this "Alex Harper Project" was not instead of what we do locally, but in addition to it,"Ê Deweese said. "It seemed like a good opportunity to make a tiny contribution to America's image abroad.Ê All the experts agree that our nation's long-term security will be directly connected to how we are judged by other people of the world.Ê And how they judge us will be directly connected to their knowledge of us - their personal contact with our soldiers and their education about us and about the world."

Party member Susie Straebel of Clearwater Township, echoed the sentiment.Ê "It is a privilege to be a part of such a positive effort. Alex must be a special human being and a fine ambassador. May he be blessed for his service."

Fellow party member, former Navy man "from a long time ago", and Elk Rapids Township resident, Chuck Thiel commented, "We need to do more in Afghanistan than what is being done (or not done) by our government.

Ê Otherwise the country is going to slip back into control of the Taliban. I'm sure Claudia is very proud of her son."

For those interested in broadening support for Alex's efforts from Antrim County, he advises the following:

He can be contacted via email at alex.f.harper@gmail.com. He also suggests researching the efforts of charity being done through "Operation Dream Seed" (the group ACDP is using) by visiting www.operationdreamseed.org. Items can also be sent directly to him by mail: Alex Harper, 1/203rd Navy ETT, FOB Salerno, Camp Clark, APO AE 09314.

Along with the aforementioned charity channels, Alex also has a blog: slonishku.blogspot.com, and he a profile at www.anysailor.com.

Ê As the following email from Alex portrays (dated Friday, May 2), whether through his eyes or the emotions of his mother in Eastport, all can see a bit better and feel a deeper sense of responsibility to become involved.

"I guess the news got a hold of the fact that my rather small camp got hit twice last night by 107mm rockets. Just so everyone knows, I'm fine. The first rocket was very poorly aimed and didn't even wake me up. An alarm sounded, I got up, put on my helmet and body armor, grabbed my weapons, and ran for a shelter. The second rocket... well, let's just say that I definitely heard it. No one was hurt, no damage done, and the Taliban have two less rockets."

Jeff Kessler can be reached at perkins90@hotmail.com with questions, comments and leads.