From the Beacon 

by Jason Brisbois

Chris Muise, 19, talks about life in the Army-

In a hostile environment, in a foreign country, miles away from family and across the Atlantic Ocean, finding any level of comfort is a challenge.

For Chris Muise, who is currently back at home in Gloucester while on leave after serving for six months in Afghanistan with the United States Army, comfort comes from knowing the person standing next to him has his back.

“Me, personally, I rely on everybody around me,” explains the 19-year-old Gloucester native, who graduated from Gloucester High School in 2010 and graduated from basic training in February of this year. “We rely on each other to keep each other sane. We try to look on the bright side of stuff while we’re over there, doing what we can.”

For now, he finds a level of comfort simply being back home with family, including parents Cynthia McDonald and Michael Wall. He anticipates spending Thanksgiving with his family members, but most likely will be assigned to his next tour of duty (with destination unknown) before Christmas. It’s possible he could be back in Afghanistan, or another war-torn country with a hostile terrain and populace. Such is the life of the modern-day soldier, a reminder of just what current service men and women endure as we celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Read more here.