On a day when the nation cheered the death of Osama bin Laden, the celebration was cut short for Stamford resident Shane Alston, who is stationed at Forward Operating Base in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. Alston and the rest of the people at the base are now preparing for possible retaliation.

“The base’s morale has been at the highest I have seen it in my 10 months in the country. However, as much as a victory as the death of bin Laden was for America, the atmosphere of base has been a state of heightened vigilance as we prepare for possible repercussions from bin Laden loyalists,” Pvt. First Class Alston said in a Facebook message Monday afternoon.

While morale was boosted in Afghanistan, it was “business as usual” in Baghdad, Iraq, where Pvt. First Class Yassin Ali of Stamford is stationed. Joint Security Station Locality, one of the most dangerous forward operating bases, increased its security expecting attack, Ali said. “I'm shocked we didn't get hit by rockets or mortars today."

Spin Boldak is located on the Afghan-Pakistan border about 300 miles from Abbottabad, Pakistan, where bin Laden was killed. Baghdad is about 1,500 miles from Abbottabad. Bin Laden was a sworn enemy of the United States and as a leader of al-Qaida was responsible for many terrorist activities against the United States, including the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Alston and Ali graduated from Stamford High School in 2006.

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