MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan — It seems like just yesterday Mohammed al Hamza was excitedly greeting a small band of American Special Forces after they entered his country in the dead of night some 16 years ago.

"I remember seeing these weird men in camouflage riding horses," said Hamza. "I was really intrigued. And they seemed friendly, so I was excited to see them and say hello."

Now a senior citizen in his late 20s, Hamza now excitedly shoots at similar bands of American soldiers that he had looked on fondly as a young boy.