FOB SHIELDS, AFGHANISTAN - In an effort to move past cultural scandals involving U.S. military members in Afghanistan, members of the 28th Infantry Brigade Combat Team recently hosted a traditional luau at their Forward Operating Base.

But tragically, what began as a way to bridge the gap between the Afghan people and the Hawaii National Guard unit ended in riots and what has been described as "a massacre."

Sergeant George Liebman, an infantryman with B Co, 1-158th Infantry, witnessed the events.

"Well, my unit is part of the 28th IBCT, but we're actually from Arizona. Some of the guys from Hawaii decided that a luau would be the perfect way to create a renewed friendship between us and the locals. It's some kind of Hawaiian tradition or something. So they put this pig in the ground which had to cook for about 13 hours. Then we went out on a foot patrol inviting all the village elders and shop owners to come to the base for the luau. We couldn't exactly explain what a luau was, so we told them it was like a tribal festival with lots of food and friendship."