What CNN Says... And What a Soldier Says... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

DelayedReaction · 08-06-2004, 08:25 AM

This was posted on MacHall (http://www.machall.com), but I figured you guys would appreciate it.

My War - Fear and Loathing in Iraq
http://cbftw.blogspot.com/2004/08/men-in-black.html

[EDIT] I took Denim's cleaned up post and replaced the text block with it. Kudos to Denim for pursuing readability. [/EDIT]

Quote:

Men In Black
This is what CNN wrote on their website about what happened yesterday here in Mosul:
Mosul clashes leave 12 dead
Clashes between police and insurgents in the northern city of Mosul left 12 Iraqis dead and 26 wounded, hospital and police sources said Wednesday.
Rifle and rocket-propelled grenade fire as well as explosions were heard in the streets of the city.
The provincial governor imposed a curfew that began at 3 p.m. local time (7 a.m. EDT), and two hours later, provincial forces, police and Iraqi National Guard took control, according to Hazem Gelawi, head of the governor's press office in the Nineveh province.
Gelawi said the city is stable and expects the curfew to be lifted Thursday.

Now here's what really happened:
I was in my room reading a book (Thin Red Line) when the mortars started coming down. Usually when we get mortared it'll only one, maybe two mortars. But this mortar attack went on for almost 20 minutes. Each one impacting the FOB every couple minutes. Something was up.

My roommate ripped open the door and yelled "Get your guys, Go to the motor pool! The whole BATTALION is rolling out!"

Holy shit, the whole Battalion? This must be big. So I ran over and woke my guys up, yelled, "Get your fuckin shit on and head down to the motor pool! Time: Now!"

I grabbed my shit and started running to the motor pool, hearing small arms fire off in the back ground. By now everybody was running to motor pool. Putting their clothes on while they were running.

At the motor pool, everybody was strapping on their shit and getting ready. One by one, Strykers were rolling out of the motor pool ready to hunt down whoever was fucking with us. People were hooting and hollering, yelling their war cries and doing the Indian yell thing as they drove off and locked and loaded their weapons. These guys that are attacking us just fucked with the bee's nest, and now they're getting the swarm.

As I got the vehicle ready to go I overheard on our radio that shit was hitting the fan all over Mosul, large amounts of people attacking us with small arms, RPG attacks, burned vehicles, and there was a bunch of people in all black armed with AK's over by the bridge in front of the Mosul Hotel. Fuck.

I overheard one of our iraqi interpreter say in broken English, "Give me gun, I want to kill these motherfuckers!"

As we rolled out the main gate, our FOB was getting attacked, we had soldiers laying down in the prone up on the outer perimeter of the FOB firing their weapons out. We rolled down the main exit out and drove down a busy two way street.

I was the T.C. for our vehicle, my job is to be behind the .50 cal, and operate the system, which allows me to fire it, which down in the hatch, it is this little black and white TV screen with red cross hairs in the middle of the screen. On the right of my seat I have a little joystick type thing, kinda like what fighter pilots have, that has a trigger on it which allows he to fire the 50 when I'm down in the hatch. This was only my second day as a T.C. Sitting right next to me out the hatch was my Plt Sgt.

Shortly, as we were driving down the main street leaving our FOB, a man, dressed all in black, jumped out from the side corner of a building, pointed his AK47 right at me. Right at my fucking head and all I saw was the fire from his muzzle flash leaving the end of his barrel as he was shooting at me. I heard and felt the bullets whiz literally inches from my head, hitting all around my hatch and 50 cal mount making a "Ping" "Ping" "Ping" sound. I ducked the fuck down in the hatch.

I yelled "We're taking fire! 3 O'clock!!!”

Turned the gun around towards where the guy was and fired a burst. I fired a burst right over our back air guard hatch where our First Sgt was sticking out of and shooting. He yelled "Tell him to stop fucking shooting over my head!!!"

Shit. My bad. I looked over and my PLT Sgt who was sticking out the hatch next to me a couple seconds ago was now dropped down from the hatch and now on his back. He was yelling, "I'm Hit! I'm hit!" I looked at his helmet and a bullet went right through his helmet and exited through the other side. Holy shit! I didn't see any blood on him. He looked completely dazed though. He took his helmet off and observed the holes in his helmet. No fucking shit, the bullet entered his helmet, and exited through the other side, missing his upper forehead by like 1-100th of an inch. A fuckin’ miracle. He was standing right next to me, that's how close the bullets were from hitting us.

We continued driving. We had to drive to the Mosul Bridge that was right next to the Mosul hotel about a couple miles away. There were reports of a buncha people, wearing all black, armed with AK's hanging out there. Our job was to locate and kill them.

We were driving there on that main street, when all of the sudden all hell came down all around on us, all these guys wearing all black (Black pants, and a black t-shirts tucked in), a couple dozen on each side of the street, on rooftops, alleys, edge of buildings, out of windows, everywhere just came out of fucking nowhere and started firing RPG's and AK47's at us. I freaked the fuck out and ducked down in the hatch. I yelled "WE GOT FUCKIN HAJI'S ALL OVER THE FUCKIN PLACE!!! THERE ALL OVER GOD DAMNIT!!!"

Bullets were pinging off our armor all over our vehicle, and you could hear multiple RPG's being fired and flying through the air and impacting all around us. All sorts of crazy insane Hollywood explosions bullshit going on all around us. I've never felt fear like this. I was like, this is it, I'm going to die. I cannot put into words how scared I was.

The vehicle in front of us got hit 3 times by RPG's. I kind of lost it and I was yelling and screaming all sorts of things, mostly cuss words. I fired the .50 cal over the place, shooting everything. My driver was helping me out and pointing out targets to me over the radio. He helped me a lot that day.

They were all over shooting at us. My PLT was stuck right smack dab in the middle of the ambush and we were in the kill zone. We shot our way out of it and drove right through the ambush. The street we were driving down to escape, had 3 to 4 story high buildings all along each side, as we were driving away all you could see were 100's and 100's of bullets impacting all over these buildings. Finally we went over to the bridge that was next to the Mosul hotel. We parked there, and dismounted the guys.

The Pepsi bottling building across the street was all up in flames. Then we were told to load up and go back to where we got ambushed. I'm not going to lie, I didn't want to go back. Fuck that shit, I don't want to get killed. That was the last place on earth I wanted to be. I was scared to death. But we had to go back, and we did.

On the way back I was up out of the hatch, scanning , I saw people running down streets that we passed with AK47s, I didn't have a shot at them with the 50, cuz we were going way too fast and how the gun was positioned. We past several men with AKs running down a street, I pulled out my Berretta and fired a mag at them.

We rolled back to the area where we all just dodged death, and we were taking fire from all over again. Again, I fired and fired and fired and fired and fired. At everything. We were taking fire from all over. I was just 360ing the 50 cal and shooting at everything. We were taking fire from all over, and every single one of us had our guns blazing.

At one time I saw a dog try to run across the street, and somebody shot it.

Again, at one time I had the 50 cal traversed and pointing all the way back of the vehicle and I was firing at some guys who were shooting at us up on a rooftop, and I didn't know I was shooting right above the guys heads who were in the back airguard hatchs on our vehicle. My roommate (Sgt from Idaho) tapped my arm, which startled the hell out of me and I quickly jerked back and looked at him and he yelled, "Hey!! Get that gun to the 12!!! Let that one go!! You’re doing good!!!" He later told me, when he tapped me on the shoulder, and I jerked back to look at him, I had this crazed look in my eyes that kind of freaked him out.

Hovering up above we had Army Kiowa and Apache attack helicopters engaging the enemy on rooftops with Hellfire missiles and rockets.

At one time I had to reload the 50 with ammo. The ammo was on the outside of the vehicle on the side. Why they fucking they put it there I don't know. So, with my hands I did the sign of the cross thing on my chest, said a prayer (Please God, I don't want to fucking die) and as my Plt Sgt layed down some suppressive fire, I got up out of the hatch, got my whole body completely outside of the vehicle and went over to where the extra ammo was, grabbed a full ammo box, and went back to the hatch, as fast as possible. Scared out of my fuckin mind as I did this. RPG's were still whizzing by and non-stop gun shots were being fired all over.

We had our guys in 3rd Sqd dismounted, they had both 240's with them and they were in heavy contact with the enemy, firing AT4's and everything they had at them. Strykers were also launching Tow missiles back at them.

I got down in the hatch and started scanning my sector with the 50. Suddenly about 300 meters away I saw 2 guys creeping around this corner, they were hunched down sneaking around hiding behind a stack of truck tires. I could tell by their body language something was up. I placed the cross hairs right on them, but I didn't fire, because I didn't see a weapon on them and I wanted to wait. Next thing you know, I saw another guy come out of that corner with an RPG in his hands. I freaked the fuck out and yelled "RRRPPPPGGGGGGG!!!" My hands was shaking like crazy, my cross hairs were bouncing all over the screen. I gathered my composure as fast as I could, put the cross hairs on them and engaged them with a good 10 second burst of some 50 cal, right at them. Get Some. My Plt Sgt said "good job!". I didn't see anybody move from behind those tires after that.

Shortly after that the vehicle parked directly in front of us took an RPG. This gunfight went on for 4 1/2 hours. 23 Victor got fucked up with three RPG's, and their TC (The guy who wrote SOF magazine that letter) took shrapnel to the face, and had to go back for medical attention.

So 3nd squad was now going to roll in our vehicle because there vehicle was all fucked up and had go back to the FOB to be repaired. The ING's showed up, and they were clearing the buildings on the street. 3nd squad was helping them, and I was providing over watch for them with the 50. Then all the sudden mortars started impacting around us. These bastards were now firing mortars at us.

Time passed and we were extremely low on ammunition and all out of water. My entire DCU uniform was completely wet from sweat and filth. So we all mounted up and drove back to the FOB to get more ammo, water and re-fuel. On the way to the FOB we passed a watermelon stand, all the watermelons had bullet holes in them. In fact, everything on that street had bullet holes in it. The cars, the buildings, everything. There were thousands and thousands of brass shell casings littered all over the streets. Our vehicle was also covered inside and out with brass shell casings and links.

Once we got to the FOB, and parked near the motor pool to re-supply, a Sgt ran up to us holding all his gear and his kit and asked, "Hey you guys rolling back out? Do you have room for one more?" This guy who asked us if he could ride with us back out, was in that vehicle that was right in front of us earlier that got RPG'd. They had to drive back to the FOB, because the RPG went right through their vehicle and hit the guy sitting next to him in the stomach, slicing his guts wide open. And now he was now asking us if he could come with, to go give ‘em some more hell. We had no room for him in our vehicle, we were jam packed because we had the guys from third squad with us because there vehicle was out of commission from multiple RPG hits. Since there was no room for him, he gave us all the ammo and his water he had on him, and told us "Go get em."

By now it was night, and we were now fully stocked and ready to roll back out. I didn't want to go back out, but you don't have a choice, you have to. Right when we were about to leave the gate, they told us to go back to the motor poll and stand by. So we drove back packed the vehicles, and waited. I was chain smoking right now, one right after another. My nerves were completely shot and I was emotionally drained and physically exhausted. My hands were still kinda shaking. I was sitting up against the tires by myself on the side of the vehicle smoking a cigarette. I've never been through anything like that. I've never felt fear like that. And I've never seen anything like that. Usually these guys do this hit and run bullshit, but these guys today were on the offensive and showed no fear of us.

My friend from San Diego, came over and sat next to me. Asked if I was O.K., and I told him "I don't know." We discussed everything that happened today, how it went down, what he did, what I did, what they did. Then the Battalion Commander came by the motor pool and told us all we all did a great job today. Finally they told us to go back to our rooms.

I went back to my room, thanked God, and passed out on my bed.
Note: I dont think CNN's report of only 12 dead is accurate.

Quote of the day: "I just want this day to end."

It's astounding how the internet can allow the public such personal accounts of the horrors of war. How many experiences are like this? How many times has the media described in a paragraph what a witness cannot describe in a lifetime?

It's very sobering to read this.

[EDIT]
Bridage Web Site: http://www.strykernews.com/archives/...gade_news.html

This is what a Stryker looks like (this pic was taken in Mosul):

[/EDIT]

Averett · 08-06-2004, 08:48 AM

I didn't read it yet, but that guy really needs to use paragraphs...

Cynthetiq · 08-06-2004, 08:50 AM

damn that's too hard to read... i tried...

bigoldalphamale · 08-06-2004, 09:03 AM

long read...but good. very "blackhawk down".

kutulu · 08-06-2004, 09:04 AM

That's some crazy ass shit.

Rekna · 08-06-2004, 09:18 AM

it's a good read but damn PARAGRAPHS!!! hehe

bigoldalphamale · 08-06-2004, 09:20 AM

more on strykers...these things are BEASTY!!!!!

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...d/iav-pics.htm

bigoldalphamale · 08-06-2004, 09:26 AM

here is the inside of a Stryker.

Averett · 08-06-2004, 09:27 AM

I'm going to step into the mind of a 17 year old geek

DUDEEEE that would be so sweeeeet for prom!

bigoldalphamale · 08-06-2004, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Averett
I'm going to step into the mind of a 17 year old geek

DUDEEEE that would be so sweeeeet for prom!

Carno · 08-06-2004, 10:27 AM

Quote:

It's astounding how the internet can allow the public such personal accounts of the horrors of war. How many experiences are like this? How many times has the media described in a paragraph what a witness cannot describe in a lifetime?

Um, that has happened in every single military engagement that has ever happened. In previous wars there wasn't even any coverage at all. And tt's not like the public even has a right to know this stuff. The media will cover whatever it wants, however it wants...

And I'm pretty sure most combat vets have similar stories. War is hell.

DelayedReaction · 08-06-2004, 11:07 AM

I'm not suggestin war isn't hell. It's just a new and unusual insight that I've come to appreciate.

denim · 08-06-2004, 01:04 PM

I'm going to try to split this up into paragraphs, to make it easier to read.

Quote:

Now here's what really happened:
I was in my room reading a book (Thin Red Line) when the mortars started coming down. Usually when we get mortared it'll only one, maybe two mortars. But this mortar attack went on for almost 20 minutes. Each one impacting the FOB every couple minutes. Something was up.

My roommate ripped open the door and yelled "Get your guys, Go to the motor pool! The whole BATTALION is rolling out!"

Holy shit, the whole Battalion? This must be big. So I ran over and woke my guys up, yelled, "Get your fuckin shit on and head down to the motor pool! Time: Now!"

I grabbed my shit and started running to the motor pool, hearing small arms fire off in the back ground. By now everybody was running to motor pool. Putting their clothes on while they were running.

At the motor pool, everybody was strapping on their shit and getting ready. One by one, Strykers were rolling out of the motor pool ready to hunt down whoever was fucking with us. People were hooting and hollering, yelling their war cries and doing the Indian yell thing as they drove off and locked and loaded their weapons. These guys that are attacking us just fucked with the bee's nest, and now they're getting the swarm.

As I got the vehicle ready to go I overheard on our radio that shit was hitting the fan all over Mosul, large amounts of people attacking us with small arms, RPG attacks, burned vehicles, and there was a bunch of people in all black armed with AK's over by the bridge in front of the Mosul Hotel. Fuck.

I overheard one of our iraqi interpreter say in broken English, "Give me gun, I want to kill these motherfuckers!"

As we rolled out the main gate, our FOB was getting attacked, we had soldiers laying down in the prone up on the outer perimeter of the FOB firing their weapons out. We rolled down the main exit out and drove down a busy two way street.

I was the T.C. for our vehicle, my job is to be behind the .50 cal, and operate the system, which allows me to fire it, which down in the hatch, it is this little black and white TV screen with red cross hairs in the middle of the screen. On the right of my seat I have a little joystick type thing, kinda like what fighter pilots have, that has a trigger on it which allows he to fire the 50 when I'm down in the hatch. This was only my second day as a T.C. Sitting right next to me out the hatch was my Plt Sgt.

Shortly, as we were driving down the main street leaving our FOB, a man, dressed all in black, jumped out from the side corner of a building, pointed his AK47 right at me. Right at my fucking head and all I saw was the fire from his muzzle flash leaving the end of his barrel as he was shooting at me. I heard and felt the bullets whiz literally inches from my head, hitting all around my hatch and 50 cal mount making a "Ping" "Ping" "Ping" sound. I ducked the fuck down in the hatch.

I yelled "We're taking fire! 3 O'clock!!!”

Turned the gun around towards where the guy was and fired a burst. I fired a burst right over our back air guard hatch where our First Sgt was sticking out of and shooting. He yelled "Tell him to stop fucking shooting over my head!!!"

Shit. My bad. I looked over and my PLT Sgt who was sticking out the hatch next to me a couple seconds ago was now dropped down from the hatch and now on his back. He was yelling, "I'm Hit! I'm hit!" I looked at his helmet and a bullet went right through his helmet and exited through the other side. Holy shit! I didn't see any blood on him. He looked completely dazed though. He took his helmet off and observed the holes in his helmet. No fucking shit, the bullet entered his helmet, and exited through the other side, missing his upper forehead by like 1-100th of an inch. A fuckin’ miracle. He was standing right next to me, that's how close the bullets were from hitting us.

We continued driving. We had to drive to the Mosul Bridge that was right next to the Mosul hotel about a couple miles away. There were reports of a buncha people, wearing all black, armed with AK's hanging out there. Our job was to locate and kill them.

We were driving there on that main street, when all of the sudden all hell came down all around on us, all these guys wearing all black (Black pants, and a black t-shirts tucked in), a couple dozen on each side of the street, on rooftops, alleys, edge of buildings, out of windows, everywhere just came out of fucking nowhere and started firing RPG's and AK47's at us. I freaked the fuck out and ducked down in the hatch. I yelled "WE GOT FUCKIN HAJI'S ALL OVER THE FUCKIN PLACE!!! THERE ALL OVER GOD DAMNIT!!!"

Bullets were pinging off our armor all over our vehicle, and you could hear multiple RPG's being fired and flying through the air and impacting all around us. All sorts of crazy insane Hollywood explosions bullshit going on all around us. I've never felt fear like this. I was like, this is it, I'm going to die. I cannot put into words how scared I was.

The vehicle in front of us got hit 3 times by RPG's. I kind of lost it and I was yelling and screaming all sorts of things, mostly cuss words. I fired the .50 cal over the place, shooting everything. My driver was helping me out and pointing out targets to me over the radio. He helped me a lot that day.

They were all over shooting at us. My PLT was stuck right smack dab in the middle of the ambush and we were in the kill zone. We shot our way out of it and drove right through the ambush. The street we were driving down to escape, had 3 to 4 story high buildings all along each side, as we were driving away all you could see were 100's and 100's of bullets impacting all over these buildings. Finally we went over to the bridge that was next to the Mosul hotel. We parked there, and dismounted the guys.

The Pepsi bottling building across the street was all up in flames. Then we were told to load up and go back to where we got ambushed. I'm not going to lie, I didn't want to go back. Fuck that shit, I don't want to get killed. That was the last place on earth I wanted to be. I was scared to death. But we had to go back, and we did.

On the way back I was up out of the hatch, scanning , I saw people running down streets that we passed with AK47s, I didn't have a shot at them with the 50, cuz we were going way too fast and how the gun was positioned. We past several men with AKs running down a street, I pulled out my Berretta and fired a mag at them.

We rolled back to the area where we all just dodged death, and we were taking fire from all over again. Again, I fired and fired and fired and fired and fired. At everything. We were taking fire from all over. I was just 360ing the 50 cal and shooting at everything. We were taking fire from all over, and every single one of us had our guns blazing.

At one time I saw a dog try to run across the street, and somebody shot it.

Again, at one time I had the 50 cal traversed and pointing all the way back of the vehicle and I was firing at some guys who were shooting at us up on a rooftop, and I didn't know I was shooting right above the guys heads who were in the back airguard hatchs on our vehicle. My roommate (Sgt from Idaho) tapped my arm, which startled the hell out of me and I quickly jerked back and looked at him and he yelled, "Hey!! Get that gun to the 12!!! Let that one go!! You’re doing good!!!" He later told me, when he tapped me on the shoulder, and I jerked back to look at him, I had this crazed look in my eyes that kind of freaked him out.

Hovering up above we had Army Kiowa and Apache attack helicopters engaging the enemy on rooftops with Hellfire missiles and rockets.

At one time I had to reload the 50 with ammo. The ammo was on the outside of the vehicle on the side. Why they fucking they put it there I don't know. So, with my hands I did the sign of the cross thing on my chest, said a prayer (Please God, I don't want to fucking die) and as my Plt Sgt layed down some suppressive fire, I got up out of the hatch, got my whole body completely outside of the vehicle and went over to where the extra ammo was, grabbed a full ammo box, and went back to the hatch, as fast as possible. Scared out of my fuckin mind as I did this. RPG's were still whizzing by and non-stop gun shots were being fired all over.

We had our guys in 3rd Sqd dismounted, they had both 240's with them and they were in heavy contact with the enemy, firing AT4's and everything they had at them. Strykers were also launching Tow missiles back at them.

I got down in the hatch and started scanning my sector with the 50. Suddenly about 300 meters away I saw 2 guys creeping around this corner, they were hunched down sneaking around hiding behind a stack of truck tires. I could tell by their body language something was up. I placed the cross hairs right on them, but I didn't fire, because I didn't see a weapon on them and I wanted to wait. Next thing you know, I saw another guy come out of that corner with an RPG in his hands. I freaked the fuck out and yelled "RRRPPPPGGGGGGG!!!" My hands was shaking like crazy, my cross hairs were bouncing all over the screen. I gathered my composure as fast as I could, put the cross hairs on them and engaged them with a good 10 second burst of some 50 cal, right at them. Get Some. My Plt Sgt said "good job!". I didn't see anybody move from behind those tires after that.

Shortly after that the vehicle parked directly in front of us took an RPG. This gunfight went on for 4 1/2 hours. 23 Victor got fucked up with three RPG's, and their TC (The guy who wrote SOF magazine that letter) took shrapnel to the face, and had to go back for medical attention.

So 3nd squad was now going to roll in our vehicle because there vehicle was all fucked up and had go back to the FOB to be repaired. The ING's showed up, and they were clearing the buildings on the street. 3nd squad was helping them, and I was providing over watch for them with the 50. Then all the sudden mortars started impacting around us. These bastards were now firing mortars at us.

Time passed and we were extremely low on ammunition and all out of water. My entire DCU uniform was completely wet from sweat and filth. So we all mounted up and drove back to the FOB to get more ammo, water and re-fuel. On the way to the FOB we passed a watermelon stand, all the watermelons had bullet holes in them. In fact, everything on that street had bullet holes in it. The cars, the buildings, everything. There were thousands and thousands of brass shell casings littered all over the streets. Our vehicle was also covered inside and out with brass shell casings and links.

Once we got to the FOB, and parked near the motor pool to re-supply, a Sgt ran up to us holding all his gear and his kit and asked, "Hey you guys rolling back out? Do you have room for one more?" This guy who asked us if he could ride with us back out, was in that vehicle that was right in front of us earlier that got RPG'd. They had to drive back to the FOB, because the RPG went right through their vehicle and hit the guy sitting next to him in the stomach, slicing his guts wide open. And now he was now asking us if he could come with, to go give ‘em some more hell. We had no room for him in our vehicle, we were jam packed because we had the guys from third squad with us because there vehicle was out of commission from multiple RPG hits. Since there was no room for him, he gave us all the ammo and his water he had on him, and told us "Go get em."

By now it was night, and we were now fully stocked and ready to roll back out. I didn't want to go back out, but you don't have a choice, you have to. Right when we were about to leave the gate, they told us to go back to the motor poll and stand by. So we drove back packed the vehicles, and waited. I was chain smoking right now, one right after another. My nerves were completely shot and I was emotionally drained and physically exhausted. My hands were still kinda shaking. I was sitting up against the tires by myself on the side of the vehicle smoking a cigarette. I've never been through anything like that. I've never felt fear like that. And I've never seen anything like that. Usually these guys do this hit and run bullshit, but these guys today were on the offensive and showed no fear of us.

My friend from San Diego, came over and sat next to me. Asked if I was O.K., and I told him "I don't know." We discussed everything that happened today, how it went down, what he did, what I did, what they did. Then the Battalion Commander came by the motor pool and told us all we all did a great job today. Finally they told us to go back to our rooms.

I went back to my room, thanked God, and passed out on my bed.
Note: I dont think CNN's report of only 12 dead is accurate.

Quote of the day: "I just want this day to end."

jobu · 08-06-2004, 01:31 PM

it's nice to see the view point from someone who had to go through this. i really appreciated his thoughts about how scared he was and that even though he didn't want to go back he did anyway.

powerclown · 08-06-2004, 03:54 PM

This guy deserves a medal for bravery.

To get out of his vehicle in a bullet firestorm for more ammo...i can't even imagine how frightening this must have been.

Great link; always interesting to read what is really going on over there.

Cynthetiq · 08-06-2004, 11:08 PM

much better....

thanks denim.

Trisk · 08-06-2004, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
much better....

thanks denim.

/agree

I think it's interesting to see things like this. It makes you realize just how different different points of view can be in certain situations....and it's a good example of the way a news story can:
1. tilt facts to make people think about it and come to conclusions a certain way
2. Give a completely different message when compressed into sound-bytes.

Reese · 08-07-2004, 02:34 AM

Amazing story. Reading this has a much bigger impact on me than any of the war movies of late.

It's not that the story itself is so different from any other battle, it's the comparision of CNN story to this guy's story that makes it interesting.

tecoyah · 08-07-2004, 04:27 PM

I am so very glad that the "End of major conflict" occured last year. For the sake of our troops I seriously hope this is not the beginning of an organized resistance.

Pragma · 08-07-2004, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carn
In previous wars there wasn't even any coverage at all. And tt's not like the public even has a right to know this stuff. The media will cover whatever it wants, however it wants...

I'm not too sure what you mean. I agree that the media heavily glosses over battles and conflicts, unless they think they can get a big story out of it, but why wouldn't the public have a "right to know" what's going on?

I see nothing wrong with soldiers telling their stories to the public - it can only help people understand what these men and women are willing to go through for the causes they believe in.

omega2K4 · 08-07-2004, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tecoyah
For the sake of our troops I seriously hope this is not the beginning of an organized resistance.

They (the Iraqi "insurgents") will only become more organized as time passes, at least until the U.S. invaders & their "coalition" leave Iraq. Even then, they'll probably still organize to overthrow the U.S. sponsored government now/soon to be in place.

Spartak · 08-07-2004, 11:44 PM

Wow, just wow.

I can't even begin to imagine the hell that soldiers must face every day.

Carno · 08-08-2004, 01:09 AM

Quote:

I'm not too sure what you mean. I agree that the media heavily glosses over battles and conflicts, unless they think they can get a big story out of it, but why wouldn't the public have a "right to know" what's going on?

I see nothing wrong with soldiers telling their stories to the public - it can only help people understand what these men and women are willing to go through for the causes they believe in.

I guess that could have been confusing.. I simply meant that the media could stop all coverage of the war and the public couldn't do anything about it (outside of complaining and not buying papers). There isn't any law saying the media has to give accurate or complete coverage. They can say whatever they want, and slant it however they want.

I also think it's great that people can read about these soldiers' experiences, instead of having to read two sentences in the local paper about how many soldiers died. I was just saying that it's probably safe to say that most soldiers have amazing stories, but they aren't usually stories that the media cares to tell in their entirety. My dad was a Vietnam vet, and he has told me some amazing/scary/horrible stories.. Some things that he couldn't even tell people for years and years. Stuff that you will never ever read in the papers.

Nafter · 08-08-2004, 12:54 PM

A friend of mine, in the british artillery stationed in iraq at the moment is having a tv crew follow him about his daily life in iraq and his family back home, showing it on bbc early next year. Its obviously not all him and they follow different soldiers but hopefully it will give a bit more insight into the soldiers side. It'll also be interesting to see w/ footage what hes been upto heh

silverback · 08-09-2004, 08:47 PM

That was a great read...thanks for posting it.

Gortexfogg · 08-10-2004, 02:35 PM

Very interesting read. It was intriguing to get that much detail on the attacks there. Like said before, war is hell.

Silvanio · 08-11-2004, 05:35 PM

Wow.

Thanks for sharing.

carrot glace · 08-11-2004, 07:47 PM

amazing, this is a great story
i have even more respect for ppl in the war

Scorps · 08-11-2004, 07:49 PM

I read most of it but now my eyes hurt

junglistic · 08-13-2004, 08:47 AM

War a perfect example of the definition of pointless.

When the hell are people going to smarten the fuck up.

I was watching this Iraqi channel on my friends crazy 3000channel satellite hookup, and the channel has no rules or regulations, and it actually shows what really goes on there. The states are nothing but fucking power hungry, selfish, greedy sheep.

Memalvada · 08-15-2004, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigoldalphamale

long read...but good. very "blackhawk down".

I pictured black hawk down too

Well, i have to say that that guy is really lucky and extremely brave... going outside to get the ammo and stuff... And having to fight for so many hours.... damn...

Those guys are worthy of admiration...

dauvin · 08-16-2004, 12:01 AM

In the story the soldier refers to "(The guy who wrote SOF magazine that letter)"

Does anyone know exactly what letter this was? Was it the one about the convoy accidentally getting past a roadblock and into some heavy shiat, then having to drive back through it?

Seer666 · 08-16-2004, 06:20 PM

It's reading shit like this that makes me thankful I'm an intel weenie they keep locked in a little room far away from the shit storm. There are no words for how much respect I have the boys and girls out there putting boots to ground and ass for the rest of us. I really can't wait for the day that these people come home for good. And if so much as one fucking hippy desides they want to throw a bucket of red paint at these guys I will kill them myself.

Dostoevsky · 08-17-2004, 09:28 AM

I hope technological advances will revolutionize the way news is reported. I would much rather read reports from guys on the front lines than from CNN. Great Post.

08-06-2004, 08:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	I didn't read it yet, but that guy really needs to use paragraphs... __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

08-06-2004, 08:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	damn that's too hard to read... i tried... __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-06-2004, 09:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	I'm going to step into the mind of a 17 year old geek DUDEEEE that would be so sweeeeet for prom! __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

08-06-2004, 11:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
DelayedReaction BFG Builder Location: University of Maryland	I'm not suggestin war isn't hell. It's just a new and unusual insight that I've come to appreciate. __________________ If ignorance is bliss, you must be having an orgasm.

08-06-2004, 11:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	much better.... thanks denim. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-06-2004, 09:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
bigoldalphamale Loser	long read...but good. very "blackhawk down".

08-06-2004, 09:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	That's some crazy ass shit.

08-06-2004, 09:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rekna Junkie	it's a good read but damn PARAGRAPHS!!! hehe

08-06-2004, 09:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
bigoldalphamale Loser	more on strykers...these things are BEASTY!!!!! http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...d/iav-pics.htm

08-06-2004, 09:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
bigoldalphamale Loser	here is the inside of a Stryker.

08-06-2004, 01:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
jobu Crazy	it's nice to see the view point from someone who had to go through this. i really appreciated his thoughts about how scared he was and that even though he didn't want to go back he did anyway.

08-06-2004, 03:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
powerclown Junkie Location: Detroit, MI	This guy deserves a medal for bravery. To get out of his vehicle in a bullet firestorm for more ammo...i can't even imagine how frightening this must have been. Great link; always interesting to read what is really going on over there.

08-07-2004, 02:34 AM	#18 (permalink)
Reese Delicious	Amazing story. Reading this has a much bigger impact on me than any of the war movies of late. It's not that the story itself is so different from any other battle, it's the comparision of CNN story to this guy's story that makes it interesting. __________________ “It is better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick” - Dave Barry

08-07-2004, 04:27 PM	#19 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	I am so very glad that the "End of major conflict" occured last year. For the sake of our troops I seriously hope this is not the beginning of an organized resistance. __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

08-07-2004, 11:44 PM	#22 (permalink)
Spartak Bang bang Location: New Zealand	Wow, just wow. I can't even begin to imagine the hell that soldiers must face every day. __________________ I can read your mind... looking at you... I can read your mind...

08-08-2004, 12:54 PM	#24 (permalink)
Nafter Insane Location: The Eng	A friend of mine, in the british artillery stationed in iraq at the moment is having a tv crew follow him about his daily life in iraq and his family back home, showing it on bbc early next year. Its obviously not all him and they follow different soldiers but hopefully it will give a bit more insight into the soldiers side. It'll also be interesting to see w/ footage what hes been upto heh __________________ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

08-09-2004, 08:47 PM	#25 (permalink)
silverback Registered User Location: texas	That was a great read...thanks for posting it.

08-10-2004, 02:35 PM	#26 (permalink)
Gortexfogg I and I Location: Stillwater, OK	Very interesting read. It was intriguing to get that much detail on the attacks there. Like said before, war is hell.

08-11-2004, 05:35 PM	#27 (permalink)
Silvanio Upright Location: Eastern, PA	Wow. Thanks for sharing.

08-11-2004, 07:47 PM	#28 (permalink)
carrot glace Crazy Location: orange county	amazing, this is a great story i have even more respect for ppl in the war __________________ "blaine is a pain and that is the truth"

08-11-2004, 07:49 PM	#29 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	I read most of it but now my eyes hurt __________________ A.K.A. PainTrain

08-13-2004, 08:47 AM	#30 (permalink)
junglistic Insane	War a perfect example of the definition of pointless. When the hell are people going to smarten the fuck up. I was watching this Iraqi channel on my friends crazy 3000channel satellite hookup, and the channel has no rules or regulations, and it actually shows what really goes on there. The states are nothing but fucking power hungry, selfish, greedy sheep.

08-16-2004, 12:01 AM	#32 (permalink)
dauvin Upright	In the story the soldier refers to "(The guy who wrote SOF magazine that letter)" Does anyone know exactly what letter this was? Was it the one about the convoy accidentally getting past a roadblock and into some heavy shiat, then having to drive back through it?

08-16-2004, 06:20 PM	#33 (permalink)
Seer666 Oh dear God he breeded Location: Arizona	It's reading shit like this that makes me thankful I'm an intel weenie they keep locked in a little room far away from the shit storm. There are no words for how much respect I have the boys and girls out there putting boots to ground and ass for the rest of us. I really can't wait for the day that these people come home for good. And if so much as one fucking hippy desides they want to throw a bucket of red paint at these guys I will kill them myself. __________________ Bad spellers of the world untie!!! I am the one you warned me of I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant.

08-17-2004, 09:28 AM	#34 (permalink)
Dostoevsky Psycho Location: Macon, GA	I hope technological advances will revolutionize the way news is reported. I would much rather read reports from guys on the front lines than from CNN. Great Post.