Free Republic

He didn't have to go, it wasn't his job and nobody paid him to do it. But Michael Yon says he went to Iraq because he wanted to see for himself what was going on. The 41-year-old former Army Green Beret, self-published author and world traveler didn't know exactly what he was going to do when he got to the war zone last year, nor did he have any particular plans to report what he saw to the world at-large. But that's what he did. After getting himself embedded as a freelance journalist with troops last year, he used his...

Newsletter #38Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade Happy New Year! The weather has warmed up into high 30s and low 40s at night and we are once again into the low 70s during the day. Maybe winter is already over. Actually, the weather seems to be very close to that of Fort Stewart, Georgia right now, so we should not have much of an adjustment as we redeploy over the next few weeks. New Year’s Eve was celebrated on all our bases throughout our area of operations, and our mess halls did a fantastic job with the food for...

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Excerpts from an essay written recently by Farris Hassan, 16, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who traveled to Iraq without telling his parents: There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction. You are aware of the heinous acts of the terrorists: Women and children massacred, innocent aid workers decapitated, indiscriminate murder. You are also aware of the heroic aspirations of the Iraqi people: liberty, democracy, security, normality. Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent...

Newsletter #36Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade Today is a great day – today is the day Iraq went to the polls to elect its four year government under the Iraqi Constitution. This is an incredible event and we are proud to be a part of this moment in history. The weather cooperated beautifully. Although earlier a storm was predicated for today, it was sunny for the national elections. There was a holiday feeling in the air today. As we drove throughout our area of operations, it almost felt festive as the Iraqi people walked to the polls. The...

Austin Bay reflects on the Iraq election, and some of the defeatest rhetoric. HH: Talking now with Col. Bay from Texas. Austin Bay, novelist, teacher at the University of Texas, and retired from the United States Army, however he did his time in Iraq. Col., welcome. AB: Hi, Hugh. Glad to be here. HH: Can you tell us when you were in Iraq, and so as to set the stage for the conversation? AB: I was there May through September, 2004. I was with multi-national corps, Iraq, at Camp Victory. I worked in the plan section, and among other things,...

Christmas greetings Freepers. Yesterday, I and my family received a set of Christmas cards and letters. They are from a group of United States Marines stationed in Iraq. I thought I would share them with folks on Free Republic who would appreciate them as I know we all appreciate what these young folks are doing for us. Last month, my family found out about a website called AnySoldier.com. It is a place where troops stationed overseas can place small bios and snippets of what they are doing, where they are stationed and what materials would be appreciated from home. We...

Scottsdale Resident Chris Spidle spent nine months in Iraq working as a civilian contractor, where his work brought him close to the Iraqi people. Spidle relates his firsthand experience and gives his perspective on the U.S. presence in Iraq through the eyes of those with perhaps the most to gain or lose: Iraqi Children...

HH: Joining me now, Jed Babbin, former assistant secretary of the Defense Department, often heard as my guest host extraordinaire on the Hugh Hewitt Show, just returned, maybe hours ago, from Iraq. Jed, welcome home. Give us the details of your trip. JB: Well, we got there...it's a two day process getting in there, Hugh. You've got to go overseas, then stop in Kuwait. Then you pick up a military plane and fly to Baghdad. We got there early Thursday morning, and went straight into briefings. We basically, over the course of three days, went out and saw a lot...

The voting has begun! (updated) Voting in Iraq’s second parliamentary elections has begun this morning; this coincides with the deadline for all campaigning activities by all lists and parties who are required now to enter “electoral silence”.The first votes are coming from army bases, detention centers and hospitals. The presence of representatives from different political bodies was strong in the voting centers we have seen on TV so far. The political bodies used SMS technology for campaigning for the first time; more than 20 lists and parties sent hundreds of thousands of messages via cell phones throughout the country; I...

Iraq the Model goes deep inside the Iraqi election By Mohammed of Iraq the Model, for Pajamas Media In spite of the wide variety of political bodies competing in the December elections, making speculations and estimations is not difficult at all when one realizes that most Iraqis will follow their emotions, rather than minds, when they vote. There will be little serious interest in exploring the platforms and programs of candidates and parties. Although we see more people and local media interviewing politicians and asking questions about programs and platforms, this increase in political awareness still cannot be considered the...

Members of the services, are calling in to give their impressions of what's going on in Iraq...Every one i've heard, has accused the MSM of not telling the truth. Say they aren't telling about all the good stuff going on, and they don't understand why.

Hello my family and friends, The date is now 1 December 2005, and I am writing my next to last letter. My deployment is now winding down. It is so hard to believe that it has almost been a year and a half since I started on this arduous journey. This deployment has been a whirlwind of emotions and roller coasters. It has made me a stronger person both physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have seen so many positive changes since we first put boots on ground here. Neighborhoods have changed their attitudes on a whole. We can see this...

Brian Lamb (C-Span) did a call-in segment during the first hour of Washington Journal this morning featuring only PERSONNEL WHO SERVED IN IRAQ. It was absolutely phenomenal. The callers (enlisted, officer and contractors) provided case after case of detailed accounts of what they observed in Iraq. No rah, rah pollyanish info. Just the facts. Most, if not all, of the accounts DIRECTLY CONTRADICT the picture of Iraq that's been provided by the mainstream media. Bottom line: THEY BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND SEE SUCCESS. Washington Journal usually re-airs sometime during the day. When I find out what time the...

In spite of the wide variety of political bodies competing in the December elections, making speculations and estimations is not difficult at all when one realizes that most Iraqis will follow their emotions, rather than minds, when they vote. There will be little serious interest in exploring the platforms and programs of candidates and parties. Although we see more people and local media interviewing politicians and asking questions about programs and platforms, this increase in political awareness still cannot be considered the definitive method Iraqis will use to choose representatives. Sectarian or ethnic loyalties will still have a greater role...

Lately there has been much debate about US involvement in Iraq. I spent a little over nine months in Iraq, traveling the central and northern areas working on power reconstruction or providing security for other contractors. My work provided close contact with local Iraquis - on the job and in their villages as their guest. I am not a political analyst, and I don't have insight into the rationale behind the complex decisions that drive our foreign policy, but I have real-life experiences about what we should be doing in Iraq...(continued)

On Friday Rush read an email he received from a GI in Iraq. It is an example that the troops have not lost their sense of humor: http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/ RUSH: I want to share with you excerpts from a letter I got today, an e-mail letter... Dear Mr. Limbaugh, I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am knowing that you are behind that microphone and honoring our troops here in the Iraqi theater. Thank you, sir, for your unwavering support for all of our airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen fighting the global war on terror --...

My Congressman, Col. John Kline, has just led a delegation to Iraq that included Minnesota Congressman Mark Kennedy. I think we'll be hearing from John soon, but in the meantime, Mark has sent us his impressions of the trip, recorded contemporaneously: The Right Headline The headline on Sunday, Nov. 20 edition of the military newspaper “Stars and Stripes," Mid-East Edition, was: “Amid debate, Bush vows ‘complete victory’ in Iraq. House overwhelmingly rejects immediate troop pullout.” That is exactly what our troops needed to and wanted to hear. I spent the day reinforcing the message with our troops that America stands...

Taste of Freedom: A Soldier's Letter to America USA/SGT Walter J. Rausch & 1st Platoon 101st Airborne Division November 21, 2005 - The following is a letter sent to the Mother of an American soldier currently serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. Per his request - via his Mother - we offer it to you. Special thanks to Jack and Carol Ott for getting this to us: Mom, Be my voice. I want this message heard. It is mine and my platoon’s to the country. A man I know lost his legs the other night. He is in...

I received an email from a mother whose son is currently fighting in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. He and his platoon have penned a message to the American public that is a little different from the message we are getting via the MSM. He asked his mom to help get this message out and she asked me. Here it is from the soldiers on the ground… Mom, Be my voice. I want this message heard. It is mine and my platoon’s to the country. A man I know lost his legs the other night. He is in another...

[The following letter is written by a retired U.S. military officer] Hello to all my fellow gunners, military buffs, veterans and interested guys. A couple of weekends ago I got to spend time with my son Jordan, who was on his first leave since returning from Iraq. He is well (a little thin), and already bored. He will be returning to Iraq for a second tour in early 06 and has already re-enlisted early for 4 more years. He loves the Marine Corps and is actually looking forward to returning to Iraq. Jordan spent 7 months at Camp Blue Diamond...

Back in February, one month into his stay in Iraq, writer Michael Yon almost ended his attempt to chronicle the war in an online blog. He lacked the backing of a newspaper, magazine or book publisher, and grew weary of the risks of life in a combat zone as he embedded with U.S. troops. "I was ready to get out. I wasn't getting paid, and it was damn dangerous," Yon said. "Every day I was thinking 'Is this the day I might get killed or get my legs blown off?' " Yon hung on, emerging as one of the best-read...

The date in now 21 October 05, and I am finally sitting down to write. Let me say that over the last several months, I just have not had the time do update nor to gather my own thoughts. Yes, I am still alive, and have all my extremities. I don’t know where to begin since so much has happened to us. I am now getting letters and e-mails from all over the country, wondering if I am alright, since I seem to have disappeared into thin air. One person in particular wanted me to start writing immediately, because I...

Hi! We now have our house completly gutted. We have outside walls and a roof. Several church groups from the Orlando area came and helped. The doors actually close now and we have moved some things back into the house from the yard. We can't move everything back in or else we won't have any room to work. We are on the list waiting for an inspector to come to our house before we can put the sheetrock back up or do any other work in the house. FEMA has given us some money, but it is not enough to...

Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade This week, the daily high finally stayed below 100 degrees during the day and it was in the high 60s at night. For the next week, we are expected to climb back up into low 100s for the day and low 70s at night – an Iraqi Indian Summer. Still no sign of rain. So what have our Soldiers been working on this past week? We are completely focused on the upcoming Constitutional Referendum which is only 6 days away. We have increased our tempo of operations; hence, our Soldiers are quite busy...

1ST BDE (SBCT) 25TH ID Accomplishments Here are just a few things we did in Mosul and the outlying Tigris River Valley in Iraq. The enemy we faced: Al Queda Iraq, Ansar al Sunna, Former Regime elements and various common criminals. We faced 3,056 enemy attacks, 1,335 IED attacks (we found a reduced 439 of them), 84 Suicide car bombs, and 1,513 direct fire and 631 indirect fire attacks. We responded with constant patrolling and kept units in our sectors at all times. We detained over 3,050 enemy combatants, including 179 high level terrorists like Abu Talha, one of the...

September 21, 2005: With the retirement of Arthur Chrenkoff from blogging, his regular "Good News" reports concerning Afghanistan and Iraq might be missed. However, this gap is being filled by a new site, GoodNewsFromTheFront.com, which will carry on Chrenkoff's work. This site is being supported by a variety of blogs (including Iraq the Model) and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The site is covering the "good news" in both Iraq and Afghanistan, as a means of partially countering the "police blotter" style of reporting that usually dominates coverage of the war in both countries. This is comprehensive, covering the...

ANG Relief Effort Hi everyone, I just returned from New Orleans on a hurricane relief mission in the C-130. Let me just start by saying I was awed. Not in what I saw in destruction and devastation because I had/have already seen enough of that on TV. What really hit me hard was the absolute determination and willingness of all those involved in the relief effort. I just want to quickly tell you what I was a part of and what I witnessed, as it just really filled me with pride and reminded me again why we are such an...

This past Monday, I drove with my two oldest daughters, ages 8 and 11, from Maryland to the River Center in Baton Rouge. The River Center is home to about 5,000 evacuees. We had a load of clothes and children's books. At a gas stop on the Tennessee/Virginia border, we talked with the woman behind the counter about our trip. Turns out she had a bunch of stuff in the trunk of her car that her church had donated. She gave us clothes, shoes, toys and a baby blanket her mother had knit for her children. We drove all night...

NPR.org, September 7, 2005 · Hemant Vankawala, 34, is a doctor with one of the nine Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) medical groups set up at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, treating evacuees from New Orleans. He is an emergency room physician in Dallas, Texas, and joined a Dallas-based DMAT just two months ago -- just in time for the biggest natural disaster in American history. Here are excerpts from an e-mail he sent to family, friends and colleagues about his experience:My team was activated 11 days ago. For the past eight days, I have been living and working...

From CO USS IWO JIMA in New Orleans Interesting perspective on the Navy's involvement in Hurricane Katrina relief: Subject: IWO Update - 6 Sep 05 Hello All; Since I took over IWO JIMA over a year ago, I felt as though I had control of the destiny of the ship. I thought I lost it today, the first time ever, and that we were merely reacting to events rather than controlling them. Within the first 24 hours after arriving pierside in New Orleans, IWO JIMA has become many things. We are one of the few full service airports in the...

Two Days in Iraq By Rep. Mike Pence Our two days in Iraq began with a prayer and a brief reading from Psalm 91. After a short delay caused by an engine failure, we lifted off in the cargo hold of a C-130 aircraft filled with soldiers and materials returning to Operation Iraqi Freedom. On the faces of the soldiers we met aboard the aircraft, most of whom were returning from leave, was the evident anxiety of men returning to battle and sober determination. I overheard one soldier tell a colleague, “I’m here for my family, my kids and my...

EMS & Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina - Our Experiences By Parmedics Larry Bradsahw and Lorrie Beth SlonskySep 6, 2005, 11:59 note: Bradshaw and Slonsky are paramedics frorm California that were attending the EMS conference in New Orleans. Larry Bradsahw is the chief shop steward, Paramedic Chapter, SEIU Local 790; and Lorrie Beth Slonsky  is steward, Paramedic Chapter, SEIU Local 790.[California]Two days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the Walgreen's store at the corner of Royal and Iberville streets remained locked. The dairy display case was clearly visible through the widows. It was now 48 hours without electricity, running water, plumbing. The milk, yogurt,...

Guys and Gals, Here is a report from someone inside New Orleans I took off of another web site I frequent. Thought you'd find it interesting. I've also read some interesting posts there from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Chief of Law Enfrcement on the site.They have sent about 30 Tennessee wildlife enforcement officers down there. I'll post it too if it is okay. girlangler I took this from another hunting site. For what it's worth........... Well last night I was watching the 6pm news when they announced the 17th street canal pumps failed as well as another break in the...

Subject: Newsletter #24 Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade Another 110 degree daily average for the week but we had a few nights where it was quite comfortable – low 80s by morning. Like we said in our last letter, nothing happens like expected, or forecasted, or announced. The proposed Constitution was finally presented to the Assembly and has been distributed for comment. Some would say it was late, but it was presented and it was written by Iraqis who had several very tough issues to resolve as the result of 30 plus years of dictatorship. It is really...

This e-mail received in the past hour from a local couple who just escaped from New Orleans. They wanted to stress how poorly Louisiana's Democratic controlled government handled the situation... My husband and I have an unbelievable story about the situation in New Orleans. We were stranded tourists that ended up stranded due to Delta canceling our flight on Sunday at 11:25am. That was the beginning of our nightmare. We were in a city we weren't all that familiar (where are the stores, no local knowledge, no local network) and were unable to leave. I won't spend time discussing having...

A former Special Forces soldier is becoming an online media sensation with his vivid and sometimes brutal blog accounts and photos of the daily battles, patrols and raids conducted by U.S. troops fighting terrorists in Iraq. Michael Yon, 41, a Florida native who now calls Massachusetts his ``home base,'' set off for Iraq earlier this year – paying his own way – in an effort to find out and convey exactly what's going on in the war-torn country. ``Naturally, I had an interest in what was happening in Iraq – I had friends in harm's way,'' Yon said from Iraq...

Much has been and continues to be accomplished in Iraq. It would be a mistake to withdraw.Because I have been serving for nearly 18 months in Iraq, I have a greater sensitivity to the debate in the media about the war. It seems it is an obligation that I should share a different perspective from what the media focus on. My views are not those of someone who has "visited" Baghdad for a few days, as some pundits have. I serve in the day-to-day, sometimes monotonous battle for freedom. As a simple grunt colonel, I don't have the power of...

Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade Weather continues to hold steady at about 110 degrees in the day, but we did have the first night where the temperature dropped below 80. Too early to call it a cold snap, but it sure felt good that morning. In normal fashion for Iraq, nothing happens like expected, or forecasted, or announced. The proposed Constitution was presented to the Assembly at the final hour, but then the Assembly announced that more negotiations would take place over the next three days before it would come to a vote. As always, there is no...

[...] About fifteen seconds later our ramp dropped. We ran into combat. Folks who haven't done much urban fighting might take issue with the wild chases, and they might say that people should always "stack up" and do things this or that way, but men in Delta Force, SEALs and the like, all know that when chasing wild men into the labyrinth, soldiers enter the land of confusion. If soldiers don't go fast, the bad guys simply get away. Just a few minutes ago, these three guys were going "105 miles per hour," and outrunning a helicopter. There were shops,...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2005) -- When a Marine cleans up after a chaotic combat tour and returns stateside, the American public stands in awe at the heroic things he accomplished. However, the Marine sees it as another day on the job. This is the case with 1st Lt. Andrew P. Thomas, who served as platoon commander, 4th platoon, small craft company, 1st Marine Division, who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal July 8 for his actions during an attack on the riverbanks of Ramadi. Recalling one of the more prominent events that...

Newsletter #22 Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade Weather is holding steady at about 114 degrees in the day and high 80s at night. For our troops on the streets, it feels much hotter because of the asphalt. We have seen a few thermometers that are pegged out at 130 degrees, but official temperatures never seem to rise above 120 degrees. Had some Soldiers tell me the other day they are going to Alaska after this experience. We were waiting the release of the proposed Constitution, but as most of you know, it has been delayed. While it may...

We finally broke away from Camp Victory, where 8,000 troops are stationed north of Baghdad. After asking repeatedly to go into Baghdad and away from relative safety, Central Command (CENTCOM) relented, and we were on our way. Thus began a trip to Iraq sponsored by Move America Forward to tell the story of war on terrorism directly from the men and women serving in our armed forces. With five other talk show hosts, we were determined to get the truth out without the normal liberal bias that seems to cloud coverage by the mainstream media. CENTCOM clearance to move into...

Deuce Four's LTC Erik Kurilla shot three times (Michael Yon dispatch)Source: Michael Yon Saturday, August 20, 2005 Proximity Delays Mosul, Iraq During radio interviews, listeners sometimes call in with questions for me. People who follow the war closely and read my dispatches might ask about events covered by mainstream news but about which I've posted few details, if any. Thousands of emails pour in. "Did you know about the letter to Zarqawi?" (Yes, I was in the Deuce Four daily briefing when it was first displayed and read, about a week before the media learned about it. The letter was...

I am writing this in response to all the attention that Cindy Sheehan and her protests are getting. I am a deployed soldier with 2nd Squadron, 278th RCT at FOB Bernstein near Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq.This is my second deployment. The first was from April 2003 to April 2004 and it was spent mostly in Qatar, but I also spent some time at Camp Cedar II just outside An Nasiriyah, Iraq. I volunteered to return with the 278th and I do not regret my decision at all.Obviously, I believe in and support the war for a variety of reasons. I think...

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 The Battle for Mosul: Reality Check [Click title above for video of small IED attack. Probably a "two-banger."] Mosul, Iraq For more than a week, I've been trying to finish the Battle for Mosul Part IV. Meanwhile, the battle for Mosul is still on. Writing about this war takes a back seat to living it. Yesterday, for instance, there was fighting and one of our brother units lost a young soldier in battle. Part IV will focus on the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) who live and work in Mosul. The ISF also were fighting yesterday, and...

As I wind down my time here in Iraq, I have had time to ponder and reflect on what I have seen, done and been a part of here at Balad. War is an interesting thing, as when you leave for it, you have grand dreams of doing your part and being a part of something bigger than yourself. Being able to come home and tell war stories or be a hero to those who know you. When you leave, you have a very different outlook, not wanting to talk about what went on, and feeling unworthy of any praise...

Soldiers rely on heavy metal By MONI BASU | Wednesday, August 10, 2005, 10:46 PM The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Camp Striker, Iraq — First Sgt. Bobby Barnes pointed to two heaps of mangled, metal contraptions sitting on the far side of a sand berm, behind a maintenance depot affectionately known as “the Alamo.” Melted magnesium and aluminum. Crushed steel. Burned out seats and radio equipment. The wreckage used to be Humvees that soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team drove outside Camp Striker for missions in the Baghdad area. The vehicles were torn apart by 155mm artillery...

BlogThis!Michael Yon : Online Magazine From MSNBC.com: "There is actually good reporting coming from Iraq -- check out Michael Yon's blog, for example. And it's possible to get a clearer picture of the strategic picture than most big media accounts provide." Wednesday, August 10, 2005 Jungle Law Combat Physics Mosul, Iraq The first person to use a shield might have been a hairy man who, days earlier, barely survived a barrage from the stone-throwing man in the cave next door. As the use of weaponized sticks and stones spread, improved shields probably were not far behind. Throughout recorded history, bigger...

Mosul, Iraq The first person to use a shield might have been a hairy man who, days earlier, barely survived a barrage from the stone-throwing man in the cave next door. As the use of weaponized sticks and stones spread, improved shields probably were not far behind. Throughout recorded history, bigger and better shields always play catch-up to their bigger and better ballistic brethren. Common wisdom posits that defense systems are preventative measures, but in fact, they are reactive. Every castle wall can be defeated. Somewhere along the line people realized, "the best defense is a good offense." Adherence to...

Mosul, Iraq On Thursday August 6, we headed out the gates to meet with police officials in downtown Mosul. As we rolled in, a handful of Iraqi police ran across the road, back towards the barracks. Terrorists had just shot the mother of a police officer, and the police said she was dead. But Captain Scott Cheney, the Charlie Company Commander, rolled there and found she wasn’t dead, just shot in the shoulder and “screaming like crazy.” Inside the police station, LTC Kurilla, Commander of Deuce Four, met with the brother of a taxi driver killed on Monday. Deuce Four...