Magazine cover brings whirlwind of fame and attention to soldier

Stars and Stripes ^ | Wednesday, January 28, 2004 | Lisa Burgess

[familyop]

"Lighten up. I was unclear as to exactly what you were trying to say."

Ah. There's humility--first thing combat line troopies learn, and lack of the same was probably the reason girls didn't make it through the repeated trials to be 12Bs at Ft. Lost-In-the-Woods (among other things). From the lack of vanity, it appears that you might well have been a combat soldier.

[smith288]

Fame, said Grimes, “is a lot more hectic than I thought it would be. I’m actually looking forward to going back to Iraq, just to get away from all this.”

[Prodigal Son]

and can you begin to avoid insults?

This wasn't an insult. You are not the absolute truth. This is merely the way you view reality. It may or may not have any relation to reality. In my view it does not.

The Lynch lies

Well, what are the Lynch lies? Exactly. What did she lie about?

Since when do spec. ops. from three branches get ordered to a mission to rescue one soldier?

I would hope that when it is your ass that is captured the military will take the appropriate measures to get your ass back. SpecOps have unique training to conduct this sort of mission on short notice.

Everyone who participated in that debacle are a bizarre disgrace to our country--

Are you saying the SEALs, Rangers etc who rescued Lynch are a disgrace? And you ask me why I find your posts bizarre?

Generally, REMFs should stick a sock in their fantasies about Amazons.

I have no idea what you are talking about. What are you talking about?

Your earlier statements make broad and unsupported generalizations (based upon your own personal views) about what the average soldier is thinking. You have nothing to base this on. I found it bizarre and I still do.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, Veritas_est. (^:

Related, from Army.mil Soldier Stories:

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Magazine cover propels public relations tour 
January 28, 2004

Sgt. Marquette Whiteside

Sgt. Marquette Whiteside isn’t sure he likes the fame that being on the cover of Time Magazine has handed him, but said he’s doing his best to represent fellow Soldiers as the 2003 Person of the Year.

“Sometimes I feel like there are more deserving people that could have been on the cover,’’ Whiteside said. “We just got lucky, I guess.”

Whiteside said he just happened to be walking past photographer James Nachtwey when he was pulled aside to be in the photo with fellow “Tomb Raiders” Sgt. Ronald Buxton and Spc. Billie Grimes. The platoon picked up the moniker from its earlier discovery of weapons hidden in graveyard crypts.

He didn’t do anything special to be chosen, Whiteside said, and the three had no idea the photo was being taken in conjunction with the magazine’s annual Person of the Year selection.

The trio is on a temporary break from duty in Baghdad – where they serve with the Survey Platoon, Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Armored Division – to make a public relations tour in Washington, D.C., New York City, Houston and Whiteside’s hometown of Pine Bluff, Ark. One of the highlights was sitting in the first lady’s box for President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address.

Whiteside, 24, is a field artillery surveyor who has seen more than enough danger and misery in Iraq, including a roadside bomb attack that killed his platoon leader, Lt. Ben Colgan. Making the media rounds here in the states is much safer business, but Whiteside said he isn’t basking in any glory. He’s more than happy, though, to spend time with his mother, Catherine, and 6-year-old daughter, Brashawn.

Platoon’s lone female takes seat of honor
January 26, 2004

Spc. Billie Grimes

Just last month, Spc. Billie Grimes was jumping into a Humvee seconds after a grenade explosion battered the vehicle inside one of Baghdad’s most dangerous neighborhoods, rendering medical aid to two Soldiers and two civilian journalists.

Grimes, a medic riding in another Humvee behind the attacked vehicle, is credited with saving the life of Time Magazine reporter Michael Weisskopf, whose hand was blown off by the grenade. She also treated photographer James Nachtwey, Pfc. Jim Beverly and Pvt. Orion Jenks – all of whom suffered serious shrapnel wounds.

A couple weeks after that Dec. 10 attack, Grimes turned up on the cover of Time Magazine with two sergeants from her unit, Survey Platoon – also known as the Tomb Raiders – of Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Armored Division. The three represent the magazine’s choice for 2003’s Person of the Year – the American Soldier.

Last week, Grimes got to hear President George W. Bush deliver the annual State of the Union address live and in person. She and her Time cover mates, Sgts. Ronald Buxton and Marquette Whiteside, were invited to sit in the first lady’s box for the live event. The next day, the trio headed for New York City for a public relations tour.

Grimes, 26, had no idea she was on the magazine cover when she left Iraq for R&R leave Dec. 23. She was waiting for her flight from Kuwait when a stranger recognized her, showing her the cover. The publicity since then has been a bit overwhelming.

“I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have,’’ she said, admitting she dodged the media as much as possible while heading home to family in Lebanon, Ind. “I got clobbered immediately (with media attention).’’

She said she’s proud and honored, nonetheless, to represent her fellow service members.

More Soldier Stories

[OXENinFLA]

I'm trying to find an Interview these 3 did w/ Cavuto recently, they were great.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

"Lighten up, Francis"

[Calpernia]

bump! Nice post Cowgirl!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

For...


We Were Soldiers Once and Young


http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(Photos)

.

[blackie]

Thanks you heros ~ Bump!

[familyop]

"Well, what are the Lynch lies? Exactly. What did she lie about?"

Who doesn't know that the media lied about how Lynch got her injuries (in a vehicle accident), her reactions (none, while a young man died trying to defend her), and all that? And your attempt to assign my statement to the supply clerk, herself, is downright nasty. I have much respect for women who serve honorably in units like service and supply while rejecting Amazonian feminazi myths created by ignorant staff and evil media.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. What are you talking about?"

That prompts me to ask as to whether you have any combat line military experience--training or otherwise.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

What do you mean Couric couldn't tell she was female?

I hadn't heard about this.. hmmmm.. why am I already getting ticked. This young woman is already way prettier than Couric with her horse face!!

[Prodigal Son]

Who doesn't know that the media lied about how Lynch got her injuries (in a vehicle accident), her reactions (none, while a young man died trying to defend her), and all that?

Actually, the New York Times never lied about it. The source of all the confusion was the Washington Post.

That prompts me to ask as to whether you have any combat line military experience--training or otherwise.

Eight years infantryman. Deployed on real world missions.

If you want a look at how the news gets 'made' check out the following thread. You witness on this thread- in real time- how an unsourced report goes from one single publication to mainstream news. It's there- all you have to do is look. The Lynch story happened the same way.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1066732/posts

[familyop]

"Lighten up, Francis"

Tell that to the parents of the young man who gave his life trying to defend Lynch and wasn't properly decorated for it before his parents blew the whistle (that is, if he was even properly decorated after that. ...and to all of us who've seen the censorship on military personnel situations after having our kids stolen from us by feminists, renegade wives and activist judges.

The Greatest Generation, for the most part, didn't let junk administration the likes we've seen, fly. The sons and daughters of the Greatest Generation should have listened to their parents instead of becoming counter-culture kids. Now we've got 'em in both parties.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Wow, you really hate women.

[Hot Tabasco]

Ah. There's humility--first thing combat line troopies learn,

Does that statement come from experience or heresay?

[Hot Tabasco]

"Lighten up, Francis" Tell that to the parents of the young man who gave his life trying to defend Lynch

Defend Lynch or perhaps just a victim of the firefight that resulted in Lynch being captured?

As my homey says, "Lighten up Francis"

[familyop]

"Wow, you really hate women."

[...sorry for getting off-topic here, but maybe some info is warranted.]

We've seen that rhetoric. Sticks and stones... The truth is that I love our kids enough to want our daughters to be more than disgruntled spinsters without kids when they hit 40. And I want our sons to have good reasons to try for a family and join the military. Marriage is practically outlawed, as it is, with unconstitutional idiocies like the USFSPA, the VAWA and the Child Support Act.

We're actually trying to save our country. Here are a few links to chew on.

A new, low-traffic site.

Another site nearly as new--very high traffic

...and an announcement by one of many who recently helped rescue western Europe from socialism that started in ways quite similar to what we're seeing here (by breaking families with feminism). The same announcement is at quite a few other sites.

We will be a recognized voting force in the coming months. Keep your eye out on Fathers Day for a conservative force that was too silent until now. Feminism, along with other counter-culture stuff, is through.

[familyop]

"Does that statement come from experience or heresay?"

See my tagline.

[Fester Chugabrew]

And then there's this Clark guy on the cover of a gay magazine . . .

[CholeraJoe]

What do you mean Couric couldn't tell she was female?

Right after the cover was released, Couric was interviewing the editor from Time and asked, "Why wasn't there a female soldier in the picture?"

The editor identified Specialist Grimes and Katie looked pained.