Posted on 03/12/2004 8:10:39 PM PST by RonDog
Don't think the following came from a Milblog--appears to be just an e-mail going around lately--anybody seen this and/or have any further scoop on this?See also, from www.military.com:
Who Banned the U.S. Flag in Kirkuk?
February 19, 2004
By Robert G. Williscroft
At 3 a.m. on June 28, 2003, a rocket-propelled grenade crashed through a window of the Kirkuk barracks at Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, where three members of the mortar platoon slept: 30-year-old Spc. John Perkins, 19-year-old Pfc. Brian McJunkin, and 24-year-old Spc. Aaron Blakely. When the smoke cleared and the three could hear above the ringing in their ears, Perkins and McJunkin had taken some shrapnel, but Blakely's legs were seriously injured.
Blakely was evacuated to the United States where doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center had to amputate both his feet.
Last September, members of the 503rd returned home for some well-deserved R&R. Perkins and McJunkin met up with Spc. Larry Burns from C Company, to pay a visit to their wounded friend, Blakely. Before going they reported to members of the press "Despite daily ambushes, the guys agree far more Iraqi citizens are grateful for U.S. presence than not. Not a day goes by without some Kirkuk resident inviting them into their home for a cup of Chai tea. Or a kid runs up, yanking a uniform sleeve, wanting to shake their hand."
In addition to just wanting to see their friend, these guys were bringing Blakely a gift from the rest of his comrades-in-arms: An American flag that had flown over the base in Kirkut.
But now, DefenseWatch has learned, the U.S. flag will no longer fly over Kirkuk Airbase. Despite the sacrifices of Blakely and the others who were killed or wounded liberating this ancient city, somebody somewhere in the U.S. chain of command has decided that the Stars and Stripes waving in the breeze might offend some Kirkuk residents.
Although I have been unable to determine exactly who first issued this order, it is clear that some desk jockey pulled a page from his political correctness manual, and pantywaist commanders more concerned about their fitness reports than what is right have knuckled under.
The only people exhibiting any sand are Tech Sgt. Sam Arbuckle and the other members of the Kirkuk Airbase Fire Department, 506 ECES/CEF, who continued to post and retire the colors until they were directly ordered to lower the flag for the last time.In the words of Arbuckle, this "is a slap in the face of those families back home who have lost a loved one. It is also a slap in the face for those who still remain here, not only protecting our people back home, but trying to make a difference here in the pursuit of freedom for the Iraqi people." He went on to say that "If we are to fly the Iraqi flag with our flag then so be it. But don't tell us that we can't show respect for our flag, when so many have died in the name of freedom. The only people I think who would be offended, are the people who kill innocent women and children in the name of religion."
The shameful decision to ban the flag stands in sharp contrast to the members of the 503rd who brought one of these flags half-way around the world to present to their wounded comrade. If Blakely had to get wounded, it was fortunate it happened back in June, when the Stars and Stripes still flew proudly over Kirkuk.
Robert G. Williscroft is a DefenseWatch Senior Editor. He can be reached at defensewatch@argee.net. Please send Feedback responses to dwfeedback@yahoo.com. ©2004 DefenseWatch. All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Military.com.
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
Thank you, Hugh.
Many of us have been following the blogs since the embeds left ~ helping the troops spread the word about their awesome daily successes in Iraq that the mainstream newswires weren't telling the world.
Our free (thanks to our troops past and present) mainstream press ~ almost a year later ~ continues to undermine our war efforts, embolden our enemies, and endanger our troops daily by hyping the negative, ignoring the good, and ignoring the two most important voices in Iraq - our troops and the majority of the Iraqi people - the non-Ba'athists, millions of victims of Saddam Hussein.
It is very good to know that our allied press, with their powerful pens, are listening, and helping to spread the news.
* * * * *
"In general, the biggest shortcoming from Iraq to Afghanistan is not the accomplishment of the mission as much as it is getting the word out about the successes we're achieving every day."
Thank you for posting this sad news.And, THANK YOU, milbloggers!
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MilBlogger Killed in Iraq
The Indepundit ^ | March 15, 2004 | LT Smash
Posted on 03/15/2004 4:48:37 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
MilBlogger Killed in IraqBOB ZANGAS was killed last Wednesday in an ambush south of Baghdad. He was a Marine Corps Reservist working in a civilian capacity for the Coalition Provisional Authority. Go read the final entry in his weblog, and pay your respects. Posted by Smash | Link |
Working for the Man 1 – 6 March
The nice spring we have been enjoying is turning into summer already. We were above 90 degrees for the past few days; a bad omen for the temperatures to come. I will change over to my short sleeve shirts….Yes, folks this is headline news from the front lines on the war on terrorism! “Zangas Changes Wardrobe!” I’ll be sure to get a photo of myself in my new threads. But first! A picture of yours truly enjoying the spring as I see it. This photo was taken in front of our hotel building.
We work just about every day here with no "day off..."
CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
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