THE SOLDIERS BEHIND THE BANNER

Charlie Sykes - WTMJ Radio, Milwaukee ^ | Nov. 2, 2006 | Charlie Sykes

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

We've been inundated with media requests about the source of the now-famous "HALP US JON CARRY" banner. (I've already done a live shot on Fox News, and given interviews for John Gibson's show and "Inside Edition," which should air later today.)

**UPDATE The MSM catches up.

Even CNN is reporting Troops respond to 'Jon Carry' with plea for 'halp'; while CBS is reporting "Minnesota Guard Members Mock Kerry In 'Irak' Photo", The AP has put a story on the wire, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is also catching up:

The photo initially was posted on the website of Milwaukee talk radio host Charlie Sykes, who said "everybody picked it up to the point where it crashed our server."

Sykes said one of his listeners has had regular e-mail correspondence with a member of the unit. "Yesterday morning the listener sent it along to me and I put it on the blog," Sykes said. "It's national at this point. It's huge."

Here is the audio of my discussion with the father of one of the soldiers in the picture.

Here is the background:

The listener who emailed me the picture writes:

Thanks for getting that posted and out. What awesome coverage. Kyle Kuepker was my college roommate... He is in that unit and his commander is the third from the left. He sent it over yesterday to me. Didn't really think this would circulate like it did, but man, how awesome. I'm so damn proud of Kyle and those guys.

Here is an email I received from him a couple weeks ago about all the great stuff they are doing.

He attaches this earlier communication:

Hello,

Once again, I find myself writing an update after two months have already passed - time's flying and I'm not complaining. ...

September was our most active to date. Violence escalated due to sectarianism which seemed to coincide with the beginning of Ramadan. Our base was rocketed through the month with one particular stretch lasting four consecutive nights. Thankfully they're terrible aim and rarely pose much of a threat - mostly serve as a disruption and an inconvenience. Our mission continues unchanged and successful. My company leads the way with fewest IED strikes and most IED discoveries year to date - as well as battle loss $$. Within the 8 companies in my battalion, we've accumulated over $750,000 is battle damage or un-repairable equipment due to the mission - of this total, my company represents $497 or less than 1% - so I'm extremely pleased at our results and couldn't be more proud of the track record - my troops continue to do "The Hard Right".

Civil Military Operations (CMO) conducted since the arrival of the Red Bull; we're in the process of completing a water treatment plant that was started a year ago, built a city park in Al Batha, constructed a water treatment facility/reverse osmosis purification system that provides water to 1500 villagers in Al Fawaz and surrounding areas of the Euphrates River. We've employed approx 100 locals throughout the Dhi Qar province in an effort to improve roadway appearance and remove debris, repaired an existing/inoperable reverse osmosis pump/generator which feeds approx 250-500 villagers in another area, repaired 25 km of road that was previously un-navigable during the rainy season near Al Harza, improved 10km of Al Batha City Center roads to increase access in and around the City Center which should create a short term economic boost to the city by employing laborers from the local area, provided 100 1500 liter water tanks to 13 villages what will store potable drinking water to an estimated 3000 people, replaced an electrical transformer in Al Humady that was hit by lightning and provides electricity to a school and local villages with more than 300 people. Future projects we have our radar on include a medium scale irrigation restoration project to provide water to cropland, improvement of 14 km of Al-Shakarra road to double lane width which is impassible 6-8 months of the year due to road height in low areas, a water infrastructure project expected to employ 1000+ manual laborers which would ultimately support commercial and industrial expansion and to raise a school yard to prevent it from flooding. In addition to these projects we've provided medical training to Iraqi Highway Patrol officers, cleared unexploded ordnance from agriculture areas and delivered countless humanitarian supplies to numerous villages and locals tribes. Every project we coordinate or develop, we put an Iraqi face with - so the work being conducted is by the locals and all the materials come from within the country - which can be frustrating. We (the Army) tries to buy everything we need from the local economy - some of it good, some of it not so good... "In Sh Allah" means God willing, so if the part we bought off the local economy works...it was because God willed it... if it didn't, it's because God willed it... Everything is In Sh Allah, hence the frustration since it seems God didn't want anything that we buy to work??? We ask, "will you come back tomorrow to fix it"? "In Sh Allah" ... see the frustration??

The first 6 months we spent adjusting, refining and adapting to our mission and surroundings. Now we're on the down hill slide and trying to keep the "horses from smelling the barn" (quote from my Sergeant Major) or becoming complacent. Our time for training was extremely limited during our first six months in country - however, we've found our groove for the moment and training has been taking place for about 3 weeks now. "A company that trains during war survives during war". I'm not sure if this is a famous dead guy quote, but I heard our Brigade Commander (COL Elicerio) say it the other day and it stuck, so this is my plan until we leave, which is about 150 days away. Plans are being developed for our re-deployment to Ft McCoy, WI and appear we will be in the area the early parts of April.

November 1st will mark the 1st ever Twin City Marathon (Shadow Race) in Iraq - which I'll make up a team of 4 for the event. I participated in the Tallil 10 mile (Tallil Air Base) a couple weeks ago and averaged an 8:40 pace, which I was pleased for two reasons. #1, I wanted to beat a 9 minute mile pace. #2, I quelled all thoughts of running a full marathon (Sorry Mark, but I think I've only got a half left in me)...

Regardless of what you see on the TV and read in the papers, let it be known that we're doing good things in this country and for its people - and I'm proud to be a part of it.

All for now - I hope this finds everyone well, in good spirits and in health.

Take care,

Kyle J. Kuepker

CPT, AD, HHC 1-34 BTB(FWD)

Commanding

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

I have been hoping & PRAYING that these fine patriots would not get in trouble..

Me too! I couldn't put it past "Jon Carry" to abuse position on the Senate committee to cause trouble for them.

[bitt]

welcome, KSoldier!

I like you already. Stay safe, it's already tomorrow over there for you - and Saddam!

I am sending my pals over to see you (your thread,! ;)


Ping, all to #161.......New guy in town.

[OldFriend]

There was not a single contemptuous or disrespectful word on that banner. Not one!

[Cindy]

You all look great.

Thank you for your service to our country KSoldier.

[Enterprise]

LOL - Looks like you're "terrorizing women and children" to me!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Hi KSoldier.

Welcome to FR.

Awesome picture.

Thank you for serving our Country.

[Lady Jag]

Oh, the humanity!

[Echo Talon]

Greetings From Cambridge, MN and welcome aboard! ;)

remember what our greatest President said, "I didn't leave the Democrat Party, the Democrat Party left me."

[Echo Talon]

BTW, thats a nice patch on your left arm. :)

[GretchenM]

I am convinced that Jon Carry's latest verbal atrocities, especially just before a national election, have turned boffo for all the right-minded, military-supporting Americans.

It has taken about 36 years, but the backlash against kerry's traitorous actions and words has finally thrown the man down. What, is that a Bradley Fighting Vehicle I hear roaring his way, and he has no time to move aside? Oh, poor John! It ran over one of his feet. Well, one less foot available to stick in his mouth.

This is payback such as I never thought I'd see -- with the success of our great military, the (vastly under-reported) support of them, the millions of Americans at home who know and love our service members -- are finally making it known they're not buying Kerry's wares. And it is resulting in a resounding show of support back to our troops in theater.

[missnry]

Amen brother!!

[OldFriend]

Interesting how we have had some divine intervention over the years. First we had Elian....and thousands of Cuban Americans lined up to change their voter registration from demonrat to republican.

Then we had the Wellstone Funerally that brought us a republican senator in his place.

Of course, who could forget Monica.

Now we have stuk on stoopid jon carry.

Thank you Lord for making our enemies self destruct. We thank you for your help.

[RetiredArmy]

Regardless of what you see on the TV and read in the papers, let it be known that we're doing good things in this country and for its people - and I'm proud to be a part of it.>

Of course this Officer's words will never see the light of day at the stinking scum sucking pigged faced SOBs of the so called main stream media of the alphabet new organizations. They are simply the media wing of the commies at the National Socialist People's Democratic Homosexual Abortion Loving Workers Party.

[mcar]

My kid would jump off at some unexpected point resulting in me falling: With him belly laughing of course...

Thank you for your service

[GretchenM]

It reminds me of some accounts in the Old Testament of how the Lord confused the enemies of Israel.

1 Samuel 7:10
Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

One of my favorites:
2 Chronicles 20:20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, [King] Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed."
21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised {Him} in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." 22 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.
23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying {them} completely; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they R373 helped to destroy one another.
24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they {were} corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.
25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, {including} goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.
26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore they have named that place "The Valley of Beracah" until today.

That's what we are seeing now.

[george76]

I was not there, but I have been told that Kerry was campaigning for Pres when Kerry started this confrontation.

Lots of folks captioned this photo.

What was said, I do not know...but likely Kerry was trying to somehow defend his actions.

[OldFriend]

I keep praying that the citizens of this country understand how serious this election is, and how urgently we need to support our troops. Their lives depend upon the president keeping the house and senate.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Here is a picture of us terrorizing women and children in the dead of night after we kicked in some doors...

You war criminal!!!

[Republic]

Would it not be TERRIFIC if just once, just once, the big mainstream media, beginning with the news distributors AP, Reuters and the UPI would present, for all Americans (who are basically paying for this war with their lives and their pocket books) and our faithful allies, this one simple photograph.

A picture that grabs your heart and refuses to let go? Why are we all denied news of the joyous, successful and hard won victories in Iraq? Why only the grim news-day after day after day.....?

My loathing for the these news relay organizations and their Bush hating brethren at ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, print media LAT AND NYT AND Washington Post and radio NPR just grows, and grows, and grows.

[Republic]

"Of course this Officer's words will never see the light of day at the stinking scum sucking pigged faced SOBs of the so called main stream media of the alphabet new organizations...."

Exactly. I am really there. And I am ready to revolt....ready to start a drive to inform the advertisers of this sick group of their responsibility in misleading our nation, ready to be a part of a group that actively protests the products of said companys as a way of exercising our right to demonstrate outrage.