Posted on 11/02/2006 9:56:59 PM PST by 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
Amen to all you wrote.
"We support those not as smart as John Kerry"- At the Army-Air Force Game
In the meantime, word about sites like FR continues to get out there. The wonderful FR Canteen thread goes a long way to help bolster the morale of our troops - those threads get literally thousands of view. Our supportive words on threads like these help as well. Let's continue to convert our disgust and anger at the OLD MEDIA into a more effective NEW MEDIA (like FR).
Sunday afternoon bump!
What fine soldiers - they make America proud!
Monday bump!
I went to a party last night. It was hosted by some Iraqis who returned to Iraq after Saddam was captured. Most are working as linguists and cultural advisors to US Troops. They were celebrating the sentencing of Saddam. Most had families murdered by his regime.
Yes, they were all smiling.
Thanks for that great news update! May the Lord bless and keep our brave soldiers safe.
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