Frontline Blogger Covers War in Iraq With a Soldier’s Eyes

NY Times ^ | 1/21/2008 | Richard Perez-Pena

[sono]

Michael Yon was not a journalist, and he wasn’t sure what a blogger was. He had been in uniform but not in combat, and he wanted to keep it that way. He went to Iraq thinking he would stay for a month, and maybe find a way to write about the war after he got home.

Michael Yon, a former Special Forces fighter, writes dispatches and posts photographs from the front lines in Iraq.

Instead, he has spent most of the last three years in Iraq, writing prolifically and graphically, and racking up more time embedded with combat units than any other journalist, according to the United States military. He has been shot at, buffeted by explosions and seen more people maimed — fighters and civilians, adults and children — than he can count.

“The easiest thing in the world to write about is combat, because all the drama is there,” said Mr. Yon, a fit, ruddy-faced 43-year-old who was a Special Forces soldier more than two decades ago. He insists that he still does not really know the rules of journalism, but says he has recently, grudgingly, accepted that he has become a journalist.

His detailed, mostly admiring accounts of front-line soldiers’ daily work have won him a loyal following, especially among service members and journalists and bloggers who follow the war. One of his photographs showing an American soldier cradling an Iraqi girl injured in a car bombing (the girl later died) appeared on Time magazine’s Web site and was later voted one of top images of the year by visitors.

[sono]

Photo by Michael Yon

[IGOTMINE]

The NYT is finally...FINALLY...recognizing the Ernie Pyle of this generation.

[PurpleMan]

It’s not the NYT that needs to recognize him in being 1) a journalist and, 2) a journalist who has and continues to report what others don’t, from where others don’t, longer than others have it is the U.S. military who questioned whether he was a “credentialed journalist,” has shut him out from access (while giving it to others), and openly, trashed his reputation.

[struwwelpeter]

A soldier in our unit kept a blog on Iraq until a few weeks ago: Final Post of Andrew Olmsted

He was killed by a sniper on January 3rd. We had a memorial service for him here a McGregor (just on the New Mexico side of the Texas border):

Major Andrew James Olmsted

February 01, 1970 - January 03, 2008

Major Andrew James Olmsted was from Maine. He graduated from Clark University in 1992 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant. After completing the Armor Basic Branch Course he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. He served as the Operations Officer at Camp Casey, Korea. He commanded HHC, 68th Armored Battalion and E Company, 362nd Armored Battalion, at Fort Carson, Colorado. Major Olmsted later served as an OC/T Detachment Commander, 2nd/91st Training Support Brigade, later 5th Armor Brigade, and Brigade Adjutant and Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer for Task Force "Red Hawk", 1/361st Engineer Battalion in the US Army Reserves. On his return to active duty, he served as the team chief for Military Transition Team 0511 advising 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division. Major Olmsted's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorius Service Medal, Army Commendation Medas, Army Achievement Medals, Joint Meritorius Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. Major Olmsted is survived by his wife Amanda (Wilson) Olmsted and his parents, Wesley and Nancy Olmsted, sister, Catherine Olmsted, and brother, Eric Olmsted.

Remembrance Service
15 January 2008
McGregor Chapel
McGregor Training Range - Fort Bliss, Texas

Opening remarks by Chaplin (Lieutenant Colonel) Maestas
The National Anthem
Invocation by Chaplin (Lieutenant Colonel) Maestas
Reading of The Service Record by Staff Sergeant Lucero
Remarks by 5th Armored Brigade Deputy Commander and close personal friend, Lieutenant Colonel James McArdle
5th Armored Brigade Team Tributes by 1st Sergeant Arthur Lopez and Sergeant 1st Class Robert Officer
Scripture reading of the 23rd Psalm by Chaplin (Lieutenant Colonel) Maestas
Moment of Silence
Benediction by Chaplin (Lieutenant Colonel) Maestas

---

During his remarks, Lieutenant Colonel McArdle in places found it impossible to control his sobbing. In the front of the chapel was a memorial - a helmet on top off an M-16 rifle, with two empty GI boots to the front, and a picture of Major Olmsted nearby. After the service each row, by twos, approached the memorial, rendered a slow salute, performed an about face, and marched out of the chapel.

[centurion316]

The NYT is finally...FINALLY...recognizing the Ernie Pyle of this generation.

And where do they put it? In the Business Section. Bloggers aren't journalists, you see, so they must be something unclean and evil like businessmen. Michael Yon has shown what good journalism is capable of doing. This article helps us understand why the MSM will never produce such journalism.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Yon has hit the newspaper of record.

[jveritas]

One of the most moving and powerful pictures ever. It depicts the ultimate goodness of our military.

God bless our brave troops.

[Rummyfan]

Michael Yon was not a journalist

Anyone can be a journalist - you don't have to be a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism. That's a joke!

and he wasn’t sure what a blogger was. He had been in uniform but not in combat, and he wanted to keep it that way. He went to Iraq thinking he would stay for a month, and maybe find a way to write about the war after he got home.

Michael Yon, a former Special Forces fighter, writes dispatches and posts photographs from the front lines in Iraq.

Instead, he has spent most of the last three years in Iraq, writing prolifically and graphically, and racking up more time embedded with combat units than any other journalist, according to the United States military. He has been shot at, buffeted by explosions and seen more people maimed — fighters and civilians, adults and children — than he can count.

“The easiest thing in the world to write about is combat, because all the drama is there,” said Mr. Yon, a fit, ruddy-faced 43-year-old who was a Special Forces soldier more than two decades ago. He insists that he still does not really know the rules of journalism

Rules of journalism? Ha! Micahel Yon and other bloggers and embeds have done the lion's share of getting the stories of Iraq and Afghanistan out to the world. The Times OTOH is busy painting all returning servicemen and women as deranged killers.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Mr. Yon aims some barbs at the military brass, but talking with him and reading his work, it becomes clear that he has also pulled punches, not wanting to undermine the war effort.

The guy is a mind reader!!!

Or projecting.

[avacado]

"The NYT is finally...FINALLY...recognizing the Ernie Pyle of this generation."

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Tennessean4Bush.

[wildbill]

Forget all those MSM mothers with their ‘sweep in to the Green Zone and depart in two days as an expert with film at 10 attitudes” Michael is a trooper who deserves everything he gets.

As an independent voice Michael Yon deserves our financial support. I’m on Social Security but I try to send $5.00 per month on his website and I hope Michael gets 100,000 of us supporting him.

[Lorianne]

It took the NYT 3 years to ‘discover’ this journalist?

[sono]

Money quote -
“Like most bloggers, Mr. Yon has an agenda...”

As Charles Johnson commente, “Look who’s talking!”

And why was this article in the Business section? Curious.

[Plutarch]

Todd Anderson for The New York Times

Michael Yon covers the Iraq war intimately by staying with soldiers under fire.

[dighton]

Industrial-strength bump for Michael Yon.

[aculeus]

Industrial-strength bump for Michael Yon.

The Times places the article in its Business section because ... ?

[sono]

Great question - maybe the biz editor skipped his Sulzberger Punch.

[Turret Gunner A20]

do you have a link for us?

[wildbill]

www.michaelyon-online.com

Check out the report where he’s on patrol and the Colonel gets hit in an alleyway and Michael’s got pics up close and helps pull him to safety.