American troops don't like this war; even the name rankles

Virginian-Pilot (Hampton, VA) ^ | 10 April 2003 | Dennis O'Brien embedded with Task Force Tarawa in Iraq

[COBOL2Java]

SOUTHEASTERN IRAQ -- The Marines of Charlie Company are just now discovering what this conflict is being called, and with all due respect to their commander in chief, they don't think much of the name.

Operation Iraqi Freedom is not going to find its way into many tattoos on the bodies of Charlie Company.

" `Desert Storm' sounded cool, and it wasn't even a war," said Pvt. Stephen Vasko, 21, of Charlotte, N.C. "Then we come in here and get in a real war with these people, and they call it `Operation Iraqi Freedom?' "

And just why do the Marines care so much about the war's official name? Before hearing that President Bush had labeled it Operation Iraqi Freedom, many had planned to get tattoos or other reminders glorifying the conflict.

The Marines also weren't too crazy about the name for the post-9/11 operation -- "Enduring Freedom." That label hasn't found its way onto many mementos -- let alone tattoos -- and has little popularity among the men who fought in it.

The Marines of Charlie Company say they don't expect to be telling their grandchildren or bar buddies about serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Some are convinced the name will be short-lived -- at least among the soldiers.

"Regardless of what they're calling it now, they're still going to call it `Gulf War II' when we get back," said 2nd Lt. Greg Goober, 24, of Boston. "And there will still be a few good T-shirts, like `Ambush Alley' and `I survived An Nas.' "

[COBOL2Java]

Staff writer Dennis O'Brien is with Task Force Tarawa in Iraq. He has been with the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marines since they left the coast of North Carolina in mid-January. You can reach him at dobrien@pilotonline.com

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[Future Snake Eater]

could the title of the article be a little more misleading?

[Timesink]

I was really hoping they were going to call it Operation Hassan Chop.

[PeterPrinciple]

Surely this is much more important news than this.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Irony, man. Irony.

[COBOL2Java]

could the title of the article be a little more misleading?

Yeah, I didn't care for it myself, but I felt I had to go with the title in the newspaper. Some disgruntled Democrat editor's revenge, perhaps?

[Constitution Day]

LOL!!!

[Always Right]

Gee nothing in the story even suggests what the headline says. There is just a marine that is unhappy with the name. I guess anything to make a lame attempt at negative spin............

[HiTech RedNeck]

many had planned to get tattoos or other reminders glorifying the conflict

How about "Iraq 2003" or something like that. G--- what wimps.

[Mamzelle]

LOL--we'll have to get Madison Ave on to this for a better name.

Stay away from the needles, fellers, *anyway*.

[COBOL2Java]

Surely this is much more important news than this.

OTOH, you could say this is good news, if this is all the embedded repoter has to file. I've been following Dennis O'Brien from the beginning and he's quite good. Perhaps one could say that a "slow news day" in Iraq is a good thing?

[anniegetyourgun]

I have a feeling such sentiment is limited to small circles. Having said that, however, these brave and capable fighters can call it whatever they want as far as I'm concerned. To the victor goes the naming.....

[Thane_Banquo]

I think Operation Serious Consequences would have been ideal.

[gridlock]

G--- what wimps.

Smile when you say that, Partner...

[sarasota]

In February it was being called Dessert Spring (by the media). Sheesh.

[Constitution Day]

I was really hoping they were going to call it Operation Hassan Chop.

[COBOL2Java]

I was really hoping they were going to call it Operation Hassan Chop.

[Diogenesis]

OPERATION INFINITE JUSTICE

Ohhhhh... Its not P.C.

[ClearCase_guy]

I had planned to get this headline tattooed on my arm, but now that I see it, I'm really not happy with it.