Marine Cpl. Justin Cooper, R.I.P.
This fallen hero deserves his nation's thanks, praise, and eternal remembrance (hat tip - reader Lynne):
Walking the talk.
Meet Leigh Wolf.
"The stacatto thrum of Apache attack helicopters sounded overhead.."
Read Bill's on-the-ground report. Keep scrolling for more dispatches.
Tools.
Many veterans and bloggers are e-mailing about the DNC's latest anti-war ad against McCain, which features a scene with two soldiers standing in the foreground as an IED goes off. The ad implies that they are US soldiers in Iraq. The ad is featured right now on the front page of Democrats.org in a splashy...
Read More"Our nation will never forget."
At the end of March, I blogged about the discovery of missing Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin's body in Iraq. This weekend, thousands upon thousands of mourners turned out in Cincinnati to pay tribute to the fallen soldier: Yes, there were many tears at Great American Ball Park on Sunday afternoon and later at Gate of...
Read MoreComing home.
Last month, the bodies of kidnapped American contractors Ronald J. Withrow of Roaring Springs, Tex., and John Roy Young of Kansas City, Mo., were found in Iraq. Yesterday, the family of fellow American contractor Jonathon Cote learned that his body has been identified: Cote was a 25-year-old Army veteran who had served in both Iraq...
Read More"The best man for the job."
Big news on the war front this morning: Gen. Petraeus has been tapped as the next commander of U.S. Central Command. Reuters: "U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday will recommend the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, to lead Central Command, the military command responsible for Middle East operations. Gates' recommendation must...
Read More"Turning Defeat and Disaster into Victory and Hope."
Longtime readers of this blog have long been moved and enriched by the work of independent milblogger, photojournalist, and essayist Michael Yon. Many of you pitched in to help Michael buy one of the cameras he used to take his phenomenal pictures, including the iconic photo on the cover of the book. His new book...
Read MoreThe helping hand of Haditha Marines.
An inspiring story from Charleston, SC and Haditha, Iraq: Five-year-old Ammar Muhammed fell asleep, curled on his father's lap. The blue tint of his skin matched his tiny patient gown. His father, Ammad Muhammed, carried his son all the way from Haditha, Iraq, for a lifesaving heart surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina....
Read More"By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death..."
I noted the ceremony this morning. Allah's got the video. Blackfive notes that the NYTimes remains AWOL. The Navy's tribute is here. President Bush's remarks today: THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, and welcome. The Medal of Honor is America's highest decoration for military valor. Over the years, many who have received the medal have given their...
Read MoreScroll down for updates/liveblogging of hearing...2:45pm Eastern. I'm adding some of the key slides Gen. Petraeus used in his testimony (thanks to Jack Holt). Click to enlarge: *** *** Want to send a thank-you card to Gen. Petraeus? Click on the envelope to sign:
"Matt is coming home. He's completed his mission."
Keep the Maupin family in your thoughts and prayers tonight: Sgt. Matt Maupin is dead, the parents of the missing Clermont County soldier said today. Maupin's remain were found in Iraq, nearly four years after he was captured by insurgents, his parents said. An Army general visited them today and gave them the news, they...
Read MoreStraight talk.
Get your news about the war from sources who will tell it to you straight about the complex battlespace in Iraq: Michael Yon speaks to Glenn Reynolds about the latest developments in Iraq. Mohammed Fadhil in Iraq goes behind the bloodshed in Basra. It's all about Iran. Max Boot on Maliki and Badr vs. Sadr.
Counterinsurgency alert!
Folks in the Twin Cities are fighting back against the Democratic Underground instigators who succeeded in getting the Vets for Freedom disinvited from a National Heroes Tour at Forest Lake High School in Minneapolis, which I noted this morning. John Hinderaker reports on students who took off from school to see VFF members speak at...
Read MoreRonald J. Withrow and John Roy Young, RIP.
Terrible news. Please keep the families of Ronald J. Withrow of Roaring Springs, Tex., and John Roy Young of Kansas City, Mo., in your thoughts and prayers tonight: Please also remember the other civilian contractors still missing who were seized with Young and whose fingers were also sent to military officials: Paul Reuben of Minne
Danger Close.
Milblogger/documentarian J.D. Johannes and producer David Chavarria have produced new DVDs in their excellent Outside The Wire series on the war in Iraq. J.D. writes: One year ago today, I took a back pack and two boxes full of spare TV gear to Iraq. I had no idea what I would see, only where I...
Read MoreRemembering J.T.
A father journeys to the spot in Ramadi, Iraq, where a jihadi sniper killed his son. John Walter Wroblewski said his heart beat faster as the Humvee turned right into a narrow alley in Ramadi, Iraq. He got out of the vehicle and noticed rooftops that looked like a good spot for snipers. A Marine...
Read MoreLet's roll.
The anti-war vandals had their day in the sun. Now, let's turn to the patriots. The Vets for Freedom has launched a National Heroes Tour--make sure you check to see when they'll be rolling through your town. Today they are in Austin, Texas. VFF reports: Jim Hanson's got vid of the kickoff.
"These pilots are fighting every day."
Read Michael Yon's latest breathtaking dispatch from Mosul, Iraq.
Scroll down for updates...Honolulu Advertiser reports on YouTube vid investigation by Marines...possible ID on Marine... *** Tons of left-wing Digg users today sent me the video Allahpundit posted at Hot Air of a soldier Marine(?) allegedly throwing a puppy over a cliff in Afghanistan Iraq?. Watch the clip closely. The puppy doesn't move. It's clear...
Read MoreCitizen journalists report.
Two good reads for you this morning from independent citizen journalists: 1) A tell-it-like-is report from blogger Michael Totten in Al Anbar searching for IEDs and weapons caches with American troops. Look for the Geraldo Rivera joke. 2) An in-depth, four-part series inside Iraqi politics from blogger Bill Ardolino. Part I examines the executive branch...
Read More"I don't know what to say. I'm shaking."
For those of you who had a crappy Valentine's Day yesterday, I have just the thing to lift your spirits. The best Valentine's Day gift ever: She hadn't expected him home until April, but last night, Elizabeth Penn cried tears of joy as she embraced her father, David Penn, a New Hampshire Army National Guard...
Read MoreA milblogger returns to Iraq.
Milblogger Teflon Don is headed back to Iraq--this time as an independent civilian photojournalist. Check his site for reports you won't see in the MSM. From his announcement post: I learned some things the last time I was in Iraq- I learned of courage, and brotherhood. I learned that there is no glory in war-...
Read MoreBias.
Those of you who have been blogosphere readers for a while will be familiar with the name Arthur Chrenkoff. Between May 2004 and September 2005, he was a dogged chronicler of Good News From Iraq and a chief counterbalancing force on the Internet facing the "grim death toll" media. He's back from a break in...
Read MoreGiving credit when it's due.
I linked the other day to photos of actress Scarlett Johansson's visit with the troops in Kuwait. Reader Ann passed along this video of the USO event courtesy of DVIDS. Enjoy and give credit when it's due: