A compelling account of U.S. soldiers under fire
A little more than a month ago, the New York Times ran a startling first-person account of an ambush of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan. It was probably the most compelling such account I’ve read of action in the post-9/11 fighting. It was reported by C.J. Shivers, with photography by Tyler Hicks. Both were traveling with the Army unit when it was attacked.
Hicks has since posted a narrated slide show of the attack, along with video and other material. A U.S. soldier, Pfc. Richard Dewater, was killed in the attack.
With Memorial Day weekend upon us, take a few moments and share, as much as possible, in what some of our folks in uniform are going through.
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140 comments Add your comment
Scooter
May 21st, 2009
4:05 pm
What are fighting for? I don’t give a damn. Next stop is Pakistan.
Best wishes to our Forces!
Scooter
May 21st, 2009
4:11 pm
What are we fighting for? I don’t give a damn. Next stop is Pakistan.
Best wishes to our troups!!
TW
May 21st, 2009
4:11 pm
In return for the soldier making the ultimate sacrifice, the electorate is charged with making sure this only becomes necessary when its safety is legitimately threatened.
May God Bless the soldiers – and forgive the electorate.
ty webb
May 21st, 2009
4:15 pm
Gripping story and slide show. Thanks for the peek into what our guys are facing. God Bless them.
garrat77
May 21st, 2009
4:20 pm
As a retired vet who has been there I say to my brothers keep your head down and I will keep you in my heart while on knees with prayers to the almighty for your safe return to your family
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
4:22 pm
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
George S. Patton
And the women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country as well.
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 21st, 2009
4:25 pm
Reminds me of a WWII relative of mine. He saw heavy action at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge with the 82nd Airborne. I never heard him talk about it but a couple times but I remember him saying, “We didn’t know what it was about and we didn’t care; we were just fighting to keep each other alive.” I think there’s a lot of truth in that in any war.
getalife
May 21st, 2009
4:50 pm
They had no idea where to return fire.
Three more killed in Iraq and the Sunnis are on the offense.
Geez.
SC Birdflyte
May 21st, 2009
5:08 pm
Let’s also not forget the large number of women who have served and are serving in war theaters. Bless ‘em all.
Bud Wiser
May 21st, 2009
5:28 pm
The military is what composes the spine in the body of our country. God bless them all, their families and friends, and prayers always for quick and safe returns home.
Equally, may God eternally damn those who are working on a daily basis to destroy the framework of support for our troops, the intelligence community. May there be a special place in hell for Nancy Pelosi and her ilk.
On a lighter note:
“N.J,
May 21st, 2009
3:15 pm
At best, illegal aliens make up one half of one percent of the population of the United States, and at best only half of these are Mexicans.
Even your ignorant democratic drones admitted last fall prior to the election that there were anywhere from 20 to 40 million illegals in the US (wanting to give them biscuits and blankets, for future votes no doubt). Fast math makes that an estimated 15 to 30 %, as opposed to your .2%
Get a life Chad, and a brain. Take your drivel and dribble elsewhere, stupidity like that is welcome no where in the intelligent part of the universe.
TW
May 21st, 2009
5:29 pm
getalife – and now the Sunni are well equipped with the arsenal ‘w’ bought them.
And not having ‘w’ there to pay them hush money has made them a little cranky.
jt
May 21st, 2009
5:33 pm
Pfc Richard Dewater’s single life was worth 10 times more than the lives of all 500 some odd members of our current corrupt congress.
Bud Wiser
May 21st, 2009
5:40 pm
From a friend: Words can be very harmful to those who have sacrificed much. Here is a little history lesson…our European “arrogance” in alphabetical order. Europeans have forgotten WW II history very quickly.
1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France. A total of 2289 of our military dead. And our president apologizes?
2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium. A total of 5329 of our dead.
3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France. A total of 4410 of our military dead. Excuse us?
4. Brookwood, England American Cemetery. A total of 468 of our dead.
5. Cambridge, England. 3812 of our military dead.
6. Epinal, France American Cemetery. A total of 5525 of our Military dead.
7. Flanders Field, Belgium. A total of 368 of our military.
8. Florence, Italy. A total of 4402 of our military dead.
9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. A total of 7992 of our military dead.
10. Lorraine, France. A total of 10,489 of our military dead.
11. Luxembourg, Luxembourg. A total of 5076 of our military dead.
12. Meuse-Argonne. A total of 14246 of our military dead
13. Netherlands, Netherlands. A total of 8301 of our military dead.
14. Normandy, France. A total of 9387 of our military dead.
15. Oise-Aisne, France. A total of 6012 of our military dead.
16. Rhone, France. A total of 861 of our military dead
17. Sicily, Italy. A total of 7861 of our military dead.
18. Somme, France. A total of 1844 of our military dead.
19. St. Mihiel, France. A total of 4153 of our military dead.
20. Suresnes, France. a total of 1541 of our military dead.
Without the entrance into WW II by the United States, Europe would not look today the way it does. The individual countries are still individual countries because of America’s entrance into the war and the sacrifices of the thousands of the men in the cemeteries above and here at home.
Yet, apparently many Europeans have forgotten that fact. And it looks, according to his comments, as if Obama knows nothing of the history of WW II. America owes no one an apology, especially Europeans. Many Europeans have turned into an ungrateful lot who have forgotten the sacrifices of America to save them from the Axis powers of Hitler and Mussolini.
Apologize to no one. Remind them of our sacrifice, and don’t confuse arrogance with leadership. If added correctly, the count is 104,366 dead and we have to watch an ignorant American elected leader apologize to Europe and the Middle East that our country is “arrogant”?
Disgraceful.
I Rule You :-) / You Whine :-(
May 21st, 2009
5:44 pm
What, they didn’t blow up any babies?
Are you sure this was US soldiers?
I’m so confused.
jt
May 21st, 2009
5:45 pm
http://www.infowars.com/us-weapons-end-up-in-hands-of-taliban/
I Rule You :-) / You Whine :-(
May 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
Fifty-five percent of people questioned in the poll say they have an unfavorable opinion of the former vice president. Thirty-seven percent say they have a favorable opinion of Cheney, up eight points from January when he left office.
Two weeks since he started tormenting Obozo, eight point rise, any of you other Repugs see a pattern here?
Go git em, boys.
bwa
md
May 21st, 2009
5:51 pm
From the narration:
“and we returned fire……accurately”
Poor guy sounded a little pc there. Must be he11 having to fight a war and worry about how you keep yourself alive without saying something the pc brigade will seize for future ammunition.
The pc crowd on here, and you know who you are, should be ashamed of themselves for hamstringing these guys and gals. War is hard enough without having to worry about the extra cr@p on top of it.
My condolences to Pfc Dewater and his family.
Tom
May 21st, 2009
5:56 pm
Kinda sad, Jay. Truth and accuracy and experience are not things of which to fear/bury. We have more than enough of that already. The old reality-eraser and truth/thinking-filter is in a heavy hand this day. Wouldn’t want any accuracy to seep in. Wouldn’t be “patriotic.” Or “Christian.” Goodnite.
Taxpayer
May 21st, 2009
6:03 pm
We need more Generals and more Congressmen over there — side by side with men like Pfc Dewater.
I Rule You :-) / You Whine :-(
May 21st, 2009
6:05 pm
They had no idea where to return fire.
getathejoke- That’s real dramatic but I think the biggest reason they had no idea where to return fire is because there were like no Taliban around to fire on.
I know you libs have no clue about combat, so allow me to explain, the Taliban busted an IED on that brave young man, if it was they who carried his body there may have been two of them. Your first clue is most photographers do not wander around a bullet filled battlefield taking random combat pictures like those dudes did. They would have been trying to become one with the Earth.
Second clue, the only gun fire heard was M16A2 on full auto, nary an AK47 issued a report.
Pfc Dewater’s big mistake, and believe me, I hate that we do not properly train our soldiers anymore, this is the kind of thing where the liberal’s cultural experimentation with our fighting force really shows it’s ugly head- he walked across the log bridge instead walking through the water or making their own crossing; the enemy will always booby trap a choke point like that.
God rest his soul.
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
6:05 pm
Jeez,
Some of you who post on here are so pitiable. You can’t leave politics out of one post to honor our soldiers. Say thank you, show your respect, and save your partisan drivel for other places.
Curious Observer
May 21st, 2009
6:21 pm
Amen! jewcowboy. We don’t need political diatribes when it comes to honoring our war dead.
@@
May 21st, 2009
6:25 pm
jewcowboy:
It was the dems and anti-war liberals that turned the war into political theater.
I Rule You :-) / You Whine :-(
May 21st, 2009
6:29 pm
WARSAW, May 18 (Reuters) – Poland expects a U.S. Patriot battery to be deployed on its soil in 2009 regardless of whether President Barack Obama opts to press ahead with missile defence plans in Europe, a senior defence official said on Monday.
Obozo the war monger.
Taxpayer
May 21st, 2009
6:39 pm
Scooter,
Didn’t that tune start off with something like: “One, Two, Three, Four, What are we fightin’ for…”
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
6:42 pm
@@,
The men and women who are dying in these places are not Democrats nor Republicans, they are Soldiers of the United States of America, fighting for every single one of us.
@@
May 21st, 2009
6:53 pm
jewcowboy:
Agreed!
I just find it odd that your side will use the opportunity to disparage them every day except Memorial and Veterans Day.
When I reflect back on articles at the NYT, it seemed as though they, themselves, were at war with our military and the cause for which they fought.
Supporters when convenient — that’s the NYT.
Curious Observer
May 21st, 2009
7:06 pm
Ah, yes. “At war with our military.” Perhaps a little reading of history would reveal that millions of Americans during WW II didn’t even want combat veterans to come home. Such “Americans” expressed fear that these “trained killers” would create havoc once they returned to civilized society. Don’t even try to pretend that there has ever been political unity in any war.
I’m sick of @@, Dusty, and all the other “patriots” who will use military personnel when they’re needed to clinch a political point but wouldn’t even consider joining the military themselves. When I served in the USMC there were thousands of women Marines. Where were you when your country needed you? Or were you one of those who “couldn’t follow orders well,” as one blogger stated downstairs as an excuse for not joining?
You have the right to express your view–a right secured by millions of veterans and active duty military personnel. But don’t try to claim the high ground. In the words of one blogger downstairs, some of you are “lower than whale gravy.”
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
7:09 pm
@@,
My side is that of the United States. Perhaps if more concentrated on that and less on pointing fingers and calling names we could find a way to bring these soldiers home.
I find it personally appaling people on either side of the aisle would use these brave people as a excuse to espouse their partisan hackery.
Scooter
May 21st, 2009
7:13 pm
Tax payer@ 6:39
Yes it did ! You must be as old as I am.
@@
May 21st, 2009
7:31 pm
Curious Observer:
Obama’s Janet Napoletano (sp?) recently felt the same way about our returning troops. Suspected that they were ticking time bombs just waiting to explode, she did.
Where was I when my country needed me? I was waiting for my husband to return from overseas. I was taking care of his nephew while he was on tour.
I’m sick of @@
I can tell ’cause you’re barfing.
jewcowboy:
My husband’s cousin who fought in the infantry — Vietnam — has never forgiven the politicians for caving to the anti-war activists. Said they were on their way to winning that war but were forced to leave and witness the slaughter.
He’s not weird or anything, just disillusioned with politicians.
There was an attorney who served with me on jury duty a couple of weeks ago. He said the same thing. What really upset him was the level of disrespect he was shown upon his arrival back “home”.
Also another guy on jury duty. He was presently in and looking to retire in six. He said we should have left Saddam in charge. His words, not mine “Animals need animals to lead them.”
getalife
May 21st, 2009
7:32 pm
Sounded like AK rounds Andy.
Our troops were running for cover and not returning fire.
RW-(the original)
May 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
jewcowboy has a point about trying to keep the politics out of this post, but Jay B should also toss something else up so that this post could remain respectful and there would still be somewhere for our squabbles.
God bless all of our men and women in uniform.
@@
May 21st, 2009
7:34 pm
I think it went like this:
1…2…3 What are we fightin’ 4?
@@
May 21st, 2009
7:37 pm
God bless all of our men and women in uniform.
Always, RW.
DB, Gwinnettian
May 21st, 2009
7:41 pm
Like Ty said.
I spent a good portion of this evening on the porch watching my flag waving in the breeze, thinking about this post and why we’re doing what we’re doing. I’m still not sure of the why. I hope we’re there for a good reason. And that’s all I’ll say about that.
DB, Gwinnettian
May 21st, 2009
7:42 pm
And our president apologizes?
Hey Andy? GFY.
George American
May 21st, 2009
7:47 pm
God bless the military. They are ready, willin’ and able to serve our country with their lives. They are better than those who will not sacrifice for America like say the so-called “President” (yours not mine).
For those anti-military, anti-American haters (aka “liberals”), I hope you have a run in with me or one of my military brothers one day.
Semper Fi.
Scooter
May 21st, 2009
7:51 pm
Thanks for uniting most here Jay! United We Stand.
Taxpayer
May 21st, 2009
7:52 pm
DB,
I think it’s difficult to get re-adjusted to what we should be fighting for after all those years of doing the wrong thing in Iraq. We were supposed to be going after terrorists and their leaders — the ones that attacked us — from day one.
Taxpayer
May 21st, 2009
7:53 pm
George, George, George of the Jungle…Watch out for that TREEEEEEE. Splat.
George American
May 21st, 2009
7:56 pm
Thanks for mocking the military, haters. Your day will come.
I Rule You :-) / You Whine :-(
May 21st, 2009
7:57 pm
Sounded like AK rounds Andy.
getathejoke- That was Cheney shooting his mouth off at Obozo that you heard, hahahahaha.
He f’ed y’all up, didn’t he?
Obozo is a small, stupid, whiny little manchild.
I Rule You :-) / You Whine :-(
May 21st, 2009
8:00 pm
Look at Obozo, he needs his TelePrompter to whine about Bush-
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090520/i/r2039850166.jpg?x=238&y=345&q=85&sig=09acCQXjS0GqUI5o8ch2RQ–
getalife
May 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
Andy,
The dems deserve it for not investigating torture.
Looks like you finally found your leader.
Good luck with that in 10.
TW
May 21st, 2009
8:04 pm
“It was the dems and anti-war liberals that turned the war into political theater.”
Yes, stick your head in the sand and worship your maker, ‘w’ the republican – your daddy, your savior. Undying devotion to the GOP GOD if there ever was one.
You funny teabaggers
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
8:04 pm
@@,
“My husband’s cousin who fought in the infantry — Vietnam — has never forgiven the politicians for caving to the anti-war activists.”
Funny, my Father, who fought in the same conflict never forgave the politicians who used Vietnam as a platform to get re-elected. We all have our own realities, and really should not judge where someone else is coming from without walking in their shoes.
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
8:08 pm
George America,
“For those anti-military, anti-American haters (aka “liberals”), I hope you have a run in with me or one of my military brothers one day.”
Both my Father and Grandfather served in the Army in Vietnam and WWII respectively, and are blue as they come. Thanks for trying to disparage their service to this country.
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
8:11 pm
George American,
“They are better than those who will not sacrifice for America like say the so-called “President” (yours not mine).”
I assume you are renouncing your citizenship.
jewcowboy
May 21st, 2009
8:13 pm
George American,
“Thanks for mocking the military, haters. Your day will come.’
Are you talking about your own posts?