Michael Yon- “Men of Valor Part III”
This was just received in an email from Michael Yon:
Just returned from the Iraq-Syria border back to Mosul after an interesting day. The progress in Iraq could not be clearer. I’ve never seen so much hope among the Iraqis or our soldiers. U.S. officers and senior NCOs caution me to be careful about sounding too optimistic, but the fact is I have never seen so much optimism in Iraq or about Iraq.
I know they are right about their concerns for setting expectations too high; they know many hard times are ahead. But the fact is I have not personally experienced combat in months, Contrast that to times when we might get into fights several times per day and the optimism seems more grounded.
Had dinner today with a powerful Iraqi Sheik and U.S. soldiers. The food was great, but unfortunately some goat brain was lopped onto my plate. Somehow I ate it without incident.
Please click here for an intense story of urban combat. The British make me proud to have gone out with them this year for nearly two months.
His latest in the series Men Of Valor has been posted. This is part III and is just as riveting and information filled as the first two.
The 4 Rifles first trip into Basra brought more than 15 hours of fighting that left a Pakistani driver killed, dragged away and never seen again by the British. Two British killed in action and many more wounded, a convoy of banged-up vehicles that ran the damage gamut from flat tire to complete destruction, and almost no break before it was time for Major Steve Webb to saddle up and move on again, his Welsh Warriors always taking point on another convoy.
As this year draws to a close I offer thanks to Michael and those like him, who at their own expense and risk of their lives have gone to the front lines of this war to report back what was seen with their own eyes.
It is because of them that many of us have received a clearer picture of exactly what our troops and those of the coalition countries face each day.
Written by Sue
~J~ Says:
December 1st, 2007 at 12:03 amVisit ~J~
I know a lot of people hate to follow links, but if you don’t read these posts you are missing out on some great reporting.
I can almost feel the discomfort of the heat, smell the smells, feel the thirst and taste the dust in addition to feeling the bullets whizzing past my ears. This is how good a writer Michael Yon is.
This is a remarkable series, as they all are. Thanks for keeping up with them for us, Sue.