Men of Valor-Part IV has been posted.

In his typical style, Michael Yon tells a story in a way which makes you feel as though you are a part of what these brave men and women have experienced.

I mean that not in the physical sense but mentally envisioning the horrors they have suffered and the triumphs they have felt.

Here’s a brief paragraph from this latest dispatch:

Although the enemy often shot at British soldiers from the Hole in the Wall, the soldiers refrained from firing back with rockets to avoid killing civilians living nearby. There were other known—and named—firing points, like RPG Alley 1, 2 and 3, and soon bullets began coming in from those.

Mr. Yon also has two other recent relatively short pieces posted which were not referenced on this blog. They are both worth a look and may be accessed here, and here.

*Update: These two items of interest were included in an email received today from Michael Yon:

I’ll again be on CNN “This Week at War” this Sunday. “This Week at War” has been doing an excellent job with balanced reporting. I’m honored to do this show again.

and the following which I find encouraging:

2007 has seen tremendous progress in Iraq and many Iraqis seem confident that 2008 will be better still. I’ve never seen Iraqis so optimistic.

Would that not be a great way to close out 2007 and begin 2008? the thought of those who now live in freedom in large part because of the efforts of our military warms the heart.

It doesn’t mean there isn’t much work to do, but it also doesn’t mean we’ve accomplished nearly nothing as some would have us believe.