Comments on: "We lost our whole squad that day,"

"We lost our whole squad that day,"

trondant — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 00:16:43 -0800

An emotionally trying account of an ambush in Iraq this past April that took the lives of twelve Americans and who knows how many Iraqis, from two journalists who were there. Included is a timeline, audio & video, photogalleries, and reactions from the friends and family they left behind. You can read a USMC account of the memorial service here. via Editor & Publisher [Flash/Real]

By: biffa

biffa — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 03:06:08 -0800

That was horrific. Interminable drivel about waffles and strawberries and American football. I've no idea about what happened to the Marines - the first page of their story made sure I didn't read any further. The flash didn't do them any favours either.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:24:19 -0800

I read further. This is what reporting should be. Excellent post, trondant.

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:57:38 -0800

I'm with Biffa on this one -- the human-interest background gets a little thick at times. Ernie Pyle this ain't. But I did get a sense of what the combat is like -- lots of lead flying everywhere, confusion, blood, pain, anger, frustration and loss. That part made it through, loud and clear.

By: keithl

keithl — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:25:56 -0800

The original article with much less "human interest" than the above link. Login mefi@spam.com password 1metafilter. Its a riveting read. On preview: calling a few words about the background of marines killed in the line of duty "human interest" may be accurate but it does seem shallow.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:08:00 -0800

I wish the major news outlets took the small amount of time necessary to give a human face to the casualty lists like this article does.

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:19:27 -0800

"A few words" would be one thing but sentence after sentence after sentence is distracting and gratuitous. I thought this was supposed to be a story about a firefight, not a series of thumbnail biographies. I don't think it's shallow to point out that the writing seems to be working at cross purposes editorially.

By: xtian

xtian — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 10:29:02 -0800

This story becomes compelling when you dig deeper. The story is written for the marines, and the "ernie pile" effect comes from the editing of the threads. It is not a great piece by itself. It's more compelling the further you read. You'll feel it.

By: chrid

chrid — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 13:24:54 -0800

I agree - cut through the blah and it's a powerful, human story. Leave your politics at home and make the effort.

By: Steve_at_Linnwood

Steve_at_Linnwood — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 17:18:46 -0800

I wish the major news outlets took the small amount of time necessary to give a human face to the casualty lists like this article does. I've noticed since I've moved down here, that the Chicago Tribune does a "human face" story (some times very lengthy) on page A3 when ever a Solider, Sailor or Marine from Illinois dies.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 21:31:44 -0800

The story itself is available without registration through a link at the bottom of the page. I agree the story is more about the soldiers -- the human interest -- than the action itself. Reporter Joe Galloway (who wrote this article with photographer David Swanson) was co-author of We Were Soldiers Once, and Young. He wasn't just a credited ghostwriter; he was in that 1964 battle as a combat correspondent.