The Sunni Arab insurgent leaders said they disagreed with the leadership of Al Qaeda in Iraq over tactics, including attacks on civilians, as well as over command of the movement.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, on his last day in Iraq, said Monday that American officials were actively pursuing negotiations with the Sunni factions in an effort to further isolate Al Qaeda.
“Iraqis are uniting against Al Qaeda,” Khalilzad said. “Coalition commanders have been able to engage some insurgents to explore ways to collaborate in fighting the terrorists.”
Insurgent leaders from two of the prominent groups fighting U.S. troops said the divisions between their forces and Al Qaeda were serious. They have led to skirmishes in Al Anbar province, in western Iraq, and have stopped short of combat in Diyala, east of Baghdad, they said in interviews with the Los Angeles Times.
While I wouldn’t classify this as a signal to start packing bags and loading ships, it certainly is indicative of a shift in priorities for many of the insurgents. Perhaps the notion of Iraqis fighting for Iraq isn’t such a far fetched one. Sgt Hook out.
America meet one of your soldiers, First Sergeant Charles Nye who lost his left eye to a VBIED while serving in Iraq with the 187th Infantry Regiment “Rakkasans,” 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division.
Nye’s injuries occurred after just returning from an all-night patrol in Tel Afar. He had been asleep for about 15 or 20 minutes when machine-gun fire rattled outside the window.
“I jumped up and started to get my boots on and then there was a flash across the room about 10 feet away,” Nye said. “I didn’t hear the explosion; I just saw the flash and hit the floor, and then I was blind.”
His initial thought was that they had been hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. They soon learned that a car bomb had rocked everyone in the building.
“I never felt any pain, I was slurring my words and I could taste blood, but I was afraid to touch my face - I didn’t think I had a face to touch,” Nye said.
One can only imagine what might be going through 1SG Nye’s mind at that time…
Nye was later told that despite being one of the worst injured, he sat up and he tried to calm everyone else down, but he doesn’t remember that. He doesn’t recall much about his trip back to the U.S., because of shock and medication, except the plane ride with other wounded Soldiers. He remembers not wanting to look in the mirror on the plane for fear of what he might see.
“I was really scared of not knowing. I just didn’t know what I was going to see and that scared me,” he said. He eventually made himself look, but did not realize that he had lost his eye until he was in Germany. No one wanted to tell him, so he asked the doctor, who told him yes.
“That moment was so very hard for me,” Nye said. “I just laid for a while in shock, and then looked in the mirror again and told myself that I would get through this.”
I cannot fathom what it would be like to be told you won’t deploy with your unit…
When his unit deployed to Iraq for a second tour, it was decided that he would be better off leaving the unit.
“That upset me. It broke my heart because I was ready to go and I would go right now if they would let me,” Nye said. “I am what I am - I am a Soldier - that is what I do and I want to keep going.”
Becoming a first sergeant in a Basic Combat Training company was vastly different from what he used to do.
1SG Nye has not quit though, he’s preparing our young soldiers for the long fight…
“I must say drill sergeant duty is the hardest job I have had in the military and without 1st Sgt. Nye, I don’t think I could have made it,” said Sgt. 1st Class Evelyn Gunter, drill sergeant, Co. A, 2nd Bn., 60th Inf. Reg. “He brightens the day at physical training formation before the sun even comes up and he is a constant motivator throughout the day. He is my hero!”
Nye has been at Fort Jackson for two years and will retire in October. He has been awarded a Purple Heart and two bronze stars with a V for valor for his actions of bravery as a Soldier.
“Chuck Nye is the epitome of a warrior. He’s a living example of what we are trying to instill in the young Soldiers that we transform here in BCT,” said Lt. Col. Michael Minor, commander, 2nd Bn., 60th Inf. Reg.
His advice for his young Soldiers is, if they are going to go for it - go all the way and enjoy the whole adventure.
Rest easy America, we’re in good hands with the likes of First Sergeant Charles Nye. I’m proud of you top, thank you for your sacrifice and service. Sgt Hook out.
There are a handful of organizations that have over the years provided unconditional support to the men and women who serve in uniform and the American Red Cross is one of them. The strength of the Red Cross has always come from their volunteers and several have recently been recognized for their selfless service. Deservedly so.
They come from many parts of the world - the former Czechoslovakia, Japan and the U.S., but they have a common nature - the desire to donate their time. As volunteers with the Red Cross here on Fort Jackson they have nearly 60 years of service at Moncrief Army Community Hospital (MACH) between them.
For their service and dedication, the Red Cross is honoring Koto “the cookie lady” Lynch, Edith Currie, Joseph J. Caruso and Stanley Hilley this month as Hometown Heroes.
While their duties range from distributing sweet treats to helping dispense much-needed medicine, they all provide much more.
“When someone sees the Red Cross badge they feel a sense of compassion,” said Deidra Stubbs, Red Cross senior staff adviser. “They are a symbol, a presence, to the patients of someone who cares.”
Koto Lynch came to the United States from Japan in 1970. She has been a Red Cross volunteer since 1979. Known as the cookie lady, every Thursday morning she can be found pushing her cart loaded with cookies, punch, spiced tea and coffee throughout the hospital.
My sincerest thanks to ALL the Red Cross volunteers. They are heroes supporting heroes in my book. Sgt Hook out.
On September 15, 1994 while stationed in Italy I was invited by some friends to attend an outdoor concert put on by a band called Pink Floyd. Having turned 30 years of age just a few months previously and unsure of what life after 30 might bring, I decided to go. My buddies and I managed to get off work a little early that afternoon, changed into civilian clothes and hopped into the Jeep for the hour long drive north to Udine. Arriving at the Stadio Friuli a few hours before show time, we grabbed a bite to eat at a nearby trattoria, washing it down with a few beers of course.
Our spirits quickly dampened as we left the restaurant realizing it had started to rain. Not to be discouraged, we happily waited in line to enter the uncovered stadium as the sun set behind the dark, drizzling clouds. Once inside, we raised our spirits a bit more with a couple cold beers, hardly wondering if the rain would stop. After another hour of waiting and damn near soaked to the bone, I recall a feeling of disappointment starting to come over me when a melodic strum of a guitar lept from the dark stage, piercing the conversations around me. I looked to the heavens while the mysterious guitar continued singing poetically and marveled at the parting of the clouds, revealing an almost full moon and ending the falling rain when suddenly the stage erupted with lights, drums, and rock and roll.
Hands down, that was the best concert I’ve ever attended. Shine on you crazy diamond. Sgt Hook out.
I have always been in awe of America’s “Greatest Generation” for not only what they did for this country and my way of life, but for how they changed the world. If not for the men and women who bravely battled evil in 1941, we would not enjoy the lives that we do today, and Europeans certainly would not have known over 60 years of peace on their streets. I can’t help but wonder, as we watch the hit T.V. show, American Idol, and phone in our votes for said idol, just what music Iraqis and Afghans are listening to and who they might phone in their votes for American Idol if given the opportunity?
Hook Productions proudly presents your American Idols…
The window of opportunity to acquire one of this year’s Pin Ups for Vets Calendars is quickly coming to an end so if you haven’t ordered one, or two, for yourself or for one of our wounded warriors, get to it!
Gina emailed…
I just wanted to let everyone know that I am getting ready to wind down the this year’s calendar fundraiser project before I start the production of the 2008 calendar! Get ready! There are 80 calendars left. I’d like to sell them so I can make a great donation to the Veteran’s Hospital! So, if you want a 2007 calendar, or would like one to be donated to a hospitalized vet or deployed military, try to purchase it soon before they are sold out. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on this.
This was my very first year doing the project and the response and support has been unbelievable. I am so grateful to each and every one of you who purchased a calendar to support this cause. I am also so grateful to the all the fantastic bloggers, Stars and Stripes, and all the newspapers for covering the story about the project to get the word out there. This project would not have been a success without you. It’s a very large team effort..and wow…do we have a loyal team!
Be sure to check the “In The Field” link in a few weeks. Some events coming up that I will post. I have a visit to the Medical Holding Platoon in San Diego to give out your donated calendars. I was asked to be in a Tribute to Vets Parade in mid-April! I am very excited about it!
Also, be sure to send out the website link to any friends and family that would like to support the project as well. Also, if there are any magazines/newspapers you can think of that might be interested in doing a story on the fundraiser, please feel free to forward on thewebsite link. My biggest challenge still is getting the word out there.
Thank you again for your awesome support….and remember..last call for 2007 calendars!
I’m ordering sevearl myself to bring to Walter Reed in an effort to improve the quality of life there that we’ve heard so much about recently. Sgt Hook out.
A big thank you to long time reader and staunch supporter of our troops, Anthony, for providing this week’s winning caption. My apololgies for being somewhat AWOL this past week and honestly, I’m not sure when things will settle down but I’ll try to steal some time for Sgt Hook. Thanks again to all who participated and hope you had a great weekend.
It is still not too late to register for the 26 mile memorial march held annually at White Sands, New Mexico.
WASHINTON (Army News Service, March 7, 2007) - Thousands of Soldiers and civilians converge at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., each spring to share the common experiences of blisters, sore muscles and exhaustion, as they undertake the grueling Bataan Memorial Death March.
“It’s an amazing experience,” said 2nd Lt. Todd Perry, a member of Team America, which won the Military Heavy Coed Division at last year’s march. He said the camaraderie, sense of accomplishment and opportunity to pay respect to older veterans are rewards participants take from the march.
This site is a collection of my writings, thoughts, and ramblings and in no way reflects the official positions of the United States Army or the Department of Defense. OPSEC trumps everything.
♦ Veterans - Use your VA Benefits to Refinance your home loan with VA Loan Refinancing from VLC.
♦ Allured by a cheap car insurance and other cheap deals. Many tend to overspend on their credit card. This leads them to loans and eventually a debt. If you are planning to work at home, you will have to be careful about all this and more.
In view of a recent tendency to identify characters in fiction with real people, it seems proper to state that there are no real people in this volume: both the characters and their names are ficticious. The names or designations of any military units are ficticious. There are no living people nor existing military units presented in this book.
-Ernest Hemingway
Halfway down the road to hell,
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
-Author Unknown
The Blog of War
"Grab it before the Pentagon orders it burned..." - Vanity Fair
"...nonpartisan patriotism is the common thread tying together these reflections, love letters and stories of combat. They make for riveting reading." - The Washington Post
Winner of the 2006 Gold Medal for Anthologies - Military Writer's Society of America
"This collection is an excellent introduction to an emerging form of war reporting." - Booklist
There are 80 calendars left. I’d like to sell them so I can make a great donation to the Veteran’s Hospital! So, if you want a 2007 calendar, or would like one to be donated to a hospitalized vet or deployed military, try to purchase it soon before they are sold out. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on this.
