IraqiMuscle

This just in from our friends at IraqiMuscle.com, who are at one of the CSHs supported by my colleague Roger. Make sure to check out their new t-shirts and don't forget that proceeds go to Soldiers' Angels.

Hello,

This is Sgt. Skoczen and Ssg. Simon at iraqimuscle.com. We just wanted to let everyone know that the new shirt designs are in.

If you are at our location we have shirts on ground and if not they are available online. Our contibutions are going well and we have plans of making some hefty donations in the next coming weeks. We would like to thank everyone for their support.

Ssg. Jeffrey Simon & Sgt. Michael Skoczen
USAR Iraq
www.iraqimuscle.com

They also wanted me to give a shout out to their buddies at MileHighMuscle.com for their outstanding support.

Oh, and here's their latest slideshow. Yowza, guys...

Alpha Company, 10th Mountain Division at Korengal Outpost in Afghanistan - Updated

Photographer Chad Hunt sends the link to this NBC News video, Waiting for the Taliban. Featured is Captain Jim McNight and the soldiers of the 10th Mountain, Alpha Company at Korengal Outpost (KOP) in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

Watch the video.

One of Chad's photos of CPT McNight in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

CPT McNight is on his second tour to Afghanistan and was also involved in the surge into Baghdad in 2003. You can read more about the impressive work of McNight and the other 10th MTN soldiers at KOP in this interview at the Saratogan.com:

"The people here are scared of the enemy. The Taliban are a group of terrorists. They've always imposed their law through corporal punishment and then reassert themselves in the same way, McKnight said. There have been civilians murdered and beaten for helping the Afghan National Army in my area. That's what terrorists do. They kill one to scare 1,000." (...)

"We do see the Taliban regularly because we are in the enemy's safe haven," McKnight said. "Our outpost is like the final insult to Taliban insurgents that remain in Afghanistan." (...)

"It's war, and it's dangerous and, yes, I've lost soldiers. But, for the most part, we don't think of ourselves in danger on a daily basis. I'm the one with the air support, supplies and intelligence that updates by the minute. The enemy has none of that stuff. Sure, we're afraid sometimes, but I'm afraid of letting my dad drive a standard transmission, too."

You should also visit Chad's blog where he has more photos and stories about his embed with the 10th MTN, of which he has said, "I can’t begin to explain how this experience has changed me."

"One of the strongest memories I have of the trip was when I took this picture.
We were taking cover as we called in mortars and artillery on a enemy position on the side of the mountain. I felt like the stars were going to drip out of the sky they were so bright."

If you're in the upstate New York area, Chad has two gallery openings coming up, one at the Center for Photography at Woodstock and the other at the Kingston Museum of Contemporary Arts. Chad will be at both of the openings (June 2 and June 9), so check the link for complete information.

I met Chad through FlagGazer, who contacted me about Chad's fellow photographer John McHugh, recently wounded in Afghanistan. John is now recovering back home in London.

Update: Another great photo of CPT McKnight from Chad, who also tells me McKnight's parents will be at the opening on Saturday.

CPT Jim McKnight

DJ Emery Awarded Purple Heart

In my book nothing can top the update below, but we've also been waiting for these pictures since Connie wrote this the other day:

Speaking of walking DJ got a personal invitation today to go to the White House from President Bush when he learns how to walk again!!! Bush came today and awarded DJ his purple heart. Bush kissed Leslie and I and she was going crazy. DJ asked me what her problem was. He didn't get too excited. He doesn't get too emotional. That's my boy!!! I asked Bush to hold Carlee so Leslie would have a picture for her scrap book and he did.

Well thanks for all the support and there should be pictures sometime soon. Thanks everyone, Connie

President Bush presents Marine Sgt. David D.J. Emery Jr., of Bellefonte with a Purple Heart Friday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Emery's wife, Leslie Shivery, holding their daughter, Carlee, and his mother, Connie look on. Emery was injured Feb. 7 in a suicide bombing near Anbar province, Iraq.

President Bush holds 1-month-old, Carlee, of Bellefonte, Friday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., while her mom, Leslie Shivery, and grandmother, Connie Emery look on. Carlee is the daughter of Sgt. David D.J. Emery Jr., who was injured in a suicide bombing Feb. 7 in Iraq.


Click to read more stories about DJ here at SAG.

The DJ Emery Family

Leslie, little Miss Carlee, and DJ
A miracle.

I was going to add more of an update about what's been going on, and how DJ's been a bit frustrated with some setbacks, but honestly, it should really be left at that.

A miracle.


Click to read more stories about DJ here at SAG.

Two important interviews at Pundit Review Radio

Kevin and Gregg of Pundit Review Radio and Bruce from QandO speak with Mike Yon on The Awakening, live from Hit, Iraq

Then Bruce with this week's edition of the Someone You Should Know series featuring Marine Sgt. Robert J. Mitchell Jr..

Remember

Photo from Daniel Wood's Fallen Heroes: A Photo Essay

A Memorial Day Message from Michael Yon

The latest from Michael Yon:

Both men darken with something closer to anger when they consider the sacrifices made by fallen soldiers and the fact that while the media most likely counted the deaths in all instances, they also most likely failed to mention any of the good things their fellow soldiers had accomplished while in Iraq.

I plan to stay in Iraq for the rest of 2007, doing my part to tell of these and other accomplishments, and both of these men would not have it any other way.

But when I do finally get home, I want to see these heroes, and be reminded what Memorial Day is all about.

He's baaaack..., continued

U.S. Forces Raid Al-Sadr's Stronghold

BAGHDAD - A day after radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr resurfaced to end nearly four months in hiding and demand U.S. troops leave Iraq, American forces raided his Sadr City stronghold and killed five suspected militia fighters in air strikes Saturday.

U.S. and Iraqi forces called in the air strikes after a raid in which they captured a "suspected terrorist cell leader," the U.S. military said in statement.

The statement claimed the captured man was "the suspected leader in a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training."

Analysis on Sadr's return from Bill Roggio. I'm sure Bill will have more on these newest developments later.

In the meanwhile, hold this thought.

Update 27 May: Bill's latest post is here. Interesting thoughts in the comments, too.

Memorial Day

You've seen the price of freedom.
Tell them.
Tell them about the sacrifices made,
and still made every day for us.
Tell them that being a Soldier is about love,
about the greatest love there is:
The willingness to lay down your life for another.


Photo from Military.com's Tattoo Gallery.

Google Searches

Just saw this post over at Butterfly Wife's and thought I'd add an anecdote of my own.

A lot of Google searches end up on this page of SAG, and generate outclicks to this site.

Most of them are from usmc.mil addresses ;-)

While we're on the subject of shopping, I should add I've had a complaint from a deploying Soldier about this company. They have yet to respond to my inquiry. More to follow, but if you have any experiences with them you'd like to share, email me.