Horsefeathers - AMERICAN HEROES YOU WON'T READ ABOUT IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA

Search

August 26, 2005

AMERICAN HEROES YOU WON'T READ ABOUT IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA

Whenever Horsefeathers contemplates the work of our MSM journalists we are reminded it was ever thus. Is there any difference between today’s journalists and those described in the 18th century by Samuel Johnson?

“…a news-writer is a man without virtue, who lies at home for his own profit.' To these compositions is required neither genius nor knowledge, neither industry nor sprightliness; but contempt of shame and indifference to truth are absolutely necessary. He who by a long familiarity with infamy has obtained these qualities, may confidently tell today what he intends to contradict to-morrow; he may affirm fearlessly what he knows that he shall be obliged to recant, and may write letters from Amsterdam or Dresden to himself."

We would argue that Johnson omitted one striking attribute of contemporary journalists, perhaps more visible today than in the 18th century: cowardice. These delicate wordsmiths, educated to believe all conflicts can be ‘resolved’ if we just empathize with our enemies, were the tattle tale children who ran crying to teacher when little Johnny made faces at them. Their whining, carping, infantile coverage and commentary, with its relish in describing U.S. soldiers as helpless children, has placed them firmly on the side of the Bush hating, Islamo fascist sympathizing, Israel loathing political left.
In order to read up-close accounts of the war on the ground, don’t look to the MSM, but rather to the blogosphere. Michael Yon does not fit Johnson’s description of a “news writer”. Perhaps that’s because he isn't one, and doesn’t file his stories from a hotel bar in Baghdad. He doesn’t work for the MSM, but is supported by grateful blog readers. His latest account of a battle in Mosul is an instant classic, worthy of Pyle or Hemingway, and it introduces us to a genuine American hero, Erik Kurilla. Here's an excerpt, but don't miss the rest, including real time photos of the fire fight.

"...Kurilla was running when he was shot, but he didn't seem to miss a stride; he did a crazy judo roll and came up shooting.

BamBamBamBam! Bullets were hitting all around Kurilla. The young 2nd lieutenant and specialist were the only two soldiers near. Neither had real combat experience. AH had no weapon. I had a camera.

Seconds count.

Kurilla, though dowm and unable to move, was fighting and firing, yelling at the two young soldiers to get in there; but they hesitated. BamBamBamBam!

Kurilla was in the open, but his judo roll had left him slightly to the side of the shop. I screamed to the young soldiers, "Throw a grenade in there!" but they were not attacking.

"Throw a grenade in there!" They did not attack.

"Give me a grenade!" They didn't have grenades.

"Erik! Do you need me to come get you!" I shouted. But he said "No." (Thank God; running in front of the shop might have proved fatal.)

"What's wrong with you!?" I yelled above the shooting.

"I'm hit three times! I'm shot three times!"

Amazingly, he was right. One bullet smashed through his femur, snapping his leg. His other leg was hit and so was an arm.

With his leg mangled, Kurilla pointed and fired his rifle into the doorway, yelling instructions to the soldiers about how to get in there. But they were not attacking. This was not the Deuce Four I know. The other Deuce Four soldiers would have killed every man in that room in about five seconds. But these two soldiers didn't have the combat experience to grasp the power of momentum.

This was happening in seconds. Several times I nearly ran over to Kurilla, but hesitated every time. Kurilla was, after all, still fighting. And I was afraid to run in front of the shop, especially so unarmed..."
See the rest here.

Email This Entry

Comments

Yes, the contrast between Michael Yon and too many of the other journalists covering (if indeed, that is what you can call what they are doing) this war is striking.

I dare say people are taking note, in increasing numbers.

Long live men like Michael Yon and Erik Kurilla!

Posted by: Bernard at August 31, 2005 01:53 PM