Edited by author 10-24-2003 02:13 PM
Kevin,
Nice article.
I'd like to draw attention to why the "Famous 299th Combat Engineers" named their forward operating base Omaha. According to many historical accounts, soldiers of Alpha and Charlie Company 299th Engineer Battalion were the first to land on Omaha Beach on D-Day ; the soldiers of Bravo Company were the first to hit Utah Beach.
The soldiers of today's 299th deserve our thanks and gratitude for their hard work and sacrifice just like their comrades before them.

Pioneers, Keep up the good work. We’re all proud of you.

Curran Johnson
"Charlie Rock"

I'm not an American so i'm not interested in their military hardware or how their boys are performing, nor am I an Iraqi so I don't know whether they feel liberated or not? As an outsider though I can't help but wonder about certain things. Why are the US military destroying Iraqi military hardware that are definitely conventional and that must have been paid for by the Iraqis. Let's assume that all goes well and Iraq does become a democracy, stable and all that, won't they still need to defend themselves, and will the US then go on to sell them replacement Surface to Air missiles or will it just give them? Secondly how could the US soldiers paint a map or Iraq in US colours. To me it almost seems like a stamp of authority, like Iraq is now a colony of the US, but then again, I guess it is in reality. I cringe though to think of what that would do to me had i been a citizen of that country. I think i would be one of those taking pot shots at the soldiers. Its funny how thing the line between liberators and conquerors. I mean, some guy busts into your house and accuses you of having taking part in a gun battle so he rips up your hat, blindfolds you with it and tells you, if you're cleared (how i'd like to know) he'd release you. Wow the shame of it. God bless Iraq

Hey, nice to see us getting some recognition. I'm in B Co 299 EN BN, here in FOB Omaha. We've had some journalists along off and on for the whole war (we've been in Iraq now for almost 7 months), but this is the first story on us I've happened across. Even if you did mangle the nomenclature of the M-240B Machine Gun. :)

Nice to see a story about Combat Engineers. Hooah, This We Will Defend. It's great seeing stories of units other than Infantry, tankers, etc. You caught the essence of engineers with the demo mission (Fun) and the move on the ambush and house (Business). I know, I was an engineer for 18 years. Keep up the good work, and great photography. Bill

Edited by author 10-23-2003 01:08 AM
Kevin,

Great Story! Thanks!

I was wondering why you have not responded to my post on Topic: Back to Iraq on 10-17-2003 05:12 AM ET - message # 24? I thought you had encourage debate on this site but maybe not. If you don’t want the debate tell me to go away and I will.

Respectfully

Thank you for the informative and insightful story. It is good to hear more specifics of what our troops (U.S.) are doing in Iraq. My husband just returned from a month-long trip to Baghdad (his first time there) and was very surprised at how different it was in reality compared to the impressions he had formed from news reports (we mostly watch MSNBC and then sometimes Fox, but never CNN). Of course, it was still dangerous there, but not nearly as much as he had expected it to be. There were children playing in the streets, etc. (He even had the opportunity to meet Peter Arnet who is reporting from Baghdad; although he doesn't agree at all with Mr. Arnet's opinion about the war, he liked meeting him.) And he was very impressed with all the U.S. troops he met--they were very professional and competent in whatever they were doing.

I'm thankful for MSNBC's editor deciding to use your story in the MSN website's headlines. It seems that news editors seem to nearly daily put up numbers of how many Americans have died in Iraq as their PRIMARY headline. I think this kind of information is important, but when used as THE headline for anything on Iraq, it gives a lop-sided impression. If the DAILY numbers for murders, gang activity and rapes and domestic violence here in Houston were reported in the national headlines, I'm sure no one would want to live or work or visit here, figuring it was a very hostile and dangerous place. So even though the information would be TRUE, reporting the headlines that way, over and over, creates an impression of the place that does not really reflect reality.

Thanks again for providing something for the news editors to round out the "picture" of Iraq that we get!

Great story. I was a Combat Engineer Company Commander in Viet Nam in 1969-70. It is interesting how the roles have remained the same even though the technology is distinctly improved. Wish I had some of your toys back then. Lost one killed and 5 wounded in a year and a month. More than half the enemy activity in I-Corps was directed against us because we provided access and support for everyone else. They know where engineers left off work the day before and begin the next day, so be careful. You are all doing a terrific job. Freedom will ultimately flourish. Thanks.

I found your site quite by accident, but am glad I did. Like Charlene, I also look for anything I can find on what is going on over there. My son is serving with the 244th Eng. Combat Bat., A. Co., near Tikrit. Please keep sending your stories and pictures. I also believe there has not been much coverage at all about the good progress being made by our troops in Iraq. I agree that every time a life is lost that it needs to be reported, but so many people I talk to have no idea that our guys are actually accomplishing anything over there and really believe that almost all Iraqis hate the soldiers. I will bookmark your site and visit often. Thank you!

I had heard that the military command had forbidden flying the U.S. flag in Iraq to avoid the appearance of imperialism, so that paint job on Saddam's fresco was a little surprising. Maybe the brass hasn't seen it yet.....

Thank you so much for sharing your excellent work! My only son is serving in Baghdad with 72nd MP Co.- and I'm starved for information about what he may be experiencing--and your pictures and report fill a void unfullfilled any where else in standard coverage; Thank you again and know you are appreciated!