He is the ernie pyle of his generation, and then some. Michael yon on the the jordan harbinger show write a comment details published. On monday, while conducting operations in west mosul, a voice. Yon is critical about mistakes that were made, but at the same time shows that the iraq war is in the process of being won.
And until i had the privilege of working on this book with michael i was always for immediate pullout. When first posted in autumn 2005, these dispatches had the unintentional effect of making the wounded kurilla a cultural icon among bloggers. The deuce four is a stryker infantry battalion comprised of about 700 soldiers, and has lost 12 men and earned over 150 purple hearts in some of the most intense urban combat of this war. Lack of bravado is the mark of great character, and michael yon has hit the nail squarely on its head. Books for the barrios, the michael yon library, philippines. Kurilla gives a copy of gates of fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. The deuce four also welcomed producer stephen eads who worked with bruce on many blockbusters, such as the sixth sense and armageddon, to name a couple of their outstanding film projects. The american commander fed up with phony al qaeda documentaries that showed terrorists shooting at bombed out american vehicles as if they had beaten us in open battle. In his 2008 book moment of truth in iraq, yon wrote. Despite being seriously wounded, ltc kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and closequarter fight that ended in.
Michael yon continues to lose credibility if its possible. Michael yon born 1964 1 is an american author, independent reporter, columnist, photographer, and blogger. Michael yon as the day progressed, the deuce four visited local police stations, checking security, and extending congratulations to chiefs on some recent successes theyve had in battles with terrorists this past week. Erik is the finest combat leader i ever went to combat with. Mar 31, 2010 the michael yon library is in indanaan, jolo, sulu, philippines and comprises 1,000 students who live in a war torn area of the country. Paying respect to those whove earned it bruce willis is one of the finest and most successful actors in the world. Books for the barrios adopted this school in 1995 and supply the site with full libraries in each room and a separate library and a computer learning center. Yon covered his time in iraq in his second book, moment of truth in iraq, published in april 2008. Interview with combat journalist michael yon business insider. He also reports the facts that the mainstream media usually deems unfit to print. When the battalion arrived in mosul, the mostlysunni city had already devolved into an insurgent stronghold.
Grisham was a terrible coward in afghanistan, yet returned to texas to stomp around with his guns like he owns the place. Although the deuce four leadership was characteristically modest about it, i saw the actual citation, along with the handwritten note from 4star general george casey that read, this may have been the best brigade in iraq. Follow the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center. Yon spent many months in mosul embedded with the 124th infantry regiment, or deuce four, and his firstperson narrative of firefights in the citys streets and alleys is relentless and gripping. In 20 books for the barrios bftb shipped 188,000 pounds of educational material to needy children, filling four 20foot container vans, without loss or diversion. Erik kurilla arrived at madigan army medical center late monday. Despite petraeuss early successes in mosul, the city is now perhaps iraqs most violent.
Commander returns home with injured legs, arm the news tribune last updated. Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce. The news back home is showing large increases in violence in certain parts of iraq. He served in the special forces in the early1980s, and he became a general freelance writer in the mid1990s. And until i had the privilege of working on this book with michael i was always for. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who either wants to understand michael yon better or who just enjoys military coming of age stories.
Yon has embedded multiple times with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of the 25th infantry division in mosul, iraq that ended in september 2005. If a writer wants to make money, he should avoid truth and tell. He served in the special forces in the early1980s, one of the youngest soldiers to pass the green beret selection process, and he became a general freelance writer in the mid1990s. Bruce willis, military supporter, actor and musician, will be attending the deuce four 124 ball this weekend to demonstrate his support for ltc kurillas battalion. I jumped up and there was csm robert prosser, the top enlisted soldier at deuce four. Csm robert prosser and ltc erik kurilla making the call to daniels mom outside the hospital. The commander of deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes.
Heres something rush limbaugh can add to his list of the undeniable truths of life. Before it was over, bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed. Oct 02, 2008 moment of truth in iraq is packed with yons trademark exciting and often heartrending tales from the battlefield. Yon hung on, emerging as one of the bestread bloggers of the war his site is michaelyon.
Opels may be faster than kiowas on straightaways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up. They were selected by zhu xi in the song dynasty to serve as general introduction to confucian thought, and they were, in the ming and qing dynasties, made the core of the official curriculum for the civil. Storied iraq soldier recuperating the seattle times. War correspondent michael yon is a national treasure. A visit from michael yon, who is spending the week in the seattle area. The michael yon library is in indanaan, jolo, sulu, philippines and comprises 1,000 students who live in a war torn area of the country books for the barrios adopted this school in 1995 and supply the site with full libraries in each room and a separate library and a computer learning center. Michael yon changed my mind about the war in iraq, by making me understand it for the first time. The iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. He focused on military writing after the invasion of iraq. Michael yons biography, bibliography, list of books, with the current titles, summaries, covers, excerpts, author notes, and availability. May 28, 2008 heres something rush limbaugh can add to his list of the undeniable truths of life. From 20052008 he had a series of trips to iraq, working with u. Seven years ago today, military journalist and photographer michael yon captured this memorable image after a car bomb rocked an iraqi civilian neighborhood.
The deuce four also received the valorous unit award. Michael yon is an independent writer, photographer, and former green beret who was embedded in iraq for nine months in 2005. General erik kurilla makes an amazing speech 28 comments details published. The donations were distributed to hundreds of deprived public schools that lacked classroom resources and reference learning materials. By clicking on continue you confirm that you are 18 years and over. Rod coffey, who was a battalion operations and executive officer the 3rd infantry division in iraq. Its been said that the deuce four was the most decorated uni. In a chapter entitled high noon on the arrest of iraqi general. Deuce fours exploits spread across the internet through the blog reports of freelance journalist michael yon. Michael yon born 1964 is an american writer and photographer. Michael yon, author of danger close, is an independent, informed observer chronicling the monumentally important events in the efforts to stabilize iraq. Aug 26, 2005 imbedded with deuce four in iraq, michael yon has new material up. A short time after kurilla gave me the book, following the death of one.
He subsequently visited england and meet the duchess of cornwall. Bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed in the wars. Yon briefly stopped over to afghanistan in early 2006. Michael yon online magazine dispatches from across the globe. No one and i mean no one gets as close to the action and captures the soldiers view of the iraq war on a daily basis as well as yon, a former green beret turned blogger extraordinaire. Also in attendance was the pulitzer prizewinning photographer jim macmillan, who was nearly shot to pieces up in mosul while with the deuce four.
Michael will be back with us from mosul in the very near future. He covered the war in iraq for several years afterward, notably covering the deuce four forces. Warning thread michael yons online magazine iraq war 31, august 2005 gates of fire might contain content that is not suitable for all ages. From what i hear about the news back home, this might sound unreal. The battle for mosul dispatches by series table michael yon.
Its a familiar place for deuce four soldiers, whove seen some of the most sustained and intense urban combat of this war, receiving over 150 purple hearts in the process. Follow the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center of a warrior cult dreaded by terrorists and revered by iraqis. Sishu are chinese classic texts illustrating the core value and belief systems in confucianism. Fearless, brilliant, wounded repeatedly, returning to battle again and again li. Inside the inferno is a series of photo essays by michael yon, a former special forces soldier now war correspondent. Imbedded with deuce four in iraq, michael yon has new material up. When the battalion arrived in mosul, the mostlysunni city had already devolved into an.
Yon is critical about mistakes that were made, but at the same time shows. Dont expect any soldier of fortune nonsense, this book is about respect for oneself and for those in your charge, the love of a mother and zest for life. This is an amazing book cause not only does he detail the many acts of. Then theres the ball this saturday, to which michael yon and bruce willis have been invited as well. Kurilla on friday declined to be interviewed for this story. Michael yon chinas big trouble in little hong kong. He has returned to iraq for 2007 to continue reporting on the war.
After covering soldiers of deuce four battalion in iraq for around five months, he became intimately acquainted with the soldiers some of them. Michael yon does an outstanding job of telling it like it isno politics, no right or left, no spin, just the facts. I attended their departure ceremony, presided over by the much respected brigade commander, colonel robert brown. Before it was over, bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed in. This is a follow up to deuce four commander wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of ltc erik kurilla via michael yons blog. His combat accounts of lieutenant colonel erik kurillas deuce four infantry battalion in mosul in latter 2005 are riveting. The commander of deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was shot three times in. Friends for life is a nonfiction war story told through the voice of two women, chronicling the experiences and emotions. What michael means by his ofttruncated and misunderstood quote. His dispatches have the benefit of his life experiences without drawbacks based on deadlines or demands of marketplace. Michael yon born 1964 1 is an american writer and photographer. On monday, while conducting operations in west mosul, a. The cost of these dispatches is borne solely by michael. The battle for mosul the deuce four fighting for mosul mosul, northern iraq as the new map of iraq unfolds, a picture of progress emerges.
Follow to the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center of a warrior cult dreaded by terrorists and revered by iraqis. Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of. He served in the special forces in the early1980s, and he became a writer in the mid1990s. Im praying for you and deuce four everyday as well as for all our soldiers and the innocent iraqi civilians. This is a follow up to deuce four commander wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of ltc erik kurilla via michael yons blog today, bob d. I do not know if this is true, but if not, it is probably close. Michael yon will be there, too, and writes about the upcoming event. Its been said that the deuce four was the most decorated unit in the iraq war. Yons first book, danger close, details this event and tells the story of his life up to the age of 20, after he had completed the selection. February 12, 2008 yon, a 43yearold american citizen journalist, has spent years reporting on the wars in iraq and afghanistan but not.
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