thedrifter
03-14-06, 06:32 PM
Ombudsman:
Soldiers’ stories enhance understanding of Iraq
By Joseph Ungaro, Stars and Stripes ombudsman
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 15, 2006
This is the second in a series of four columns based on a study of coverage by Stars and Stripes of the situation in the Middle East.
I divided Stripes’ coverage of our troops in Iraq in two categories. The first was to determine if there was a positive side to the coverage in the face of the constant refrain of bombings and attacks. As an extensive reader of U.S. newspapers and watcher of TV news, I had not seen much coverage beyond the latest breaking news and what it meant.
The second was the degree to which Stripes has been able to provide coverage of “what life is like” on the ground for American military personnel. This historically has been an important role for Stripes.
For the first category, my tearsheets showed that Stripes started slowly, with one story a week in October, and then published an average of 2.3 a week for the next four months. I found that the quality of reporting and writing was high. Some of the very best included:
¶ A series of stories by Steve Mraz, Anita Powell and Jeff Schogol on the medical revolution that help war wounded survive.
¶ “Two-of-a-kind and a full house are all that is left of the deck” — an update by Anita Powell that reported on the capture so far of 45 of Iraq’s 55 most wanted former Baathists.
¶ “Iraqis ‘save the day’ in attack that hurt newsman” by Nancy Montgomery, with a companion story by Mraz on how troops wounded in IED attacks garner little media attention.
¶ “Kirkuk combats corrupt police, wayward force” — a story at the end of November by Powell on the plan by the police chief, Maj. Gen. Sherko, with the help of the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, for a point-driven system that he hopes will bring accountability to the unruly police department.
¶ “Troops find huge weapon cache while patrolling in western Iraq.”
¶ “Marines seeking to establish viable police force in Karmah” — in which Andrew Tilghman reported: “‘We say this is a counterinsurgency, but in many ways this is really about countering crime,’ [Capt. Joel] Schmidt [company commander who overseas Karmah] said.”
¶ A series of stories by Erik Slavin on the efforts of U.S. military personnel to help build the Iraqi army.
¶ A story by Slavin on what it is like to be a Humvee gunner and the gunners’ thoughts on a new shield.
Of the above stories, I saw coverage on only two in the American press. Making the road from Baghdad to the airport safer appeared in several papers.
For the second category — what life is like for military personnel on the ground — Stripes published an average of 1.5 stories a week through the five months.
These stories and others constitute quality journalism done under challenging circumstances:
¶ “Back on his feet; Marine shaken but not deterred by IED” — a very moving story by Monte Morin about Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt, whose business is hunting down and defusing roadside bombs.
¶ Powell’s report: “Female GI: I’m just here to do my job; At 20 women to 1,000 men, female soldiers hold their own at Forward Operating Base McHenry.”
¶ “U.S. Army holding down an old fortress in Iraq” — Tilghman writes about a base situated on an old trading route that led merchants and smugglers from Baghdad through Baqoubah and into Iran and is an obvious location for a military outpost.
¶ “The bare-bones life at ‘O-P Three’” — Tilghman writes: “Lance Cpl. Aaron Snell was eagerly devouring his Thursday morning breakfast, the only hot meal served each week at this small outpost, known here only as ‘O-P Three,’ just a few miles east of Fallujah.”
¶ “Dozens of soldiers find time for faith downrange” — Tilghman writes: “[O]n this Sunday, near Baqoubah, Iraq, dozens of soldiers came together, laid down their weapons in makeshift pews, and settled in for a two-hour gospel service that offered a break from daily duties in the battle-scarred and sun-baked desert.”
¶ “Iraq border outpost chef prepares meals with zeal” — Morin reports from Sinjar, Iraq: “Call it Sgt. Smith’s Border Grill. In a small, weather-beaten fort overlooking the Syrian border, 23-year-old James Smith is living his dream of owning a small home-style restaurant. The only trouble is, his customers eat for free.”
¶ “Troops in Iraq give thanks, get away from the war for a bit” — Morin reports from Baghdad: “Perhaps not since the days of Saddam Hussein has the Green Zone’s ‘Four Heads Palace’ seen as lavish a banquet as the one prepared for U.S. troops here on Thanksgiving.”
¶ “Marines’ turkey day mission: A television” — Tilghman writes from Husaybah, Iraq: “Here in this dusty Syrian border town, turkey day took a back seat to television and satellite dish shopping as the focus of Thanksgiving Day, as one platoon of Marines went into the city’s bustling market place to find a key creature comfort for their newly assembled home.”
¶ “‘One day we will be like brothers.’ Iraqi known as ‘Alf’ forges friendships with Americans, forgives wrongful Abu Ghraib detention” — a fascinating story by Morin about Aouf “Alf” Hasoon, who works at his market in Forward Operation Base Tiger in Sinjar, Iraq. The interpreter began working with Tiger Squadron during the 2003 invasion and returned to the unit this year, even after he was wrongfully detained at Abu Ghraib prison for eight months.
The next column will deal with Stripes’ efforts to cover what life is like for Iraqis and how they are coping.
Send comments to Joe Ungaro at: Ombudsman, Stars and Stripes, 529 14th St. NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20045-1301. Phone civilian +1(401) 364-6032; fax +1(401) 364-8696; or e-mail ombudsman@stripes.osd.mil.
Ellie
Soldiers’ stories enhance understanding of Iraq
By Joseph Ungaro, Stars and Stripes ombudsman
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 15, 2006
This is the second in a series of four columns based on a study of coverage by Stars and Stripes of the situation in the Middle East.
I divided Stripes’ coverage of our troops in Iraq in two categories. The first was to determine if there was a positive side to the coverage in the face of the constant refrain of bombings and attacks. As an extensive reader of U.S. newspapers and watcher of TV news, I had not seen much coverage beyond the latest breaking news and what it meant.
The second was the degree to which Stripes has been able to provide coverage of “what life is like” on the ground for American military personnel. This historically has been an important role for Stripes.
For the first category, my tearsheets showed that Stripes started slowly, with one story a week in October, and then published an average of 2.3 a week for the next four months. I found that the quality of reporting and writing was high. Some of the very best included:
¶ A series of stories by Steve Mraz, Anita Powell and Jeff Schogol on the medical revolution that help war wounded survive.
¶ “Two-of-a-kind and a full house are all that is left of the deck” — an update by Anita Powell that reported on the capture so far of 45 of Iraq’s 55 most wanted former Baathists.
¶ “Iraqis ‘save the day’ in attack that hurt newsman” by Nancy Montgomery, with a companion story by Mraz on how troops wounded in IED attacks garner little media attention.
¶ “Kirkuk combats corrupt police, wayward force” — a story at the end of November by Powell on the plan by the police chief, Maj. Gen. Sherko, with the help of the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, for a point-driven system that he hopes will bring accountability to the unruly police department.
¶ “Troops find huge weapon cache while patrolling in western Iraq.”
¶ “Marines seeking to establish viable police force in Karmah” — in which Andrew Tilghman reported: “‘We say this is a counterinsurgency, but in many ways this is really about countering crime,’ [Capt. Joel] Schmidt [company commander who overseas Karmah] said.”
¶ A series of stories by Erik Slavin on the efforts of U.S. military personnel to help build the Iraqi army.
¶ A story by Slavin on what it is like to be a Humvee gunner and the gunners’ thoughts on a new shield.
Of the above stories, I saw coverage on only two in the American press. Making the road from Baghdad to the airport safer appeared in several papers.
For the second category — what life is like for military personnel on the ground — Stripes published an average of 1.5 stories a week through the five months.
These stories and others constitute quality journalism done under challenging circumstances:
¶ “Back on his feet; Marine shaken but not deterred by IED” — a very moving story by Monte Morin about Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt, whose business is hunting down and defusing roadside bombs.
¶ Powell’s report: “Female GI: I’m just here to do my job; At 20 women to 1,000 men, female soldiers hold their own at Forward Operating Base McHenry.”
¶ “U.S. Army holding down an old fortress in Iraq” — Tilghman writes about a base situated on an old trading route that led merchants and smugglers from Baghdad through Baqoubah and into Iran and is an obvious location for a military outpost.
¶ “The bare-bones life at ‘O-P Three’” — Tilghman writes: “Lance Cpl. Aaron Snell was eagerly devouring his Thursday morning breakfast, the only hot meal served each week at this small outpost, known here only as ‘O-P Three,’ just a few miles east of Fallujah.”
¶ “Dozens of soldiers find time for faith downrange” — Tilghman writes: “[O]n this Sunday, near Baqoubah, Iraq, dozens of soldiers came together, laid down their weapons in makeshift pews, and settled in for a two-hour gospel service that offered a break from daily duties in the battle-scarred and sun-baked desert.”
¶ “Iraq border outpost chef prepares meals with zeal” — Morin reports from Sinjar, Iraq: “Call it Sgt. Smith’s Border Grill. In a small, weather-beaten fort overlooking the Syrian border, 23-year-old James Smith is living his dream of owning a small home-style restaurant. The only trouble is, his customers eat for free.”
¶ “Troops in Iraq give thanks, get away from the war for a bit” — Morin reports from Baghdad: “Perhaps not since the days of Saddam Hussein has the Green Zone’s ‘Four Heads Palace’ seen as lavish a banquet as the one prepared for U.S. troops here on Thanksgiving.”
¶ “Marines’ turkey day mission: A television” — Tilghman writes from Husaybah, Iraq: “Here in this dusty Syrian border town, turkey day took a back seat to television and satellite dish shopping as the focus of Thanksgiving Day, as one platoon of Marines went into the city’s bustling market place to find a key creature comfort for their newly assembled home.”
¶ “‘One day we will be like brothers.’ Iraqi known as ‘Alf’ forges friendships with Americans, forgives wrongful Abu Ghraib detention” — a fascinating story by Morin about Aouf “Alf” Hasoon, who works at his market in Forward Operation Base Tiger in Sinjar, Iraq. The interpreter began working with Tiger Squadron during the 2003 invasion and returned to the unit this year, even after he was wrongfully detained at Abu Ghraib prison for eight months.
The next column will deal with Stripes’ efforts to cover what life is like for Iraqis and how they are coping.
Send comments to Joe Ungaro at: Ombudsman, Stars and Stripes, 529 14th St. NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20045-1301. Phone civilian +1(401) 364-6032; fax +1(401) 364-8696; or e-mail ombudsman@stripes.osd.mil.
Ellie