GIs in Iraq honored to be Time magazine’s Person of the Year (GNFI)

Stars & Stripes ^ | 22 Dec 03 | Franklin Fisher

[xzins]

By Franklin Fisher, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, December 23, 2003

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. soldiers in Iraq voiced pride and satisfaction on the news that Time magazine has named “the American soldier” its 2003 Person of the Year.

Time’s latest issue features a cover photo of three 1st Armored Division soldiers in Iraq, and wrote: “They swept across Iraq and conquered it in 21 days. They stand guard on streets pot-holed with skepticism and rancor. They caught Saddam Hussein. They are the face of America, its might and good will, in a region unused to democracy. The U.S. G.I. is TIME’s Person of the Year.”

“Scholars,” wrote Time, “can debate whether the Bush Doctrine is the most muscular expression of national interest in a half-century; the generals may ponder whether warmaking or peacekeeping is the more fearsome assignment. ...” But of U.S. servicemembers themselves, said Time, “They are the bright, sharp instrument of a blunt policy, and success or failure in a war unlike any in history ultimately rests with them.”

“I think it’s a privilege to be on Time magazine,” said Pfc. D’Adran Bryant, 20, of San Diego, Calif., a sergeant major’s driver with the 1st AD’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, in Baghdad.

“Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes we lose focus,” he said. “But a motivator like that, it gives you motivation to keep driving on.”

“I think it’s good ’cause we’re not world leaders, we’re not statesmen or anything,” said Spc. James Rachel, 20, of Russellville, Ark., an Abrams tank loader with the 1st AD’s Company B, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment.

“Politics don’t really mean anything to us,” said Rachel. “This is our job.”

“It pays a lot of tribute to the people of America to join up in defense of their country,” said Pfc. William Brewer, 20, a mortarman, also with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment.

“In a way it’s very important what you’re doing now,” Brewer said of U.S. troops in Iraq. “Twenty years from now I’m gonna maybe be working in a factory or something, something that really isn’t that important, and I’m gonna be thinking and missing the fact that I was doing something very important.”

“I think we’ve done everything we’ve been asked to do,” said Capt. Benjamin Craven, 26, of Bethlehem, Pa., personnel officer with 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment.

“And I don’t think it’s anything that soldiers haven’t done in the past. ... They did it in World War II, in Korea, in Vietnam. ... We’re doing it in Iraq and we’ll continue to do it in the future.”

The news was likewise welcomed by paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division’s Company D, 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment.

“I agree with that as kind of, who’s been the one actually following through with what the leadership has said we’re going to do?” said Staff Sgt. Derryl Haidek, 31, of Glendale, Ariz., a section leader in the company’s anti-armor platoon. “It is the American soldier who made a lot of it happen.

“A lot of them are down to earth, they’re not big-headed, they’re not out for glory, they’re not out to be the one that everybody recognizes,” said Haidek.

“It’s an honor for the Army, I guess,” said Cpl. Cory Christiansen, 23, of Denison, Iowa, a Humvee commander. “A lot of people earned it. A lot of people gave up their lives ... for the freedom of the country. It’s just good to be remembered.”

[xzins]

Good News From Iraq To You (GNFITY = Nifty News)

Ping

[Abcdefg]

I don't believe for one minute that Time supports our troops or is in any way loyal to this country.

[Clint Williams]

Appropriate to honor them, just as this Iraqi honors them.

[xzins]

Neither do I, but this article wasn't written by time. It was written by a Stars & Stripes beat reporter interviewing the actual troops in Iraq.

These young GIs have been told that we're proud of them.

That seems a positive thing to me to reinforce.

They are excited about being part of a world-changing, nation-remaking event.

[Clint Williams]

I don't believe for one minute that Time supports our troops or is in any way loyal to this country.

No, but Time sees which way the wind is blowing...

[PhilDragoo]

Bravo to our Coalition heroes for victory in battle and in the daily combination of raids and rebuilding.

Time has been dragged kicking and screaming into acknowledging the naked truth still ignored by the New York Times.

America's special gift to the world is freedom--and who else is the bearer of that gift but the American soldier?

God Bless Them.

[Ryman]

Time's reason for selecting the American Military as Person of the Year was simply to keep from honoring President Bush. The selection could have been 'George W. Bush, Commander-in-Chief, of the American Military'; however, due to Time's political leanings that could NOT have been. No one will question the correctness of their selection or ask why the President was not chosen for the honor.

[McGavin999]

They deserve to be recognized. I really don't believe they have any idea how much support they have here at home. They read the press and watch the cable news and they think the country is torn apart over Iraq. It's not, just the media and SOME politicians, the regular folks are totally behind our soldiers.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"I don't believe for one minute that Time supports our troops"

Time are no goodnicks.
But the reason Time put the troops on the cover was that otherwise people would have complained that Bush deserved the honor. With the troops on the cover that is co-opted.

[Ryman]

I am glad to see that some folks sees thru their deception...however, I AM proud of the troops and their accomplishments. Their selection was the best we could expect out of TIME!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

NEVER FORGET


The AMERICAN SOLDIER =


The Greatest bearer of FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY to the Oppressed Peoples and Cultures of the World in:

-The 20th Century
-The 21st Century

GOD Bless them each & every one.


Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Vet-Battle of the IA DRANG-1965
http://www.lzxray.com

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(IA DRANG-1965 Photos)


NEVER FORGET

[matrix2225]

Marry Christmas to our troops. And to families whos soldiers would not be with them on Christmas day, Marry Chirstmas

[xzins]

Compared with past years, TIME actually managed a decent pick. It was trying to avoid helping President Bush, but I think this is gonna blow up in their faces.

We'll just REINTERPRET their Intent!

[onyx]

Exactly my sentiments:

The selection could should have been 'George W. Bush, Commander-in-Chief, of the American Military'

[PhilDragoo]

No one will question the correctness of their selection or ask why the President was not chosen for the honor.

Half the country will, and will come to the same conclusions seen here on FR.

And as part of that half, we will well remember that administration of traitorrapist42 and Hitlery das Butch von Buchenvald loathed the military and frowned on uniforms in the White House.

And the would-be successor sent teams of lawyers to Florida to disenfranchise these heroes in uniform.

From the heady days when Strobe Talbott stepped from Time to Deputy Secretary of State, the rag tags along behind the military it slandered in a previous war.

There is never any lack of traitors for Time to extol; that it was forced to honor soldiers must leave a bitter taste.

[Ryman]

You are right, of course...I couldn't have said it near as well...

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

NEVER FORGET


TIME:


"To have pulled SADDAM HUSEEIN from his hole in the ground brings the possiblity of pulling an entire country out of the dark"



HILLARY:


"Just forget about it"


The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.


NEVER FORGET

[ModelBreaker]

I think it's great the GI's were honored. But the only reason that happened is because the true Man of the Year--GWB--goes down Time's craw like an open safety pin sideways. They had to recognize that the war was the big issue of the year and that we won. But it couldn't be Bush. Besides the Rats "support the troops," don't they?

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

“A lot of people earned it. A lot of people gave up their lives ... for the freedom of the country. It’s just good to be remembered.”

I don't read Time Magazine, but lets face it.. thier person of the year thing "is" a big thing. This is the BEST "Person of the year" yet!! It made the troops feel good. For that reason alone, it was a good thing.