Reporter Spends 101 Days with 101st Airborne

Defend America News ^ | Capt. Lyn Graves

[SandRat]

Shelby Monroe, a reporter embedded with 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division in Iraq, stands in front of an overturned truck that had been found filled with explosives near Tal Afar, Iraq. Courtesy photo by Shelby Monroe
Reporter Spends 101 Days with 101st Airborne
Tennessee reporter embeds with 101st Airborne to report on soldiers' stories.
By U.S. Army Capt. Lyn Graves 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment KIRKUK, Iraq, July 3, 2006 -- Spending 101 days with the 101st Airborne Division in the heat of north-central Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom is not what some journalists would call a good assignment, but for one embedded reporter, spending time with the “Screaming Eagle” soldiers was exactly what she wanted. "I think you have to blame the media for what they report. People only get two types of stories: death and scandals, and that really doesn’t reflect the experience people are having over here. Too often the media let’s the bad news take center stage." Shelby Monroe “I thought it would be a great opportunity to see what’s really going on and to see what it’s like to be a soldier,” said Shelby Monroe, who is writing “101 Days with the 101st Airborne Division” for the Milan Mirror Exchange, based in Milan, Tenn. Monroe said that she and the newspaper’s editor agreed that she would focus on what the soldiers are accomplishing. “This has been easy, there are a lot of good news stories that the soldiers are doing,” said Monroe. Monroe said that she tries to stay neutral while preparing a story, but admits to having some pre-conceived ideas before coming to Iraq. However, she said that she was mistaken about some of these ideas. “I oversimplified the war and what was going on,” said Monroe. “I am surprised at how dedicated the soldiers are toward doing their jobs well.” Before she deployed as an embedded reporter she thought that poor morale or being homesick would have taken its toll, but she is impressed with the soldiers ability to do their job competently while missing home. “The soldiers seem to separate how they feel, and being homesick doesn’t affect the way they perform their jobs,” said Monroe.	She said she respects the soldiers for the physically demanding job they do. During her first few weeks with the soldiers, Monroe said there was some resistance to her, but people gradually warmed up to her. “When you ride around in a Humvee, you bond with the soldiers.” Before this deployment, Monroe had no military experience and very little exposure to the military. “I’m almost opposite of a military person -- I’m not organized, I question authority, but I thought it would be a challenge to keep up,” said Monroe. Monroe thought there would be a common personality among soldiers but was surprised to find a great diversity among the ranks. “There are lots of different personalities; people with different passions and abilities,” said Monroe. Prior to this mission, Monroe was an English teacher at Husson College, a small college in Maine, and also owned a bookstore. She interrupted a master’s degree program to come to Iraq. Monroe believes the American public does not know the whole truth about the war in Iraq. “People don’t know half of what’s going on,” she explained. “There’s so much background they need to understand. “I think you have to blame the media for what they report. People only get two types of stories: death and scandals, and that really doesn’t reflect the experience people are having over here. Too often the media let’s the bad news take center stage.”

[SandRat]

A little Rubinesque for my taste when I was young and single

[SandRat]

It's you.

[Larry Lucido]

I figured it was the flak vest. They always make you look like you're carrying an extra 20 pounds.

[Spunky]

"Is it just me, or does the truck look photoshopped in?"

It is not you. I thought the same thing.

[SE Mom]

Soldiers Help Save Life of Wounded Student
By U.S. Army Pfc. Paul Ondik
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq, June 30, 2006 — U.S.
soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, currently working with
the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Infantry Division, Multinational
Division–Baghdad, were able to provide desperately needed medical
attention to an Iraqi citizen who was close to death June 17 at
Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah.

Hiba Mohammed Abdul Ridha was injured by shrapnel during a terrorist
mortar attack on her college May 2.

The injury was unable to heal because of a preexisting lupus
infection. Ridha's father, Sheik Raheem Shareef Jabratallah, a
tribal leader in Fedaliyah, contacted the 3rd Battalion, 67th
Armored Regiment, in a last-ditch effort to save his daughter's life.

The family brought Ridha directly to the gates of Forward Operating
Base Rustamiyah, said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Joshua Prentice, battle
captain, Battalion Tactical Operations Center. Ridha's condition was
assessed at the gate, and it was clear she was in need of immediate
assistance. Because of lupus-like symptoms, it was determined that
the leg was in danger, Prentice said.

"Six weeks ago, she was in class at her college and there was a
mortar attack. She received a minor injury," said U.S. Army Capt.
David McCaughrin, fire support officer and civil affairs officer-in-
charge for the battalion.

"Unable to heal, it was only a matter of time before the wound
became gangrenous," McCaughrin said.

Gangrene, once started is usually irreversible. In this case it
progressed so fast Ridha's life was in danger.

"The girl definitely would have died," said Lt. Col. Mark Bertolini,
commander, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment. "Certainly in a
week or two, and probably within three or four days."

Ridha had several medical problems. Gangrene was one, but liver
failure was another, separate problem, said U.S. Army Dr. (Capt.)
Michael Curtis, battalion surgeon.

"When she arrived, she was unstable, and we were able to stabilize
her," said Curtis, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah.

"Here, we were able to have our female medics and our female
providers care for her," Curtis said. The 3rd Battalion, 67th
Armored Regiment, took pains to accommodate Ridha in a manner
sensitive to Iraqi cultural sensitivities.

"As it turned out, once we got her in here, it was obvious her leg
actually should have been amputated a couple of weeks ago," said
Bertolini. "Obviously, her family was very grateful for the care."

At this point, the case no longer focused on the loss of a limb;
Ridha's life was in danger. Third Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment
personnel made sure that females were tasked to transport her to the
aid station, and that only females were in the room where she was
cared for, said McCaughrin.

Ridha remained in the care of 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment,
for 24 hours. The soldiers contacted U.S. Army Dr. (Maj.) Aaron
Baker, brigade surgeon, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne
Division, at which point she was medevaced to the 10th Combat
Support Hospital and then sent to Medical City Hospital for further
treatment.

"We remained culturally sensitive, and when we do that, it shows the
local Iraqis that we care about their well-being," said Bertolini.
Giving this type of aid demonstrates to the local populace that the
U.S. Army is willing to provide scarce resources to help them,
Bertolini said.

Jabratallah is a good friend of Bertolini's, as well an extremely
influential member of the community, McCaughrin said.

"He has been a big part of our security here," said Bertolini. "One
story like this carries a long way. It wouldn't surprise me if a
couple of thousand people hear about this in the next few days."

[bray]

Obviously a biased Lib who was surprised when she found the truth about the war. Good for her honesty though. Rock on Troops!!

Pray for W and Our Amazing Troops

[TexKat]

Thank you SE Mom for the ping. Thank you SandRat for the thread. God bless our troops!

[geezerwheezer]

A tip of my hat to any reporter that is willing to spend that much time with my old unit....she is some special lady and I appreciate her willingness to stay and report things as she sees them. Honest to God, we need more like this lady, and I hope we get them soon.

[Norman Arbuthnot]

Most of these civilian reporters could use a block of instruction on how to properly wear their helmets.

And what's up with bright blue body armor??

[SandRat]

To Identify them as Urinalists.

[ajolympian2004]

Thanks for posting this.

[NormsRevenge]

One of my brothers was in the Screaming Eagles in the early 60s..