CNN Special - "The Anvil of God" 1/8 Marines at Fallujah

Amanda Townsend

[USMCPOP]

-------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I have exciting news! As many of you are aware, I have spent the last few months working on a one hour documentary about the November 2004 Battle for Falluja. The program, The Anvil of God, is scheduled to air this Friday (8/3) at 10pm eastern.

This is the third hour that I have produced with correspondent Tom Foreman. (Ambush at the River of Secrets and The Lion in the Village) Our hope in creating Anvil is for viewers to pause and consider the sacrifices made every day by the men and women serving overseas and their families back home.

The Anvil of God tells the story of Camp Lejeune’s 1/8 Bravo Company. Bravo went into Falluja believing the battle would last 96 hours. It lasted five weeks. As they walked the entire city the Marines fought heated battles, searched house to house and faced their mortality on a daily basis. The Marines of Bravo were the tip of the spear as Americans progressed through the Falluja and they suffered numerous casualties as a result.

I appreciate all of the interest many of you have expressed in this project and hope that you will be able to tune in!

Spread the word!

The Anvil of God CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 FRIDAY 8/3 – 10P EASTERN

Best, Amanda

Amanda Townsend Producer CNN - Anderson Cooper 360 ---------------------------------------------

[USMCPOP]

This came through my network of Gold Star families, though I had previously confirmed the date and time with Amanda Townsend, the producer.

-USMCPOP

[ChadGore]

I do not now, nor will I ever, trust CNN.

[llevrok]

I am curious.

Why is the title "Anvil of God"?

I hope this is not CNN's way of calling this a religious war, not idelogical one.

Any chance the left can paint any one western religious, they do, IMHO

[Carl LaFong]

Dear Amanda,
Your piece will most likely be a anti -U.S military ,jihad sympathizing,CNN smear-tacular.I’ll pass.
Best,
Carl Lafong

[elfman2]

"Bravo went into Falluja believing the battle would last 96 hours. It lasted five weeks."

More CNN crap... I'm not aware of anyone who had the slightest hope that Fallujah would be a 96 hour battle.

[elfman2]

"More CNN crap... I'm not aware of anyone who had the slightest hope that Fallujah would be a 96 hour battle."

Oh, is this the 1st battle for Fallujah??? Okay, if so...

[tobyhill]

I really don’t need anymore of the media patronizing our troops only to call them murderers in the next paragraph. The media in this country are made up of foreign and American con jobs that are here to promote an evil agenda like the Muzzie Terrorist, nothing more, nothing less.

[Archytekt]

“Carl Lafong”

funny handle!

No, I don’t know Carl LaFong - capital L, small a, capital F, small o, small n, small g. And if I did know Carl LaFong, I wouldn’t admit it!

ah yes, I’ll never forget the woman who drove me to drink....can’t thank her enough....

sorry for the momentary thread hijacking

[freema]

POP, will she do them justice?

[concretebob]

BUMP
and
PING
and
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

[concretebob]

Ya'll withold judgement until you've actually seen the segment, becuase the first two were fairly well done, and mostly repsectful.
USMCPop is a friend of mine and his son was part of that.
Just chill until it airs, then we can blitz 'em if they blow it.

[mad_as_he$$]

I do believe the original plan was a 96 hour incursion. They spent more than that at the cemetery for crying out loud. Of course no plan survives first contact.

[denydenydeny]

November was 2nd Fallujah, the crushing victory for the good guys. I defy anyone, even CNN, to spin that event as a defeat. I look forward to the documentary eagerly.

[USMCPOP]

Thanks, Bob. Always nice to hear the voice of reason. I have no doubt that they will do justice to the 1/8 Marines who gave so much. I count among my friends a couple of Moms whose sons gave all when they were with the 1/8.

I would appreciate hearing any opinions, after we see the special.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the post and ping.

[Marine_Uncle]

Of course I will be at work. I probably assume correctly I will find accurate feedback at this site as to the content of this production.

[fontman]

I will be watching it tomorrow evening; trust me.

Semper Fidelis,
fontman

[joebuck]

"Sir, did I come in you establishment last night and spend a $50 bill getting roaring drunk?"

"Yes, yes you did"

"Thank goodness. I was afraid I'd lost it"

[USMCPOP]

Word on the street has it that:

---

Due to continuing live coverage of the disaster/bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota CNN will not air “Anvil of God” on Friday night. The program has been TENTATIVELY scheduled to air on Friday August 10 at 10:00PM. That could change.

Please relay this message to anyone you know who may have planned to watch “Anvil of God” tomorrow night.

---

The CNN schedule on the web site has something else listed, so who really knows when this will air.

[freema]

Thanks, POP.

[fontman]

Go figure.

Every other news station has the same coverage.

Would not expect any different from the Communist News Network...

Oh well, it will air some day, perhaps...

Semper Fidelis,
fontman

[USMCPOP]

BUMP.

It’s scheduled for Friday at 10 p.m. eastern. There are a couple of video previews at http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/index.html

[concretebob]

Thanks Bro

SEMPER FIDELIS
et
SEMPER GRATUS

[freema]

FROM POP: It’s been scheduled agin for this Friday at 10 p.m. eastern. There are a couple of video previews at http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/index.html

[DocRock]

Bookmark

[RaceBannon]

Let’s hope, even a stopped clock is right twice a day! :)

[stylin19a]

at least you didn’t hijack it into an Anna Nicole thread

[Dick Vomer]

The chances of me watching anything on CNN or having to do with Anderson Cooper are zero.

They could all line up, place their lips on the hind quarters of every Marine boot coming out of San Diego and I still wouldn't waste the effort to punch in the channel number for CNN.

I will wait and get the story from of my former classmates in the 1/8 next time we get together and remember how brave and bad we used to be.

For the record, CNNABCCBSNBCMSNBCMTV are on the "skip channel" as far as the cable and TV are concerned. If I could block them at the cable from even getting in the house I'd do it.

maybe one of these days we'll get that option and put the libs completely out of business.

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the change in schedule, but I don’t get CNN anyway. And if I did would probably most likely not watch it. They will screw the facts of miserably, to suit their twisted way of reporting news, events, whatever.

[USMCPOP]

Uncle, I’ll try and let you know if they screwed up the facts after I’ve had a chance to see it and talk with some 1/8 Bravo families.

[Marine_Uncle]

Good enough. Stay healthy pop.

[sgt gilland]

To all on this page: USMCPOP(thank you), Ladies, Gentlemen, and Family members,
Thank you for your continued support on the effort in Iraq and other places that we so willingly go for the pursuit of freedom. I am Sgt Douglas Gilland. I was a Team Leader in Iraq and the film that is going to be shown is on my unit 1/8. I was in Bavo Co. 1st Plt. I was hit by an enemy grenade and had to be Evacuated out. But those are and were good men that were over there...some of which I still keep in contact with. The bottom line is that we signed up to do this so that others would not have to. So please respect the fact that the world will not know why we do what we do on a daily basis to protect the ones we love, family we have, and a place to come home to. I would gladly take the fight to the enemy so that others (i.e. my children) would not have to fight in their own back yards
So no I myself will be at home not watching but having a moment of silence for my best friends and brothers who fought and died beside me. As you read this please do not miss interpret what I am saying..I am nothing special. you would have done the same thing put in the same situation. but these were better men than me who gave their lives in the line of duty.
In Closing, Those who oppose the war and the military can down play the war, They can have their own narrow minded op pinon on what should happen, but they can never pass judgement on how this event unfolded. And what ever the view that is film was recorded from...I can only hope that they know the Marines that were and are over there... want to be right there and no were else.
Please keep an open mind about this film and enjoy it as a piece of history. Thank you all for your time and sorry for taking up so much space. God Bless you and the Military.

[oh8eleven]

sgt gilland
Since Aug 10, 2007

Welcome aboard Marine, we're proud to have you on FR. Semper Fi ...

[USMCPOP]

Welcome aboard, Sgt Gilland. I just hope this is a fitting tribute to the fallen, and provides a glimpse into the fine character of all those who served and the conditions you had to endure. You all deserve no less. I wish everyone’s story could be told, but at least this is a start.

Semper Fidelis.

[USMCPOP]

Just got this from a 1/8 Mom: “Unfortunately, the show has been postponed again tonight. Always something coming up in the world. Award winning photographer, Ashley Gilbertson, who was with the 1/8 in Fallujah has already seen the program. He says it’s amazing and very strong and whether people see it next week, next year or in 50 years, they will be touched by the bravery and comradery of these men.”

Looks like the coverage of the mine disaster in Utah will take precedence.

[freema]

Alright, you two....somebody could've hollered so I could throw out the Welcome Mat! Welcome Sgt. Douglas Gilland!

[USMCPOP]

Sorry, Ma, guess I was talking to myself again.

[freema]

Better you than me! LOL!

[RaceBannon]

Hey Marine, Welcome Aboard!

USMC 1977-1981

[fontman]

Welcome aboard, sergeant of Marines!

Semper Fidelis,
fontman

[fir3_n_ice]

just curious as to when they are finally going to air this special. my husbands brother was one of the 1/8 marines that was shot and killed. we are interested in taping this special when it finally airs. could you please let us know when it will be airing.

[USMCPOP]

I will do my best. I just got back online after a two-day power outage due to severe thunderstorms here in VA. Don’t quite know why they didn’t show it, or did they?

[fir3_n_ice]

nope they didn’t air it, the mine thing was on. so hoping that it will finally be on this week, but more than likely it will be all about dean.

[mroop_83]

hey bro, long time no hear, i dont know if u have a myspace account or not but thats how all of us are gettin back in touch look me up Mark Roop, you’ll find me on there or on Mulak’s profile. hope to hear from u soon bro. take care, Always, Roop

[fir3_n_ice]

just curious if they finally aired the show. if they did i missed it. if they aired it, are they going to be showing it again anytime soon. keep me posted. thanks

[USMCPOP]

Looks like the CNN special will air tonight, Friday, August 31 at 10 p.m. eastern time.

[usmcobra]

ARRRRGHHHHH! I’m going to miss it.

I’m 40 miles from home and just getting ready to go.

[freema]

Thanks!

[KS Flyover]

Bump!

[usmcobra]

Pa it was great.