A Company of Soldiers

The film A COMPANY OF SOLDIERS was broadcast this evening (February 22) on PBS. It is the soldiers' story of fighting in Iraq - a month in the life of the 1st Battalion of the 8th Cavalry stationed in South Baghdad. It was shot last November during one of the most dangerous times for that unit. I saw this program this evening. It was horrific. It was graphic. It was wonderful and is a MUST SEE.

A COMPANY OF SOLDIERS was made by October Films under the umbrella of the PBS Frontline Series (so look for that program name in your cable or satellite service directory.) A word of warning: the film graphically shows the risks and consequences of what it is to fight in Iraq - so you might be in for a shock. Unfortunately, the "powers" that be at PBS (not Frontline) sanitized the language... which is kind of moronic-ironic because they show dead bodies and dead animals and wounded soldiers -- but cut out the curse words??? Yeah -- that made sense... idiots. Oh golly gosh dang nab it I think those guys are shooting at us! Idiots.

A Pentagon staffer who saw A Company of Soldiers before its broadcast said, "It is compelling stuff. It proves once again that it is our Soldiers who are our best spokespeople. It is not only courageous filmmaking (both figuratively and literally), but it's also an example of very insightful filmmaking. The film captures our Soldiers' humanity, putting a human face on a very complex set of issues - that is priceless stuff." More details can be found at

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/company/

The program is being re-broadcast over the next few days and weeks and I urge you to take the time to track down the date and time of a showing and see this piece. It certainly is an eye-opener. Please pass this on to everyone in your notebook and your email list.

I now know what my son's job entails (he's a driver in a headquarters platoon like the one profiled in the program). I will have nightmares for sure, but I am prouder than ever of him and his fellow soldiers... doing a difficult job under the worst possible conditions but with a steadfast, moral commitment to the mission.