I do not know if this is true, but if not, it is probably close. Bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed in the wars. He served in the special forces in the early1980s, and he became a writer in the mid1990s. Its a familiar place for deuce four soldiers, whove seen some of the most sustained and intense urban combat of this war, receiving over 150 purple hearts in the process. On monday, while conducting operations in west mosul, a. February 12, 2008 yon, a 43yearold american citizen journalist, has spent years reporting on the wars in iraq and afghanistan but not. He is the ernie pyle of his generation, and then some. They were selected by zhu xi in the song dynasty to serve as general introduction to confucian thought, and they were, in the ming and qing dynasties, made the core of the official curriculum for the civil.
The battle for mosul the deuce four fighting for mosul mosul, northern iraq as the new map of iraq unfolds, a picture of progress emerges. When the battalion arrived in mosul, the mostlysunni city had already devolved into an. Also in attendance was the pulitzer prizewinning photographer jim macmillan, who was nearly shot to pieces up in mosul while with the deuce four. The battle for mosul dispatches by series table michael yon. I attended their departure ceremony, presided over by the much respected brigade commander, colonel robert brown. Michael yon born 1964 1 is an american writer and photographer.
What michael means by his ofttruncated and misunderstood quote. Books for the barrios adopted this school in 1995 and supply the site with full libraries in each room and a separate library and a computer learning center. This is a follow up to deuce four commander wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of ltc erik kurilla via michael yons blog. Erik kurilla arrived at madigan army medical center late monday. Fearless, brilliant, wounded repeatedly, returning to battle again and again li. Michael yon s biography, bibliography, list of books, with the current titles, summaries, covers, excerpts, author notes, and availability.
Michael yon does an outstanding job of telling it like it isno politics, no right or left, no spin, just the facts. Its been said that the deuce four was the most decorated unit in the iraq war. Follow to the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center of a warrior cult dreaded by terrorists and revered by iraqis. Michael yon on the the jordan harbinger show write a comment details published. Seven years ago today, military journalist and photographer michael yon captured this memorable image after a car bomb rocked an iraqi civilian neighborhood. His dispatches have the benefit of his life experiences without drawbacks based on deadlines or demands of marketplace. Imbedded with deuce four in iraq, michael yon has new material up. If a writer wants to make money, he should avoid truth and tell. May 28, 2008 heres something rush limbaugh can add to his list of the undeniable truths of life. Before it was over, bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed.
Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of. The deuce four also welcomed producer stephen eads who worked with bruce on many blockbusters, such as the sixth sense and armageddon, to name a couple of their outstanding film projects. Books for the barrios, the michael yon library, philippines. When first posted in autumn 2005, these dispatches had the unintentional effect of making the wounded kurilla a cultural icon among bloggers. After covering soldiers of deuce four battalion in iraq for around five months, he became intimately acquainted with the soldiers some of them. The cost of these dispatches is borne solely by michael. Yon is critical about mistakes that were made, but at the same time shows that the iraq war is in the process of being won. Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce. Then theres the ball this saturday, to which michael yon and bruce willis have been invited as well. This is a follow up to deuce four commander wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of ltc erik kurilla via michael yons blog today, bob d. When the battalion arrived in mosul, the mostlysunni city had already devolved into an insurgent stronghold. A short time after kurilla gave me the book, following the death of one.
The commander of deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was shot three times in. His combat accounts of lieutenant colonel erik kurillas deuce four infantry battalion in mosul in latter 2005 are riveting. Mar 31, 2010 the michael yon library is in indanaan, jolo, sulu, philippines and comprises 1,000 students who live in a war torn area of the country. Michael will be back with us from mosul in the very near future. Yon hung on, emerging as one of the bestread bloggers of the war his site is michaelyon.
He also reports the facts that the mainstream media usually deems unfit to print. Michael yon is an independent writer, photographer, and former green beret who was embedded in iraq for nine months in 2005. Kurilla on friday declined to be interviewed for this story. He subsequently visited england and meet the duchess of cornwall. War correspondent michael yon is a national treasure. Before it was over, bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed in. Yon spent many months in mosul embedded with the 124th infantry regiment, or deuce four, and his firstperson narrative of firefights in the citys streets and alleys is relentless and gripping.
Despite being seriously wounded, ltc kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and closequarter fight that ended in. Deuce fours exploits spread across the internet through the blog reports of freelance journalist michael yon. On monday, while conducting operations in west mosul, a voice. Michael yon born 1964 1 is an american author, independent reporter, columnist, photographer, and blogger. From 20052008 he had a series of trips to iraq, working with u. Michael yons biography, bibliography, list of books, with the current titles, summaries, covers, excerpts, author notes, and availability. The american commander fed up with phony al qaeda documentaries that showed terrorists shooting at bombed out american vehicles as if they had beaten us in open battle. And until i had the privilege of working on this book with michael i was always for immediate pullout. The donations were distributed to hundreds of deprived public schools that lacked classroom resources and reference learning materials. Michael yon continues to lose credibility if its possible. Follow the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center of a warrior cult dreaded by terrorists and revered by iraqis. Bruce willis, military supporter, actor and musician, will be attending the deuce four 124 ball this weekend to demonstrate his support for ltc kurillas battalion.
Michael yon will be there, too, and writes about the upcoming event. Its been said that the deuce four was the most decorated uni. Csm robert prosser and ltc erik kurilla making the call to daniels mom outside the hospital. Yon briefly stopped over to afghanistan in early 2006. Michael yon online magazine dispatches from across the globe. Michael yon, author of danger close, is an independent, informed observer chronicling the monumentally important events in the efforts to stabilize iraq. Yon covered his time in iraq in his second book, moment of truth in iraq, published in april 2008. Erik is the finest combat leader i ever went to combat with. He served in the special forces in the early1980s, and he became a general freelance writer in the mid1990s. Lack of bravado is the mark of great character, and michael yon has hit the nail squarely on its head. Friends for life is a nonfiction war story told through the voice of two women, chronicling the experiences and emotions. Aug 26, 2005 imbedded with deuce four in iraq, michael yon has new material up. Kurilla gives a copy of gates of fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. General erik kurilla makes an amazing speech 28 comments details published.
Dont expect any soldier of fortune nonsense, this book is about respect for oneself and for those in your charge, the love of a mother and zest for life. He focused on military writing after the invasion of iraq. Michael yon as the day progressed, the deuce four visited local police stations, checking security, and extending congratulations to chiefs on some recent successes theyve had in battles with terrorists this past week. Warning thread michael yons online magazine iraq war 31, august 2005 gates of fire might contain content that is not suitable for all ages. Storied iraq soldier recuperating the seattle times.
He has returned to iraq for 2007 to continue reporting on the war. Michael yon changed my mind about the war in iraq, by making me understand it for the first time. Yon is critical about mistakes that were made, but at the same time shows. The deuce four also received the valorous unit award. Oct 02, 2008 moment of truth in iraq is packed with yons trademark exciting and often heartrending tales from the battlefield. From what i hear about the news back home, this might sound unreal. The iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. Interview with combat journalist michael yon business insider. This is an amazing book cause not only does he detail the many acts of. In his 2008 book moment of truth in iraq, yon wrote. Despite petraeuss early successes in mosul, the city is now perhaps iraqs most violent. He served in the special forces in the early1980s, one of the youngest soldiers to pass the green beret selection process, and he became a general freelance writer in the mid1990s. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who either wants to understand michael yon better or who just enjoys military coming of age stories. Opels may be faster than kiowas on straightaways, but when the car made turns, the helicopter quickly caught up.
Yons first book, danger close, details this event and tells the story of his life up to the age of 20, after he had completed the selection. The commander of deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. Paying respect to those whove earned it bruce willis is one of the finest and most successful actors in the world. By clicking on continue you confirm that you are 18 years and over. The news back home is showing large increases in violence in certain parts of iraq. Michael yon born 1964 is an american writer and photographer. Im praying for you and deuce four everyday as well as for all our soldiers and the innocent iraqi civilians. Rod coffey, who was a battalion operations and executive officer the 3rd infantry division in iraq. And until i had the privilege of working on this book with michael i was always for. In a chapter entitled high noon on the arrest of iraqi general. Michael yon chinas big trouble in little hong kong. Commander returns home with injured legs, arm the news tribune last updated.
He covered the war in iraq for several years afterward, notably covering the deuce four forces. The michael yon library is in indanaan, jolo, sulu, philippines and comprises 1,000 students who live in a war torn area of the country books for the barrios adopted this school in 1995 and supply the site with full libraries in each room and a separate library and a computer learning center. Follow the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center. A visit from michael yon, who is spending the week in the seattle area. I jumped up and there was csm robert prosser, the top enlisted soldier at deuce four. Yon has embedded multiple times with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of the 25th infantry division in mosul, iraq that ended in september 2005. In 20 books for the barrios bftb shipped 188,000 pounds of educational material to needy children, filling four 20foot container vans, without loss or diversion.
Grisham was a terrible coward in afghanistan, yet returned to texas to stomp around with his guns like he owns the place. The deuce four is a stryker infantry battalion comprised of about 700 soldiers, and has lost 12 men and earned over 150 purple hearts in some of the most intense urban combat of this war. No one and i mean no one gets as close to the action and captures the soldiers view of the iraq war on a daily basis as well as yon, a former green beret turned blogger extraordinaire. Heres something rush limbaugh can add to his list of the undeniable truths of life.
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