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kevin bacon as LtCol Strobl
- Thread starter Cron
- Start date
FormerRecruitingGuru
Making Recruiting Great Again
I thought it was a bit of a disappointment if you ask me.
m0tbaillie
Former SWO
Since I don't have HBO, I actually sprung and went on HBO's website and bought this movie.
If anyone else would like to see this flick but does not have HBO, PM me.
If anyone else would like to see this flick but does not have HBO, PM me.
The scene in the preview at Dover reminds me of when I was waiting in the terminal there for a AMC flight this summer. They began unloading caskets from an Evergreen 747, a horn went off, and the whole base shut down, everyone: construction workers, aircrew, terminal staff, families waiting in the terminal, silently standing at attention until the truck carrying the caskets and its' honor guard escort slowly moved past to the mortuary. It was one of the most moving things I've ever seen. Not trying to sound too sappy, but it made me proud to be an American.
There is nothing sappy about being proud to be an American. I'll never fault someone for tearing up a bit when this sort of stuff gets made. It was a GREAT movie and easily Kevin Bacon's best work.
I will, however, fault the d-bag at the TSA gate. Is that sort of BS commonplace (those who have traveled in uniform before, I wont count my travel in Mid Whites)? If it was up to me, I'd allow at least some active duty military to travel armed, but thats just me. If they can have armed air marshals on planes, they should be able to have America's best up there with their weapons as well.
From BlackFive....
A Letter from LtGen Kelly to LtCol Strobl...
From: Kelly BGen John F
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:38 AM
To: Strobl LtCol Michael R
Subject: Trip Report
Mike,
I just read your trip report forwarded to me by CO, 11 th Marines, and having done the kind of duty you report about I know the emotions and pride. I was with the Marine you escorted, nearly right next to him, when he was killed instantly along side a road named ASR San Juan . The closest village is Jurf as Sakhr, and it sits right on the Euphrates River with Fallujah 25kms to the N, and Baghdad perhaps 45 to the NNE. This is an ugly little section of Iraq and full of extremists that hate us for some reason. Don’t know why, but that’s the way it is. We were in five vehicles and were caught in a complex ambush. They initiated it with an IED that caught the lead vehicle, disabled it, and wounded two of the three Marines inside. After the IED there was immediate massed MG, AK, RPG, and mortar fire that certainly defined for me the term “withering.” The second vehicle was also caught in the kill zone, but they it did a 180 and out – two WIA aboard from the initial volley. The third vehicle was outside the KZ, but seeing #1 disabled and the Marines in extremis drove in, dismounted, set up a base fire, and started to work the comms. The other vehicles dismounted outside the KZ and began to seek the flank of the ambush. Your Marine’s vehicle was called forward to try and close the back door and prevent the guerrillas escape so we could kill them, and after accomplishing the maneuver and putting his gun in action, he was hit. Over time we shot our way out of it. We collected up wounded, dead, and all equipment from the destroyed HMMWV, then walked out of the KZ shooting the entire time until we were clear. All the Marines in the patrol did what we trained them to do, did it instinctively, and as if they were born to it. Every one of them returned fire, moved to the sound of the guns, and took action. There was certainly nothing special about any of them, by the way, other than they were MARINES.
Your charge started this return home with the same kind of reverence and honor you describe in your trip report, only in a very, very different way. When we rushed into the combat base in Mahmudiyah it wasn’t for him, we knew he was already with God, but for the WIAs we had aboard. The entire camp knew he was with us, however, and they all stood tall and were proud to simply be in the same shit hole with him and doing what they joined to do. The Navy Docs went right to it with the WIAs and saved lives, at the same time we removed him from the vehicle it’s turret having been immediately manned by another Marine who’d himself been hit in the face, but pressed with the mission and the gun never went quiet in the process. The dead Marine, only just out of high school last May, was of course filthy dirty and his uniform vastly different than the one you saw him in. He obviously was not wearing any ribbons, but did have his flak and all the other accoutrements of a field Marine on when we removed him. He was also still soaked from the unbelievable sweating a fight brings on. His buddies spent a few quiet moments and we talked about the loss, and what he meant – what he was like – to them all. Everyone offered a vignette, most were silly or funny, but that’s the kind of guy he was. We then withdrew as there was a detailed critique to conduct (actions on contact, who did what, what worked, what didn’t work, what could have done better, and all the what ifs that go with learning the trade and getting better), and then the platoon commander (himself quite a guy) got right to it as there were also weapons to clean, and preps to be made for the next patrol. Life goes on doesn’t it. This all took place, by the way, at about 1500 local on Good Friday. Thought you should know the rest of the story. Thanks for taking care of our Marine.
Semper Fidelis,
Kelly
A Letter from LtGen Kelly to LtCol Strobl...
From: Kelly BGen John F
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:38 AM
To: Strobl LtCol Michael R
Subject: Trip Report
Mike,
I just read your trip report forwarded to me by CO, 11 th Marines, and having done the kind of duty you report about I know the emotions and pride. I was with the Marine you escorted, nearly right next to him, when he was killed instantly along side a road named ASR San Juan . The closest village is Jurf as Sakhr, and it sits right on the Euphrates River with Fallujah 25kms to the N, and Baghdad perhaps 45 to the NNE. This is an ugly little section of Iraq and full of extremists that hate us for some reason. Don’t know why, but that’s the way it is. We were in five vehicles and were caught in a complex ambush. They initiated it with an IED that caught the lead vehicle, disabled it, and wounded two of the three Marines inside. After the IED there was immediate massed MG, AK, RPG, and mortar fire that certainly defined for me the term “withering.” The second vehicle was also caught in the kill zone, but they it did a 180 and out – two WIA aboard from the initial volley. The third vehicle was outside the KZ, but seeing #1 disabled and the Marines in extremis drove in, dismounted, set up a base fire, and started to work the comms. The other vehicles dismounted outside the KZ and began to seek the flank of the ambush. Your Marine’s vehicle was called forward to try and close the back door and prevent the guerrillas escape so we could kill them, and after accomplishing the maneuver and putting his gun in action, he was hit. Over time we shot our way out of it. We collected up wounded, dead, and all equipment from the destroyed HMMWV, then walked out of the KZ shooting the entire time until we were clear. All the Marines in the patrol did what we trained them to do, did it instinctively, and as if they were born to it. Every one of them returned fire, moved to the sound of the guns, and took action. There was certainly nothing special about any of them, by the way, other than they were MARINES.
Your charge started this return home with the same kind of reverence and honor you describe in your trip report, only in a very, very different way. When we rushed into the combat base in Mahmudiyah it wasn’t for him, we knew he was already with God, but for the WIAs we had aboard. The entire camp knew he was with us, however, and they all stood tall and were proud to simply be in the same shit hole with him and doing what they joined to do. The Navy Docs went right to it with the WIAs and saved lives, at the same time we removed him from the vehicle it’s turret having been immediately manned by another Marine who’d himself been hit in the face, but pressed with the mission and the gun never went quiet in the process. The dead Marine, only just out of high school last May, was of course filthy dirty and his uniform vastly different than the one you saw him in. He obviously was not wearing any ribbons, but did have his flak and all the other accoutrements of a field Marine on when we removed him. He was also still soaked from the unbelievable sweating a fight brings on. His buddies spent a few quiet moments and we talked about the loss, and what he meant – what he was like – to them all. Everyone offered a vignette, most were silly or funny, but that’s the kind of guy he was. We then withdrew as there was a detailed critique to conduct (actions on contact, who did what, what worked, what didn’t work, what could have done better, and all the what ifs that go with learning the trade and getting better), and then the platoon commander (himself quite a guy) got right to it as there were also weapons to clean, and preps to be made for the next patrol. Life goes on doesn’t it. This all took place, by the way, at about 1500 local on Good Friday. Thought you should know the rest of the story. Thanks for taking care of our Marine.
Semper Fidelis,
Kelly
Turtl3 said:
Not saying that I agree or disagree... What I would like to know is what happens if you travel in your poly-khakis? Do you have to take off your khaki shirt (i.e., ribbons, warfare pins)?
When I've flown in khakis, they just wanded the ribbons/pins, made sure it only beeped in the right places, and said, "Have a good flight, Lieutenant". At least twice, I was waved through the Flight Crew lines.
I have to wonder if the real TSA guy saw the movie. "Wow, Floyd...you're the only guy in this movie who came off like a prick."
I have to wonder if the real TSA guy saw the movie. "Wow, Floyd...you're the only guy in this movie who came off like a prick."
Just doing your job is one thing but the TSA guy I was talking about was a first class prick. He might have let an officer slide but he enjoyed embarrasing the PFC and L/Cpl I saw him check. They lived so no biggie I guess in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure it bothered me worse than it did my son.
m0tbaillie
Former SWO
Shit, well, I have to put my foot in my mouth... I know I told everyone that I bought a copy off of HBO's website, but upon further investigation, due to my lack of reading comprehension, I didn't realize that it was an "Advanced Purchase" and that HBO isn't actually shipping the flick 'till mid-May.
Sorry =\
