Brad Kasal - Someone You Should Know Radio

Posted By Blackfive

Here's the link to my segment on Pundit Review - WRKO 680AM - Boston.  Feedback is appreciated in Comments or email me (thanks!).

We discussed First Sergeant Brad Kasal (soon to be Sergeant Major) and PFC Alex Nicholl, status of Iraq, the dissenting generals, the milblog conference, and what to do about Iran. 

I wondered in the segment about how many media outlets will cover the story.  The local Iowa news stations and papers have covered their hometown hero, and now the LA Times reports that Sergeant Major Kasal will receive the Navy Cross today (the Navy and Marines medal for valor second only to the Medal of Honor).

Marine Hero to Be Decorated for His Bravery
First Sgt. Brad Kasal was badly injured but saved several lives in a firefight with insurgents in Iraq.

By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer
May 1, 2006

CAMP PENDLETON — It has become one of the iconic pictures of the war in Iraq: blood-soaked Marine 1st Sgt. Brad Kasal, grim-faced and still clutching his service pistol, being helped from a firefight by two younger Marines.

Although wounded by seven AK-47 rounds and hit by more than 40 pieces of hot shrapnel from a grenade, Kasal refused to quit fighting and is credited with saving the lives of several Marines during the U.S. assault on insurgent strongholds in Fallouja in November 2004...

Kasal said the picture and the acclaim it has brought him should not overshadow the actions of other Marines in the same fight. "That house was full of heroes," he said.

Doctors initially told Kasal that his right leg below the knee was so badly mangled it might not be saved, and that subjecting himself to surgeries and rehabilitation could prove futile. Four inches of bone had been shot away.

We'll see if more media outlets cover this amazing hero's story of valor, recovery, and devotion to duty.

Update: Unfortunately, I just learned that Brad Kasal's father, Gerald, lost his battle with cancer yesterday.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kasal family today.

Update 2: Callie noticed the similarities between my telling of Kasal's heroism (from April 30th) and today's LA Times article.  Coinicidential?  Yes.  Most of what I discussed is common knowledge available via search engines, blogs, and news articles.  I'm just glad that the LA Times put a story about Brad in their print edition.

[Someone You Should Know series index is here.]

[Someone You Should Know Radio series index is here.]

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Brad Kasal - Someone You Should Know Radio

Here's the link to my segment on Pundit Review - WRKO 680AM - Boston.  Feedback is appreciated in Comments or email me (thanks!).

We discussed First Sergeant Brad Kasal (soon to be Sergeant Major) and PFC Alex Nicholl, status of Iraq, the dissenting generals, the milblog conference, and what to do about Iran. 

I wondered in the segment about how many media outlets will cover the story.  The local Iowa news stations and papers have covered their hometown hero, and now the LA Times reports that Sergeant Major Kasal will receive the Navy Cross today (the Navy and Marines medal for valor second only to the Medal of Honor).

Marine Hero to Be Decorated for His Bravery
First Sgt. Brad Kasal was badly injured but saved several lives in a firefight with insurgents in Iraq.

By Tony Perry, Times Staff Writer
May 1, 2006

CAMP PENDLETON — It has become one of the iconic pictures of the war in Iraq: blood-soaked Marine 1st Sgt. Brad Kasal, grim-faced and still clutching his service pistol, being helped from a firefight by two younger Marines.

Although wounded by seven AK-47 rounds and hit by more than 40 pieces of hot shrapnel from a grenade, Kasal refused to quit fighting and is credited with saving the lives of several Marines during the U.S. assault on insurgent strongholds in Fallouja in November 2004...

Kasal said the picture and the acclaim it has brought him should not overshadow the actions of other Marines in the same fight. "That house was full of heroes," he said.

Doctors initially told Kasal that his right leg below the knee was so badly mangled it might not be saved, and that subjecting himself to surgeries and rehabilitation could prove futile. Four inches of bone had been shot away.

We'll see if more media outlets cover this amazing hero's story of valor, recovery, and devotion to duty.

Update: Unfortunately, I just learned that Brad Kasal's father, Gerald, lost his battle with cancer yesterday.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kasal family today.

Update 2: Callie noticed the similarities between my telling of Kasal's heroism (from April 30th) and today's LA Times article.  Coinicidential?  Yes.  Most of what I discussed is common knowledge available via search engines, blogs, and news articles.  I'm just glad that the LA Times put a story about Brad in their print edition.

[Someone You Should Know series index is here.]

[Someone You Should Know Radio series index is here.]