Army Blocking Access to Heroic Narratives?

Posted By Blackfive

Got this Baltimore Sun article from P.B. today:

Army blocks 'narratives' of heroism
Public cannot read medal winners' stories

By David Wood
Sun reporter
December 9, 2007

On a clear night last spring in Afghanistan's eastern mountains, a U.S. infantry platoon went looking for an al-Qaida operative named Habib Jan, and they found him. Outside an abandoned village clinging to a rocky hillside, the platoon was ambushed in a rain of deadly rifle and machine gun fire. Twenty-seven Americans and five Afghan Army fighters together fought 90 or 100 of Habib Jan's Islamist extremists.

For 17 hours, the American platoon was pinned down. Bullets snapped and hissed as the enemy slowly closed in. Ammunition ran low. Water ran out. Sniper rounds plucked at the soldiers' helmets and sleeves and drilled through boots as they shifted and returned fire. Night stretched into day and on into night again and the fighting intensified.

-- From interviews with soldiers and an official Army account

Three American soldiers were awarded Silver Stars for valor in that battle. Their actions are detailed in official Army accounts drawn from eyewitness reports, radio transmissions and other corroborating evidence used as a basis for awarding the medals.

These one- or two-page "narratives," as they are called, are the best accounts of American battlefield heroism. Apart from those who wear the Silver Star - the third-highest decoration for valor - few people even know the accounts exist.

But the Army won't let you read any Silver Star narratives. Though most are not classified, they are kept filed away from public view, a practice being challenged in Congress...

Read the whole article at the Sun.

For the record, I've had a tough time getting narratives from the Army.  In some cases, I had to wait until the unit rotated home from Iraq or Afghanistan which I think might be considered reasonable in some circumstances.  But to have soldiers home and not release the details?

Maybe we can get the Army (PAO or others) to respond.

What do you think?

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Comments

[SteveC]

This is just weird. The Army has no problem fabricating the story of how Pat Tillman died heroically, when in reality his death was fratricide and the result of mistakes. Now, there are real stories of bravery, competence, and success, and the Army goes silent. Dumb.

Maybe the PR guys were former West Point football players - they weren't too good at that either.

[OldSoldier54]

The problem as I see it is ... too many steenking, feelthy LIARS lawyers in our Army ... too many in the country as a whole.

"With the American ammo supply running critically low, a Blackhawk helicopter suddenly thundered up over a ridgeline and through the smoke and storm of bullets, tilted sideways, and dumped crates of bullets and bottled water at the troopers' feet. Then it spiraled on down the mountain, where its crew picked up the wounded Afghan soldier."

Ah, chopper pilots ... ya gotta love 'em!

Sounds like there enough dead tangos to warm all our hearts.

[OldSoldier54]

"Maybe the PR guys were former West Point football players - they weren't too good at that either."

OW!... but we'll get you yet, Red Baron!

[songdongnigh]

Perhaps a simple thing like asking those involved if they would OK a release of the narrative would solve the problem. BTW, WTF took 17 hours for support?

[Old Tanker]

The Army has no problem fabricating the story of how Pat Tillman died heroically, when in reality his death was fratricide and the result of mistakes.

Steve, did you ever stop to wonder if that wasn't the problem?? The Army didn't fabricate the story but when they learned the truth there was a cover up, how about Jessica Lynch?? They rushed to get a "Hereo" story out and got burned, even after warning the press that the Lynch story wasn't verified, the Army got made out to be self engrandizing fools....is anybody at all surprised that they are reluctant to put this stuff out front and center??? Damned if you do, damned if you don't.......

[cavetelum]

I like the idea of getting releases from everyone involved. I know if I were cited for heroism, esp if I received a medal, I would not want it splashed across the newspapers. I'm not even sure if I would tell my family.

[dianainsa]

I agree with Old Tanker, maybe the Military has had decided that it has taken enough crap from the civilians in this country-not just the press either. And I am speaking as a civilian from a so-called "Military City". I see how the press in my town constantly looks for ways to tear down what our Armed Forces accomplish. Look at how the AP uses Military death counts for it's own slimey agenda and has the nerve to pretend that it gives a f*** about our casualties. I sometimes get the feeling that the Military folks I meet are becoming more distrustful of the rest of us, I have to work extra hard to break through. Maybe the Army feels that the mostly clueless general public doesn't deserve to know these hero's stories, kind of like sacred ground. It's a damn shame.

[scrapiron]

I understand the military distrust of anyone in congress. Over the years they have used everything available to get more soldiers killed for their own political purposes. The current congress contains more traitors than any congress in history so the military is wise to be cautious.

[Caleb]

Don't you Army types ever ask yourselves why the Marine Corps has never had a problem with releasing all sorts of info on Marines that have performed their duties in an extra-ordinary manner. You have certainly chapped our asses long enough about the Marines getting too much pub. There didn't seem to be too much trouble getting narratives regarding the heroism of the 4 man SEAL team. There is already a statue in place for Danny Dietz, and The One had the book written and it became a top seller. Oh, and is there anyone that didn't get the memo about the Medal of Honor for the team leader, Mikey? Long story short, this is an Army problem, not a military problem. Hell, you can't even get a list of the medals awarded within specific division, regimental, or battalion level units from the Army. In the past the Army has claimed that they did not keep such info.

That said, I would support a directive that totally wiped out and got rid of half of the lawyers in the military, and confined the rest of them to their base unless specifically called for by the combat commander for the area of operations.

[douglas]

Do they not get that it's an important part of the home front pr battle for support? In WWII, it was understood well enough that if you were a big hero, you got paraded around for publicities sake, like it or not- because it was important. What happened?

[SteveC]

Old Soldier 54: You're right....and I'm a lawyer. Has it always been that there are so many lawyers around the military? And were they always as involved? Seems to me to be dumbass way to fight.

Old Tanker: When I wrote that comment the first thing that came to mind was the Tillman incident and I didn't even think of Jessica Lynch. Really, my comment was just to say "smarten up, guys" and to punch up my message a little with the example I gave - maybe it wasn't the best example or written all that well.

The problem is that the armed forces are fighting against the image that the media has given them and the mission. The media, despite their protestations, are anti-military mostly, or just dumb about it, and a good half of this country frankly follows the media or the teachers they've had....I think that the stories would fall on deaf ears with such folks. Now me, I'd love to read this stuff because I'm completely inspired by it...and I would hope that such stories would engender a desire in young people to serve. How to change the broader public's perceptions, I don't know.

[Swede]

"Don't you Army types ever ask yourselves why the Marine Corps has never had a problem with releasing all sorts of info on Marines that have performed their duties in an extra-ordinary manner"

No, Caleb, we don't.

We're satisfied in the knowledge that if the USMC were to disappear tomorrow, this great nation of ours could still fight, and win, our wars.

If the Army disappeared? Yeah, not so much.

[Old Tanker]

SteveC,

Actually, I thought your example was a good one for the point I was trying to make, I just had to correct the fabricated part.

Long story short, this is an Army problem, not a military problem.

I would have to agree, and it seemed to have started after the Tillman debacle.....don't want to get caught with our pants down again, granted, it's overkill but hardly surprising.

[jordan]

There do seem to be legitimate security concerns. Some of the stories out of GITMO have told us the guards routinely get death threats against their wives and children back home from the detainees who continue to wage jihad in which ever way they can while imprisoned. Tracking down names and locations are easy for this internet savvy, sadistic enemy.

Also, these anti-war nuts have shown themselves perfectly capable of attacking soldiers in pursuit of their pacifist, tolerant agenda. They'd do the same to the families.

There's alot of operational details in these narratives, too, which someone else pointed out could help the enemy: the amount of time it took to get support, tactics used, mistakes they (the jihadists, or irhabis, or whatever we're supposed to call them) made so they can correct them next time.

[jordan]

Maybe to strike a balance between privacy and the country's desire to honor it's heroes you could just redact a few details and leave the final decision up to the soldier. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in.

[Lands’nGrooves]

“I just returned form visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!”
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, U.S. Army

“The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.”
Gen. Pershing, U.S. Army

“The more Marines I have around the better I like it.”
Gen. Mark Clark

Swede,

Stick to Caleb’s point. To bring up crap like you did would lead one to believe you don’t have a valid argument.

[Swede]

I'm sorry to disagree with you, L'NG.

I think our Marines are better than anybody else's, anywhere.

Of course, I can honestly say that about all of our services.

However, my very basic statement is one that I stand by.

And, as a tangent to Caleb's point, there's an old saying in the Army: "Nobody believes his own press more than a Marine".

[Old Tanker]

Damn Swede,

Having been in the Army I don't remember that much animosity towards Marines.....did one kick your ass recently??

[Swede]

DUDES!

If I have to kiss a Marine, on the lips, to prove how much I like, love, respect, enjoy working with, or other wise appreciate, I WILL!!

But she better be pretty.

Seriously, I apologize. My remarks, which I feel are accurate, were not appropriate for this thread.

Getting back on topic, I don't know WHAT to think about this. If a hometown paper wants to write an article about a local's courage in the service, I don't think they have a hard time getting the information from the family or service member. However, I am of the mind that bad people can do bad things with any information gleened from the scenerio write ups. Forgive me for not linking or finding it, but weren't the Brits concerned about this, too?

[Lands’nGrooves]

Swede,

Your remarks aren’t appropriate for any thread. The United Sates needs BOTH the Army AND the Marine Corps. End of story, PERIOD.

Carry on…

[Caper2]

Guys:

Bottom line.

The Army is loosing the battle of ideas in another front. Is only me, or there is anyone else here that can see that everything that we are talking about are symthoms of the same disease?

An overhaul of the way that the Army handled its PR needs tobe made in view to our lack of success on the battlefield of ideas.

If the Army had to fight for its survival like the Corps have for the last two hundreds years perhaps their PR machinary would be as responsible.

Otherwise, any comments on the matter is just plain sour grapes and even this former soldier had problems with it.

El Coqui

[OldSoldier54]

Gotta agree with Caleb. This definitely seems to be an Army problem and since the Army is so much larger than the Corps, there have to be that many more idiots in it to wreak havoc on the system. His points are completely valid, IMO.

Like that ding dong, LTG Kearney and the JAG officer, who apparently had so much influence with the good General, such that the SF sniper team in the Stan, with UJ's buddy in it, got charged with Murder.

Still waiting for some career ending fallout over that one.

[Cannoneer No4]

SGT Gregory Williams was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross yesterday.

If a tree falls in the forest . . .

I suspect the Army is deliberately downplaying awards ceremonies.