Articles 12.27.2004

The Havasu News-Herald, CO, has an article on a wounded 2nd BCT soldier. Cpl. Robert Bell, of the 44th Engineers, suffered 5 bullet wounds during an 11.26.2004 attack on his patrol. This was apparently the same ambush in which combat medic Pfc. Harrison Meyer, of the 1-503rd, was killed, and 5 other soldiers were wounded. Pfc. Meyer's infantry unit was on a security detail for Cpl. Bell's engineering unit while they searched for weapons caches when the attack occured. Cpl. Bell was sent to Germany for treatment, and will continue rehabilitation at Ft. Carson over the next several months. During the interview, he said that "while he is glad to be home he still would rather be with his fellow soldiers" in Iraq. One other quote: "Cpl. Bell estimates that about 90 percent of those he contacted showed their support. He said that despite high casualty rates in the past few months, he said morale among the troops in still high."
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The Hood County News, TX, has an 11.17.2004 article and an 11.26.2004 article on a severly wounded 2nd BCT soldier. SP4 Jeremy Chad Snowden was shot in the forehead in Ramadi in November (neither article mentions his rank or unit, but a discussion group posting on the internet indicates he is from the 1-503rd). SP4 Snowden underwent a 5 hour brain operation in Baghdad, and is now recovering at Walter Reed Hospital. The Asbury Park Press, NJ, has a follow up article on the aid and support his family received from his fellow soldiers in Iraq and the "Internet-based volunteer group Soldiers' Angels." His mother reports on his current condition: "Chad was never in a coma, and after four weeks could "see, walk normal, talk, no paralysis anywhere on his body, feed himself and reason to a great capacity," his mother wrote. "Things are not perfect though. He needs therapy, has severe headaches and unknown things that can pop up that we don't know about yet."
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A Stars & Stripes article reports on the use of the rebuilding Iraqi legal system for prosecuting insurgents. As a example, the story follows up on arrests made by members of the 1-503rd in September. Staff Sgt. Ronald Lewis and Sgt. Shaun Thomas of the 1-503rd testified in a trial on 12.19.2004
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The Marine Corps Times and USA Today carry Christmas articles with the 2/5 Marines at the "Snake Pit" base in Ramadi. Several marines are quoted, and there is a picture of Lance Cpl. Adam Suave dressed as Santa Claus.
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In an editorial on the top stories of 2004 in Ohio, the Central Ohio Newspaper Network mentions the death of nearly 50 Ohio serviceman in Iraq, including Pfc. Harrison J. Meyer, of the 1-503rd, who was killed in Ramadi on 11.26.2004. The story quotes Pfc. Meyer's mother: "He exemplifies the true spirit of patriotism and sacrifice by his courageous actions as a combat medic."
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The South Jersey Courier-Post has a story on a care package initiative for 1-9th soldier 1st Lt. Brian McClain and his mates. 1st Lt. McClain's father rallied his coworkers at Gloucester County College and sent 32 boxes of goods to the 1-9th. A dozen other boxes were collected and shipped from his mother's place of employment. The efforts also led to additional boxes being sent to troops related to other coworkers at the two institutions. The article also mentions that 1st Lt. McClain and his unit participated in the November assault on Fallujah.
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Other articles from the region:
- Associated Press: Militants using suicide bombings as recruiting tool
- LA Times (reg req'd): U.S. Coaxing Sunnis to Polls
- LA Times (reg req'd): Trust Becomes an Issue on Base
- LA Times (reg req'd): Blogs from Iraqi citizens
- Associated Press: Iraq May Set Aside Seats for Sunnis
- USA Today: Poll shows troops in support of war
- NY Times (reg req'd): Touring With the U.S.O. in '04, It's Still Thanks for the Memories
- Christian Science Monitor: Iraq officials reject US election proposal