"Alive Day Memories."

[DougP]

Here are some military members who have the right to complain but instead they don't. Most of the stories coming out of Iraq that aren't told are usually the awe-inspiring ones.:)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Dawn Halfaker remembers the clear desert sky that day in June 2004. She remembers it was quiet. An Army first lieutenant, she'd been serving in Iraq four months.


James Gandolfini interviews Jay Wilkerson in "Alive Day Memories."

1 of 2 What she also remembers is, a rocket-propelled grenade tore through her shoulder and exploded just behind her head. For more than a week she hovered near death. To help save her life, her right arm and shoulder were amputated.

In October 2005, Sgt. Bryan Anderson was at the wheel of his Humvee patrolling Baghdad when the bomb went off. As he tried to wipe blood and flies from his face, his injuries revealed themselves in awful succession: a lost fingertip on his right hand; then, his left hand not there; then, both legs gone.

Halfaker and Anderson are two of 10 soldiers and Marines showcased in an HBO documentary, "Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq," premiering Sunday at 10:30 p.m. EDT. (It will also be available on HBO on Demand, and streamed on HBO.com).

In soldier-slang, the term "alive day" refers to a special kind of rebirth, a day experienced by cheating death. A few such survivors tell their stories in the film. They tell about what went before, as well as the personal battles they've been waging since.

At the heart of the film are one-on-one conversations with James Gandolfini, who, as an executive producer of "Alive Day Memories," sees his documentary as a way to put a human face on the cost of this war.

"I've been surprised, because I'm a cynical person, by the honor and loyalty and discipline that these kids have," said Gandolfini, who visited troops in Iraq in late 2004 on behalf of the USO. "The positives of these kids aren't put out there enough.

"I say 'kids.' I'm an old man," chuckled the "Sopranos" star, who turns 46 later this month. "I mean: 'young adults.' "

He was joining Halfaker (age 28) and Anderson (26) to talk with a reporter a few days ago. But mostly Gandolfini listened. With this-isn't-about-me reticence, he deflected most questions to the people beside him.

"To be completely honest with you, I just thought it would be cool," Anderson replied when asked why he took part in the film (and it has been cool, he grinned). "But now, I want people to be educated about what the film is saying."

He recalled filming his interview with Gandolfini last December on a sound stage in Manhattan.

"I was still in the hospital when I did that," said Anderson, who spent 13 months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and had 40 operations. "Now, I don't go to hospitals and do therapy. I'm just living life now."

He walks on two prosthetic legs and has a lifelike, mechanical prosthetic hand that was cast from his brother's left hand, he explained -- down to his brother's fingerprints molded into the synthetic skin.

"You could get him on a few things," Gandolfini joked.

Originally, "Alive Day Memories" was going to be filmed inside the walls of Walter Reed, with Gandolfini talking to soldiers being treated there. Then, shortly before filming was scheduled to begin, military brass yanked their permission. Months later, a likely reason came to light with shocking reports of substandard care at the Washington, D.C., facility.

But the film, even in its rejiggered format, does what it first aimed to do, said Halfaker: "It gives a snapshot of a number of people at different points in our recovery."

Those people -- six from the Army and four Marines -- range in age from 21 to 41 years, each with plenty to recover from.

Staff Sgt. Jay Wilkerson suffered severe traumatic brain injury, and memory loss. (He can never remember his own kids' names: "I feel stupid.")

Besides his serious physical injuries, Pvt. Dexter Pitts was struck with post-traumatic stress syndrome. (He means to overcome it: "I don't want to be Crazy Uncle Dex that fought in the war, ain't got his mind right.")

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Jernigan lost both his eyes. (He also subsequently lost his marriage, then had the diamonds removed from his wedding band and set in one of his prosthetic eyes' pupil.)

Produced and photographed by Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill (who made the Peabody Award-winning "Baghdad ER"), "Alive Day Memories" strips away the purpose, or folly, of war for an hour of unobscured attention to something else: the personal repercussions.

Like Anderson, Halfaker insisted she has no regrets about her service in Iraq. Instead, her regret settles on the public's seeming disregard for what's at stake in war, and what the soldiers who fight it really face.

"People aren't paying attention, and that is frustrating," she said. "Do you want to think, 'Oh, yeah, the glory of war will eventually come around, and we'll be heroes in the American people's eyes because we'll have saved a country'? For me, it's a moot issue. No matter what, I'm not getting my arm back. And I'm not getting my friends back who I saw die over there, and are still dying.

"I think we all look at it like, this is our job and we went over and did it."

And now? "I think all we can do is look forward and be optimistic, and try to bring awareness to what's going on."

The "alive day" memories of Halfaker and her fellow vets deserve everyone's attention.

HBO is a unit of Time Warner, as is CNN.

[dk]

"People aren't paying attention, and that is frustrating," she said. "Do you want to think, 'Oh, yeah, the glory of war will eventually come around, and we'll be heroes in the American people's eyes because we'll have saved a country'? For me, it's a moot issue. No matter what, I'm not getting my arm back. And I'm not getting my friends back who I saw die over there, and are still dying.
Dulce Et Decorum Est

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
There is no glory in war.

[TheNoNamedOne]

One of the best expressions of war in poetic verse ever.

[/SIZE]
There is no glory in war.

And that is why I cringe when I hear how gloriful they make the accounts to read when giving awards or in recounting how a soldier died in an official communique -- usually which I feel is for the benefit of the family, and probably little to do with truth.

[DougP]

To say "probably little to do with truth" seems to be a stretch as well. A lot of what goes into writing one of those final awards doesn't always come straight out of some commander's ass. Many other soldiers who were there have a say and put in their own account.

Yeah the truth isn't always being told. The final moments of someone's life isn't laid out like a simple mothergoose story for the surving family to relive. Sometimes you have to sugarcoat it a little because having a loved one come home in a box isn't an easy pill to swallow.

I think the fact that they are there doing a job and are serving their country is honorable enough to warrant a nice award or letter of condolence from some guy who probably doesn't give a shit. I don't think it warrants skepticism towards whether or not their last moments on earth were for a just cause. Just remember they( those who have died in Iraq/Afghanistan) would still be alive along with nearly 3000 other people if a certain 4 planes had not been hijacked 6 years ago.

I feel the responsibility rest more in the hands of the 19 hijackers and those who planned the attacks than on the current administration.

[dk]

If those ____ (close to 4000? more?) people who died in Iraq had, say, died in Afghanistan (or anywhere for that matter) actually actively pursuing Bin Ladin, I wouldn't be complaining. Iraq is BS. It's like a mini-game we got stuck in. When did we jump from taking down terrorism (or, specifically, Al Qaida) to taking down a regime?

And don't give me "multi-tasking". We're not multi-tasking. We're spreading ourselves thin. We didn't go to Iraq to hunt down Al Qaida. Al Qaida came to Iraq to hunt down Americans.

[DougP]

Also I'd like to point out the fact I posted up something heart warming in a sense. And look at the first two responses. :rolleyes:

Not even a "good for them" or "I'd be sucking at life if that were me."

If I had my eyes blown out and then my wife left me.. I'd be in a world of hurt. Come on TP you watch Oprah don't you? I thought you'd like a story filled with compassion and personal triumph.

We expect them to go over there for something most of us don't believe is right and keep quiet about how bad it is while we armchair quaterback the whole thing. The moment the come home from such a great ordeal and still face many challenges long after the rehab we kick it back in their face by saying... "I'm sure it wasn't that tough." "So what? You lost two legs, war is hell."

Nevermind the fact they're the ones who are getting on with life while the rest of us think we have real problem and cry about a government that has lied to us. Like that's the first time in history that has happened.

[dk]

Good for them. They're still alive.

How'd I do?

You'll never hear me say "I'm sure it wasn't that tough". Make no mistake, I don't think our troops are over there playing air hockey. They're getting their limbs blown off. They're getting killed every day. They're seeing some of the worst things they'll probably ever see in their lives if they make it home alive.

But just because the American public p*ss*d out and went along with Bush does not for one second make this invasion right. Does not for one minute make it something I will pat a servicemember on the back and say good job about. Good job? For what? For coming back alive? For following orders? My freedoms aren't being protected over there. I say go to Afghanistan. I say go to North Korea. I say go somewhere where we're being threatened.

You want me to give out a pat on the back for BS action? I don't give pats on the back for BS action. Sorry. Good thing you lived? Hey, TP, I'm proud of you. Knowing how those Okinawans drive in the rain, you could have gotton killed today. I'm proud of you for coming back alive. You really came through, man.

See what I did there?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, my whole debate thus far has been with that one quote about glory. That is all.

As far as these people as individuals... Really, good for them. They came back alive, and they're fighting the good fight to get through this.

You know what'd be a better story? People who were born with dissabilities fighting the good fight to get through it. At least in their case it couldn't have been prevented. In cases like the story above, I just feel it's a waste and it pisses me off.

[TheNoNamedOne]

If I had my eyes blown out and then my wife left me.. I'd be in a world of hurt. Come on TP you watch Oprah don't you? I thought you'd like a story filled with compassion and personal triumph.

Fair enough, Doug. You made a good point. Perhaps I should have mentioned something with the descriptions of the sacrifices you put in the OP. To be truthful, they are heartwarming and I am sensitive when it comes to suffering and personal triumph. My bad on that.

My only excuse I geuss would be that dk had posted one of my famorite poems on war, and I am almost to the point where it is hard to give credit for sacrifice when in the same sentence -- or at least story -- there is not some condemnation of war i.e. that which caused them to have to overcome those injuries in the first place. I guess I am also a little suspicious with over coming obstacles that resulted in war because that in some way seems romanticising war. Of course, I know it isn't fully doing so, but I just see a connection.

Not saying they should keep their stories to themselves, but... I don't know, man, just would like them to say something like, "My both legs were blown off and it took me 6 months to learn how to walk and join a marathon and finish it. It sure would be great to run it with the legs I was born with, and hope everyone sees my success in this effort not only as a great personal achievement that can inspire others, but also as a testement to the horrors of war." BAM! All points covered in a fair way I feel.

And I feel that is often lacking. The horror gets shoved out of the picture.

But man, sometimes I cry when I watch Oprah. Not ashamed to admit it.

[DougP]

If those ____ (close to 4000? more?) people who died in Iraq had, say, died in Afghanistan (or anywhere for that matter) actually actively pursuing Bin Ladin, I wouldn't be complaining. Iraq is BS. It's like a mini-game we got stuck in. When did we jump from taking down terrorism (or, specifically, Al Qaida) to taking down a regime?

And don't give me "multi-tasking". We're not multi-tasking. We're spreading ourselves thin. We didn't go to Iraq to hunt down Al Qaida. Al Qaida came to Iraq to hunt down Americans.

It was clear when we said and agreed to hunt down those responsible and will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them. There were numerous contacts between Saddam and al Qaeda many times in the past. Well known fact that the attack mastermind Mohamed Atta had met with a senior Iraqi intelligence official. Lots of traffic between Syria and Iraq in the weeks leading up to the invasion. All of these are still facts.

Let me ask you a question... What do you think would have happened if we never went into Iraq? Where would the terrorists have gone to? Where would they be basing their attacks from? What other country would be lending them assistance to continue the fight in Afghanistan?

To go into Iraq when we did was a dumb move. Lets face it though we'd still be in the same boat but just in Afghanistan. Afghanistan would be the Iraq situation. The reason why Afghanistan isn't as big of a problem as Iraq is because that's where the big battle ground is. Its the stadium with all the lights turned on. Leave that stadium and we would still have to fight the home team somewhere else. Bring everyone back home and guess where the other team will come to play ball next.

[TheNoNamedOne]

We expect them to go over there for something most of us don't believe is right and keep quiet about how bad it is while we armchair quaterback the whole thing.

I don't expect them to go over there, and I don't because I DON'T believe it is right. I am not dancing around semantics or the oxymoron that we can support the troops but not the war. I beleive it is an oxymoron and, therefore, I do not support our troops in their effort. That doesn't mean I am going out of my way to hinder them and their mission, but I will not aid it.

You can see my position in more detail on that HERE (http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94&highlight=oxymoron).

The moment the come home from such a great ordeal and still face many challenges long after the rehab we kick it back in their face by saying... "I'm sure it wasn't that tough." "So what? You lost two legs, war is hell."

I would never do that, and I am not sure our society has been doing that, has it?

Nevermind the fact they're the ones who are getting on with life while the rest of us think we have real problem and cry about a government that has lied to us. Like that's the first time in history that has happened.

Well said. Fair enough on this point.

[DougP]

Good for them. They're still alive.

How'd I do?

You'll never hear me say "I'm sure it wasn't that tough". Make no mistake, I don't think our troops are over there playing air hockey. They're getting their limbs blown off. They're getting killed every day. They're seeing some of the worst things they'll probably ever see in their lives if they make it home alive.

But just because the American public p*ss*d out and went along with Bush does not for one second make this invasion right. Does not for one minute make it something I will pat a servicemember on the back and say good job about. Good job? For what? For coming back alive? For following orders? My freedoms aren't being protected over there. I say go to Afghanistan. I say go to North Korea. I say go somewhere where we're being threatened.

You want me to give out a pat on the back for BS action? I don't give pats on the back for BS action. Sorry. Good thing you lived? Hey, TP, I'm proud of you. Knowing how those Okinawans drive in the rain, you could have gotton killed today. I'm proud of you for coming back alive. You really came through, man.

See what I did there?


The good job is for doing their job their duty regardless of their personal feelings. They are our military and they went there to do a job. Just because it became an unpopular fight ( keep in mind we are still fighting terrorists most of whom are NOT IRAQI) doesn't mean we can just take back the thanks. It was ok to thank a soldier after 9/11 but it isn't ok to do so now? Why? Is it their fault? Or are they doing the same job they've been doing this whole time.

We hugged and gave thanks to policeman after the towers went down but after a couple of cop screw ups we're back to saying f#$k 'em:rolleyes:

Remember they are service members not politicians. They are not the leaders of a free world, just those who serve it. Even if the free world could care less.

[dk]

So, I'm supposed to thank them for being soldiers? For doing their job? What makes them and policemen special? When's the last time you thanked a programmer or your networking technician? When's the last time you thanked your local garbageman for picking up the trash so people wouldn't catch disease? When's the last time you thanked a farmer for growing the vegetables you eat every day?

Let me get this straight. Because this is an unpopular war, I should thank them? Are we supposed to only thank them if they come back dead or injured? Or is it just common to say thanks to the military even when it's just words without meaning?

No, really, I actually do think it's an interesting idea. In fact, I'm really going to start doing this in every day life.

All of you guys who are in the military. Whatever reason it is that you joined. Thank you. Doesn't matter if you're fighting for good or evil. You're fighting, which is what being a soldier is about, amiright?

And all of you guys who keep their networks up: thank you.

And you guys over at reuters, if you're listening, I know you get a lot of crap, but thank you.

I'll start with those three for now.

[DougP]

Come on, I'm a former commo guy/ network slave, I always thanked my tech support. :) What's wrong with thanking someone for doing their job? How is it any different than clicking the thanks button on someone's post?

The fact is the thanks is because no matter if they're doing something popular or not they are still serving. People realized that when several policemen and firemen rushed into burning buildings without any regard for their personal safety.

Not saying rush out there and hug a soldier. I'm thankful for a lot of things that people do that I am not doing myself. Be it because I can't or because I don't want to.

How do you feel about those bitchy network users complaining about their email being down as if it works magically on its own? You still do your job anyways though. Just as a soldiers does his for the people out there who think there's no need for them at all.

It seems as if the soldiers are to blame. Because they're in Iraq. As if they have anything to do with the decision anymore than the American public.

[dk]

I don't think I've ever once been thanked as a programmer. Ever. :p And by thanks, I mean, someone out of the blue saying "Hey man, thanks for being a programmer. Things would be a lot harder in the world without people like you who can make sense out of squigly lines and gibberish." But anyway... *sniff*

Believe me, I put no blame on the soldiers. I never have. It's not like they can get up and leave.

Well, they can if they really have no fear of consequences, but you and I both know that with most people in the real world where there are real negative repurcussions, people tend to avoid prison time when they have mouths to feed.

[DougP]

So true. Oh yeah by the way I just wanted to congratulate you and TP for actually agreeing on something or rather seeing eye to eye. :)

[dk]

Lmaooooooooo!!

Well thanks man! And thank you for being you! :D

[Oki alumni]

If those ____ (close to 4000? more?) people who died in Iraq had, say, died in Afghanistan (or anywhere for that matter) actually actively pursuing Bin Ladin, I wouldn't be complaining. Iraq is BS. It's like a mini-game we got stuck in. When did we jump from taking down terrorism (or, specifically, Al Qaida) to taking down a regime?

And don't give me "multi-tasking". We're not multi-tasking. We're spreading ourselves thin. We didn't go to Iraq to hunt down Al Qaida. Al Qaida came to Iraq to hunt down Americans.

"One of the best expressions of war in poetic verse ever." - TheProsecutor. Well, the above quote may not be in "poetic verse", but it IS revealing. Thank GOD, I'm not the only one who's aware of this. You get snuck up on, on your blind side, your ass beat, and instead of chasing down the asshole who did it, you go after a neighbour of his, who's been irritating you and proceed to beat HIS ass instead. There! Feel better?

GWB must think the nation is made up of fools worse than himself. So far, there's a majority that are, unfortunately, proving this to be true. That being said, I hold those who're sent "to the desert" in nothing but the highest esteem.

I think the Dixie Chix were right on the mark!

-Oki Alumni:old:

[TheNoNamedOne]

"One of the best expressions of war in poetic verse ever." - TheProsecutor. Well, the above quote may not be in "poetic verse", but it IS revealing....

I was referring to the poem dk had posted on the first page, not the text quote of dk's writing.

That being said, I hold those who're sent "to the desert" in nothing but the highest esteem.

Not explicitly aimed at you OA, but this kind of remark astounds me to the point of irritation when it is tagged onto critical comments of Bush or the War. Why is it everyone feels they just have to add this on to criticisms to cover themselves, as if they have pulled off a branch to erase their footprints in the mud behind them? Never ceases to amaze me when I see this obligatory add-on when it really is not needed, other than like I said (or sense) -- that people feel they have to give themselves some cover, and this is just like a kind of duck and swerve.

I wonder about oxymorons (http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94&highlight=oxymoron) in illigitimate wars based on lies and the agents who willingly allow themselves to be the tools of such.

I think the Dixie Chix were right on the mark!


What hoopla they made, eh? Good on them.

[Maggie]

[/SIZE]
There is no glory in war.

That was beautiful. It evokes exactly the emotions it's looking for.
I wish I could write like that.

Maggie

[Trail]

You all did a smashing job pointing out how ungrateful we all are to everyone and everything in our lives. It was a wonderful pissing match BTW. As I have been taught on JU, you can't tell anyone how they should feel about anything.

[Oki alumni]

I was referring to the poem dk had posted on the first page, not the text quote of dk's writing.

Kind of an awkard thing...I knew what you were referring to, But I also felt that dk's text was poetic, if not in the form of a poem.

Not explicitly aimed at you OA, but this kind of remark astounds me to the point of irritation when it is tagged onto critical comments of Bush or the War. Why is it everyone feels they just have to add this on to criticisms to cover themselves, as if they have pulled off a branch to erase their footprints in the mud behind them? Never ceases to amaze me when I see this obligatory add-on when it really is not needed, other than like I said (or sense) -- that people feel they have to give themselves some cover, and this is just like a kind of duck and swerve.

I'm hoping that what I said about respect did NOT come across as "trite" or without substance or meaning, as I was, and AM sincere. I don't blame the tools of the trade when the farmer has a crop failure because of his own blundering. A less than adequate analogy, but what came to mind at the moment.

I wonder about oxymorons (http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94&highlight=oxymoron) in illigitimate wars based on lies and the agents who willingly allow themselves to be the tools of such.

"willingly allow" being two "key words" here. Another analogy contained in the "joke" that "It's sometimes difficult to remember that your original objective was to drain the swamp, when you're up to your ass in alligators."

What hoopla they made, eh? Good on them.

My GRANDdaughter is a big fan of their's, and a rebel in addition. She got suspended from her high school a few years ago during an anti-war demonstration, when she commited some minor infraction of the "rules" laid down by the school she attended...in conjunction with the demonstration. It was something akin to keeping a certain distance away from the school whilst protesting, and she probably crept a bit closer than "allowed". LOL, she did the "crime" and she served the "time". I LOVE that young lady!

-Oki Alumni:old:

[Sex Wax]

I like bacon. Some people dont. Thats cool with me, it just means that when i cook Breakfast, you can eat all the eggs and toast you want, but i get all the bacon. Sweet for me !!!!!!!