We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:52:58 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Blood Brothers. The title of a new book (out this October) by Time Magazine's Michael Weisskopf, one of the co-writers of the Time Person of the Year article that featured US troops. Also known as "The reporter who ate the grenade." I actually finished the book last week, but have taken a week to digest it. Why? Because the book roused great emotions in me. Mike Weisskopf lost his hand the night a grenade bounced into the HMMWV he was riding in. He picked it up, and tossed it out of the vehicle - and it blew up pretty much... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html Thu, 07 Sep 2006 03:46:46 -0600 Grizzly Man.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50182 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50182 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:19:19 -0600 Hoss, you're waayyyyyy too hard on yourself. Really. Cut yourself some slack. YOu aren't God. You can't save everyone or be there for everyone every time. You've done more than your share with both your time in The Colors(how many non-coms, enlisted, and officers did you save from their own stupidity? And how many of us civilians do you do that for now? Well, there's me and.....) and the sheetload of stuff you do now. You're the most-giving-son-of-a-beach I've ever met and you're beating yourself up because you don't do more? That is high comedy. "I will not lose" only works on the mat. Real life is a lot more complicated. So buck up, Big Guy. You done good. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50180 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50180 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:53:21 -0600 John, Speaking of regrets of this kind, I regret that Project Valour-IT didn't spring to my mind when I was writing my review of Blood Brothers. It would have been an obvious correlation, and PVIT in large measure refutes my suggestion that the story Weisskopf tells would have been "largely untold." I too was struck by Weisskopf's internal struggle, his uneasy ambivalence with his actions and their implications, his motivations, and meaning. I expected to read a story that caused me grief, sadness, pride and appreciation of men who have made a greater sacrifice than any I have had to make. But I connected with his book on a deeper and more personal level than I expected, because he describes something I experience, and I see in my fellow soldiers. Thanks, John, for making the connection here, and I look forward to your further thoughts on the book. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50173 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50173 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 12:46:17 -0600 I need to get my To-Do list of books updated - this is another that I want to read. Thanks for the insight, John. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50172 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50172 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 12:31:46 -0600 I'm looking forward to the book, too. But with trepidation, as I suspect I will shed many tears, spurred by similar emotions to what John describes. *sad sigh* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50170 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50170 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 11:02:48 -0600 I'll be sure to add it to my must-read list, John. I can see this book had an impact on you in many ways- a true testiment of the author's writing ability. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50158 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/09/blood_brothers.html#comment-50158 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 05:54:35 -0600