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American Morning
Soldiers Give Those in Training Firsthand Advice Through Web
Aired February 16, 2004 - 08:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Preparing for war is almost certain to be tough on any soldier who's never experienced it. There are countless lessons to be learned to keep yourself alive and also to succeed against the enemy.
But as Barbara Starr reports, soldiers now can give those in training some firsthand advice through the Web.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the Internet age version of a soldier's letter home -- CompanyCommand.com, a Web site of e-mails and messages from hundreds of troops. Their personal thoughts from the front line, an unprecedented guidebook on survival for those headed to Iraq.
Captain Dan Morgan, 101st Airborne, writes of the constant threat of death: "An explosion rocks the vehicle in front of you, throwing soldiers onto the street. Your soldiers stagger about, trying to shake off the effects of the concussion. On this day, I'd lost a platoon sergeant. He is alive, but when I got to that truck, he is a pile of blood and matter."
Morgan on the chilling reality of killing the enemy: "You should be able to calmly place the red dot of your M68 optic device on his chest and kill him with one shot."
Captain David Zinn, 4th Infantry Division, recommends how to keep a convoy safe: "Everyone goes red direct upon leaving the base camp. The vehicles most at risk are first and last. Sandbag the floors of Humvees. Pull the tarp up on the sides so that passengers can fight from the vehicle."
Some of the messages highly detailed recommendations about military tactics. And there are every day concerns: "Soldiers with skills in plumbing, carpentry and electric will prove invaluable," Captain James Williams, a military policeman.
Grim reminders from those early days of the war: "It is the most horrible environment you could ever imagine. Prepare for the worst -- heat, dust, sandstorms. The elements are as much your enemy as the Fedayeen," Captain Mike Titus, 101st Airborne.
And they answer the question, what will you remember 50 years from now? "Seeing the whites of the eyes of the guy sitting behind a truck while an FSO called a Hellfire missile and watching it just smash into him," Captain Gabe Barton, 82nd Airborne Division. But there are many positive memories. Lieutenant Jessica Murphy, a military police officer: "I think I will most remember how happy the Iraqi kids were every time we interacted with them. If I helped make their lives a little better, it was worth it all."
The Web site, now so overwhelmed by people trying to read these personal stories of war, access is now restricted to just the military.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: And, Soledad, CompanyCommand.com is actually run by four professors at the military academy at West Point. They were so surprised themselves, indeed, about the level of reality and candor of some of the messages left behind -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: An amazing spot.
Barbara Starr for us this morning.
Barbara, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Web>
Aired February 16, 2004 - 08:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Preparing for war is almost certain to be tough on any soldier who's never experienced it. There are countless lessons to be learned to keep yourself alive and also to succeed against the enemy.
But as Barbara Starr reports, soldiers now can give those in training some firsthand advice through the Web.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the Internet age version of a soldier's letter home -- CompanyCommand.com, a Web site of e-mails and messages from hundreds of troops. Their personal thoughts from the front line, an unprecedented guidebook on survival for those headed to Iraq.
Captain Dan Morgan, 101st Airborne, writes of the constant threat of death: "An explosion rocks the vehicle in front of you, throwing soldiers onto the street. Your soldiers stagger about, trying to shake off the effects of the concussion. On this day, I'd lost a platoon sergeant. He is alive, but when I got to that truck, he is a pile of blood and matter."
Morgan on the chilling reality of killing the enemy: "You should be able to calmly place the red dot of your M68 optic device on his chest and kill him with one shot."
Captain David Zinn, 4th Infantry Division, recommends how to keep a convoy safe: "Everyone goes red direct upon leaving the base camp. The vehicles most at risk are first and last. Sandbag the floors of Humvees. Pull the tarp up on the sides so that passengers can fight from the vehicle."
Some of the messages highly detailed recommendations about military tactics. And there are every day concerns: "Soldiers with skills in plumbing, carpentry and electric will prove invaluable," Captain James Williams, a military policeman.
Grim reminders from those early days of the war: "It is the most horrible environment you could ever imagine. Prepare for the worst -- heat, dust, sandstorms. The elements are as much your enemy as the Fedayeen," Captain Mike Titus, 101st Airborne.
And they answer the question, what will you remember 50 years from now? "Seeing the whites of the eyes of the guy sitting behind a truck while an FSO called a Hellfire missile and watching it just smash into him," Captain Gabe Barton, 82nd Airborne Division. But there are many positive memories. Lieutenant Jessica Murphy, a military police officer: "I think I will most remember how happy the Iraqi kids were every time we interacted with them. If I helped make their lives a little better, it was worth it all."
The Web site, now so overwhelmed by people trying to read these personal stories of war, access is now restricted to just the military.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: And, Soledad, CompanyCommand.com is actually run by four professors at the military academy at West Point. They were so surprised themselves, indeed, about the level of reality and candor of some of the messages left behind -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: An amazing spot.
Barbara Starr for us this morning.
Barbara, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Web>
