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2006-02-02 Home Front Economy
US Army vs. Michael Yon
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Posted by Anonymoose 2006-02-02 15:44|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 This lawyer must be looking for an early discharge.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-02-02 16:10||   2006-02-02 16:10|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes, but he has a bright future in the claims department of some HMO.
Posted by VAMark 2006-02-02 16:28||   2006-02-02 16:28|| Front Page Top

#3 I like Yon's reporting. But his actions as an embed blurred a couple lines. For instance, IIRC at one point during a firefight he picked up a rifle and began shooting. His agreement allowing him to embed specifically forbids that -- and as an ex- soldier he knows why that is: the local commander CANNOT have people who take it upon themselves to join in but who aren't under his command. No matter how serious the fight - in fact, precisely due to the intensity of the fight - Yon's unilateral actions were out of line and he was reprimanded for them, as I recall.

I doubt it endeared him to the command chain or them to him. Whether or not this brouhaha over the pic is part of a larger bickering, I don't know. But while I can sympathize with his desire to control that photo, he does sound like a bit of a loose cannon.

FWIW - and I suppose I should just go put on my asbestos suit at this point. I hate when I have to do that - the damn thing is itchy ....
Posted by lotp 2006-02-02 18:19||   2006-02-02 18:19|| Front Page Top

#4 lotp, leave the asbestos suit in the closet. Yon forgot he was a reporter and in the heat of the firefight did what any of us military types would do, BUT, he did violate his reporter status. I'm not going to judge him TOO harshly though the bottom line is he did something he wasn't supposed to do. He might very well have saved Kurilla's life but he should not have gotten in the fight.
Posted by Grick Angimp1809 2006-02-02 19:50||   2006-02-02 19:50|| Front Page Top

#5 The previous was me. Don't know what happened.
Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues  2006-02-02 19:56||   2006-02-02 19:56|| Front Page Top

#6 I think both sides were right. Yon was obligated to defend himself & the men around him. The Army was obliged to reprimand him and possibly pull him out of his embedded position. Sometimes there's no good outcome.
Posted by Whutch Threth6418 2006-02-02 19:59||   2006-02-02 19:59|| Front Page Top

#7 lotp, what a bad attitude, sheech.

The Army [brass in the rear] should find a clue here.

It's bad enough that the MSM and their fellow travelers are stuck on stupid and tear down our Military everyday, but it galls me to no end when the 'Public relations Div' does such a through job shooting itself in the foot.

Here they've have a tremendous talent in Michael Yon, who along with Duce 4 has captured the immigration of millions all over the world.

How hard would it be for the Army to do the right thing and give him photo rights.

Think, what the film possiblities with Bruce Willis, a known fan of Duce 4 would do for recruting... And what about future work for the DOD, Marines, Air Force, Navy etc.

The DOD let SLA Marshall profit from his books, Army maps etc..
Posted by RD 2006-02-02 20:18||   2006-02-02 20:18|| Front Page Top

#8 Oooooo, I was away too long, lol.

Regards the copyrights issue on the photo, well, if Yon signed away his rights to the pic, and they've decided to fuck him regardless of any unwritten / good faith understanding, then he loses - but learns not to deal with JAG fucks. Period. Ever.

As for your remark about Yon, well sheesh, yeah, put it on. I'll stick to the facts, but...

but only a little bit, a singing, perhaps, for being lazy and too quick to become a ring-knocker's stooge.

This is the story you haphazardly referred to. If read in full, it's a no-brainer and clear Yon was directly in the middle of a deadly firefight and was no "loose cannon" or cowboy. Just as the others he was suddenly there, in the middle of it, and acted in a manner -> I <- consider far above reproach - especially from anyone who was not there. You want a piece of him? Get it from the people of that Deuce-Four patrol. If they say he's a bad actor, a loose cannon, I'm good. If not, then you're over the voyeur's line.

About halfway down the entry is where you'll find the picture sequence and narrative of the engagement in question. LTC Kurilla is hit 3 times, including one which breaks his femur in half, but continues fighting back from the ground -- and demonstrates very clearly that this was a deadly encounter and there was no warning for any of the people involved.

Yon, unlike any other embed I know of, doesn't need babysitters - wasting patrol members / resources.

Read on. I think the facts bear out that he was (or should've been unless he's insane) in fear for his own life and for the lives of the people he was with - and acted accordingly - even when some greenies froze. Much advantage in experience.

I don't think your heart is in synch with your posted words, but that's up to you to clarify. What he did is precisely what makes -> ME <- think he rocks. Yeah, I'd go on patrol with him, in a heartbeat. And I'll bet you a month's wages that would go for anyone in Deuce-Four, anytime, anywhere.

Go figure, huh?
Posted by .com 2006-02-02 20:39||   2006-02-02 20:39|| Front Page Top

#9 Army intellectual property lawyer - My eyes rolled when I read that.

Otherwise, he's dealing with lawyers. What does he expect?
Posted by phil_b">phil_b  2006-02-02 21:45|| http://autonomousoperation.blogspot.com/]">[http://autonomousoperation.blogspot.com/]  2006-02-02 21:45|| Front Page Top

#10 It's too bad that Yon is taking this to the courts. It's a battle that neither will win and it taints his work.
Posted by 2b 2006-02-02 22:06||   2006-02-02 22:06|| Front Page Top

#11 What in the hell is the Army thinking? Michael Yon has done what 10^6 public affairs hacks officers could not do: Put out one super favorable and true PR campaign for the Army. The picture embodied what the ideal US Army soldier is: tough but compassionate. It embodies what Americans are.

Then some REMF f*cks it all up. General Honare needs to be called in to have a talk with above REMFs and get them to quit being Stuck on Stupid™.
Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul  2006-02-02 22:13||   2006-02-02 22:13|| Front Page Top

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