How I feel about the war today, I can sum up in one question; the same question that can be asked for Vietnam: What have we gained as a country? What have we actually accomplished – other than the loss of some damn fine people? People willing to give their life for the country that we have, for this nation, for the freedom that we have.
-Marine Lance Cpl. James Blake Miller,
a.k.a. The Marlboro Marine
I just finished reading two stories from the LA Times about Miller, the famed “Marlboro Marine” whose face has been plastered on magazine covers and front page on newspapers everywhere. He was let go from the Marines and later diagnosed with PTSD. Accompanying the stories are two videos and an epilogue. The story is amazing. The photographs equally compelling. The video added the depth of Miller’s twangy, searching voice.
LA Times photographer Luis Sinco was embedded with Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment as it entered Falloujah in November of 2004. He was the one who took the now [in]famous photo. He’s bound to Miller in this story and feels at least partially responsible for what has happened to/in Miller’s life since. Sinco got involved, more involved than journalists normally get. I really can’t do this piece of fine journalism justice in attempting to describe it further. Sinco must’ve gotten a lot of support from the LAT to stick with this story and I applaud them for that. The LAT is one of the few papers around which are taking on such endeavors. Their five-part series Altered Oceans special last year was amazing; check that out too.
The whole ‘Marlboro Marine’ project by the LAT lives here.
Photo: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times, April 21, 2006
what a wonderful day it will be, when that question can finally be laid to rest.
peace to all
before it can be laid to rest, the politicians must ask themselves that same question.
What a heartbreaking story. And to think that the same thing is happening to tens of thousands of young men and women all over the country.
1/3 of those in this war come back with ptsd. that’s absurdly insane.
And this proves once again that war, any war is never a good war…the human toll is too great. Reading a new investigative report on how many in the military/vets are committing suicide is truly, truly horrific….about 120 a week-that’s every WEEK are committing suicide. The odds of seeing this reported on tv and over and over until it sinks in to everyone is about zero isn’t it. Either that or all those committing suicide will be labeled unpatriotic and weak.
Albert, The Marlboro Marine story must have been difficult for the author also. He will forever be tied to Miller, having been thru the same horrors as him. I can`t figure out who benefits more from each other, although Miller seems to be a greater casualty in their relationship with the battle for sanity. I also highly recommend the Altered Oceans story which I keep referring people too. It is definitely a horriffic expose on the situation we`ve allowed to happen & continue to.
it’s a great example of getting involved because, fuck it, he had to. and i’m glad he did. i bet there are tons of journalists who become more than neutral bystanders in this war [and others], but few as well known as this one.
nick ut comes to mind in his involvement in saving the life of the girl running from a napalmed village in vietnam. she’s alive now, a canadian citizen, with a foundation.