"Brothers At War" -- A "must see" documentary

www.brothersatwarmovie.com

It will surprise you. I agree with Laughing Wolf that it left me wanting more, but in a good way.

I commented to my friend Maggie that there was a simple frankness to it that showed both the harsh realities and the sweetness of life. Truly. It's a special film.

It seemed to strike a cord with those in the audience with me, too. I'd spoken to a vet (late 20's maybe?) before it started, and he was just hoping it portrayed vets better than "Stop-Loss", which set the bar pretty low! He also mentioned that he might need to prep for deployment this spring (he's no longer active duty), and while his girlfriend clearly wasn't excited about that, he seemed accepting. On the other hand, he talked about his new civilian career with a lot of enthusiasm.

The film ends with footage of the younger brother boarding a plane for another deployment. As much as there is reluctance to leave, you can also see the sense of purpose and, yes, enthusiasm for the opportunity to do the job he's trained to do. The scene also reinforces the sense of closeness felt by those who serve together and for which there is no substitute.

As the credits began to roll, I noticed that the vet I'd spoken to got up and left the theater well ahead of everyone else. His girlfriend leaned down to say goodbye and to comment, "That was really good". I'll go out on a limb and say that I think that ending, showing the unit going off on another deployment, struck that vet hard. There's the pull of the mission and the opportunity to re-connect with fellow warriors, but then there's the pull of the new life he's created as a civilian. He likely has a choice ahead of him, one that most of us will never make or understand. It's a choice that our warriors make each time they decide whether to remain on active duty or in the reserves or to get out.

For everyone who has ever volunteered to serve, let alone volunteered to do it again and again and again, thank you. But I do want you to know, while we'll never walk a mile in your shoes, we civilians know that we're missing out on something. We don't envy you the hardships, but most of us envy that bond, and I can't help but think that that is simply your due.

Everyone: go see the film.

Look who came to dinner

I'm really bad with names. I even mentioned it last night at dinner.

But the funny thing was, his name stuck in my head. And I wondered, had I heard his name before?

Chances are I hadn't, but look at what I found:

"Injured Soldier’s perseverance inspires others"

And from a little earlier on in this Soldier's career was this post among Blackfive's "Someone You Should Know" series:

"Staff Sergeant Roy Mitchell - Someone You Should Know"

I couldn't agree more, that this is someone we all should know.

I've written numerous times that being a volunteer with Soldiers' Angels has put me in touch with people that inspire me. I've called them blessings of being an Angel.

In addition to the enormous challenge of just getting back to some sense of "normal", this soldier broke ground for the many that followed him. He was injured in Afghanistan in 2003, a full year before I became a member of Soldiers' Angels, and back when we all were just figuring out how to best to support our troops. But within the military he blazed a trail for those who wanted to "stay Army", despite their injuries. It took a while, but as you can read in the two articles, he's successfully made the transition and is contributing in an invaluable way.

Pleasure to meet you, Roy.

Calling all Cooks and Movie-goers!

Two things to bring to your attention:

Calling all Cooks! Founders of Honor Their Service (some info on their Facebook page) are putting together a Milbloggers Cookbook based on recipes from military bloggers and other lively folks who support our troops. They will sell the cookbook to raise funds for their programs, which include Operation Fresh Air, which I've written about over the last couple of years HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

Got a recipe? They are accepting recipes for another day or so. Go HERE for details. MOST IMPORTANTLY, stay tuned for an update on where you can buy a copy!

Movie Alert! Screening this weekend in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA and some other cities across the country, is a new documentary, "Brothers at War". From their site:

"BROTHERS AT WAR is an intimate portrait of an American family during a turbulent time. Jake Rademacher sets out to understand the experience, sacrifice, and motivation of his two brothers serving in Iraq. The film follows Jake’s exploits as he risks everything—including his life—to tell his brothers’ story. Often humorous, but sometimes downright lethal, BROTHERS AT WAR is a remarkable journey where Jake embeds with four combat units in Iraq. Unprecedented access to U.S. and Iraqi combat units take him behind the camouflage curtain with secret reconnaissance troops on the Syrian border, into sniper "Hide Sites" in the Sunni Triangle, through raging machine gun battles with the Iraqi Army. Ultimately, the film follows his brothers home where separations and life-threatening work ripple through their parents, siblings, wives and children. BROTHERS AT WAR provides a rare look at the bonds and service of our soldiers on the frontlines and the profound effects their service has on the loved ones they leave behind."

It's gotten good milblogger and "Angel" reviews, so I encourage you to check it out if it's showing in your neighborhood this weekend or later in the month. Go HERE for locations. Local theaters here seem to be showing the film at least into next week.

Go to the homepage and listen to the movie trailer.

If they inspire you, maybe you'll adopt one that is currently deployed? We've got 900+ interested in hearing from you!

In case you hadn't heard...

The Iraqi's held nationwide provincial elections today (background HERE, HT: Mudville's Dawn Patrol). The relatively violence-free process is a credit to them and to the Coalition troops who helped the Iraqi's turn their country around over the last 2 and half years.

Check out the stories and pictures HERE (MNF-I) and HERE (FOX) and HERE (CNN) and HERE (FOX photo essay) and HERE (a painter/blogger in Iraq, HT: again to Mudville's Dawn Patrol).

I loved this comment on the painter's blog: "I think it's impressive for Iraq that they're biggest problems for the provincial elections is there's too many damn candidates."

There are challenges ahead for Iraq's fledgling democratic processes, but they are a very different tenor of challenges than those of 1998 or 2006.

Thank a vet!

Updated: Could you be one of 757 new Angels? ** UPDATE: It's DOWN to 462, but still need your help!

462 troops waiting (down from 767) for a little extra TLC for the length of their deployment.

The waiting list went up to over 1000! and is now back down, but we could still use your help.

Wanna be an Angel? Go here

Happy New Year! ... a lot late.

It's been a busy month, and blogging seems to have fallen off my list of things to do.

On the Angel front, I have two adopted soldiers headed home (one from Iraq and one from Afghanistan), while another has a couple months of her 15 month tour left to go. I added a new one (a Sailor) in late December who is in chilly Afghanistan. I've already sent him some oatmeal-reese's cup cookies (yes, that's what you end up with when you decide to use up some candy - trick is to get the cookies in the mail before I eat any!).

I also spent time in early December sending a bunch of boxes to a Combat Support Hospital in Afg. My friends and I "adopted" one among many in theater. Angel dude Roger collects contact info and finds volunteers to send holiday party stuff. We sent lights, garland, santa hats, fiery hot cheetos with lime, oreos, oatmeal cremes, hot cocoa, mocha mix, chai mix, tea, corn chips, velveeta and chili to make a hot dip, marshmellows, party plates and cups. Oh, and a bunch of small gifts for a white elephant gift exchange. I heard back from my contact at the CSH, and she said that they enjoyed the loot. Nothing gives me warm fuzzies like knowing that we've brightened the day of one of our deployed troops.

The new year is bound to be interesting. DC is humming with pre-Inauguration acitivity - it was a nippy 20 F today, so everyone seemed to be inside at the mall - can't blame them. It's supposed to be back in the 30s tomorrow. As always, saying a prayer for joy and progress. The amazing feat of this veteran, Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III, a former fighter pilot with the US Air Force, seems a great way to kick off the new year.

And because it looked fun, I snagged the list below from Miss Ladybug. I don't know whether it's lists that appeal or the ability to go "ha! I've done that" (highlighted items), but I enjoy stuff like this...

99 things on the wall:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars (in a tent but I'm told that doesn't really count)
3. Played in a band (nope, I'm definitely a member of the audience)
4. Visited Hawaii (August 1985, and got the worst sunburn of my entire life)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/World (Land '73 (I don't remember!), World '81)
8. Climbed a mountain (little ones)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (only if my life depended on it)
12. Visited Paris (25th birthday)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (three times)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (as a kid only)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Victoria, BC to Thunder Bay Ontario, 1982; Atlanta to Charlottesville 1999, Atlanta to DC 2001)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (I've watched a few!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (best: sunrise from the north rim of the Grand Canyon, 2001)
31. Hit a home run (softball)
32. Been on a cruise (not exactly)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (went on the "under the falls tour, too!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (generally only - Finland)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (no complaints)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (not even on one of those fake walls)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (was there in January 1985 - had snowed in Rome for the first time in years so very few tourists; it hadn't been cleaned yet, but we got to linger for 15 or 20 minutes)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (rain, yes; mud, no)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (this one I'd really like to do)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (over and over again!)
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (and paid too much for lunch at TGIF)
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (from the north and south rim - the former is worth the drive)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (2 times)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (Sewickley Herald)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (Old Executive Office Building is as close as I've gotten)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (my favorite so far: chatted with Michael Barone in an elevator)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Best wishes and prayers for a wonderful 2009!

Not for Nothing, Take 9

In case you missed it, people are partying in Iraq. HT: Gateway Pundit

Oh yeah, and our guys and gals are AMAZING. HT: Mudville Gazette

But you knew all that, right?