TwinMom7
Proud Mom of a United States Marine
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2000
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April 6, 2003
A Tenuous Link with Reporter in Iraq
OPINION By TIM HARMON
In some senses, it might sound like a dream job. Write stories and take photos whenever you want. Send them whenever you can. Call the office whenever you can, but if we don't hear from you for days at a time, that's OK, too. All meals provided; all expenses paid. But not many would envy Tribune Weekend Editor Fred Dodd's latest assignment. He has been embedded with a South Bend-based Marine Corps unit for the past month in Kuwait and southern Iraq.
Along with the Marines he covers, he has been through sandstorms and sweltered through increasingly hotter days. Before the unit left Kuwait, he and the others had to dive for the bunkers and fumble with their protective gear during several chemical-gas alerts, including one when a missile hit nearby. The death of an embedded journalist in Iraq Friday underscored the dangers all those fighting and covering this war may face. Fred linked up with Company B, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, in early March, while the Marines were still camped near Kuwait City.
For several days the unit has been in southern Iraq, moving inexorably north toward Baghdad. We at The Tribune literally have no idea when we are going to hear from Fred. He has a satellite phone that theoretically should allow him to stay in touch at all times, but he has to keep it turned off most of the time to conserve power. When we do talk, there often are technical difficulties. Now that he is in the war zone, we assume that there also are times when he's required to stay incommunicado.
In pure numbers, I suppose we have gotten more response to other articles in The Tribune -- serial narrative stories, perhaps, or particular columns we've run about Notre Dame football. But we've never gotten response as warm and enthusiastic as we've had to Fred's columns. Nor have we ever had a better reminder of what being a local newspaper is really all about. We've heard from relatives and friends from Michiana and around the country who eagerly await Fred's reports on the South Bend Marines. "Mr. Dodd's articles have helped us to allay our concerns somewhat and for that we are deeply appreciative," wrote the parents of one Marine.A friend of another wrote, "It has been sooooooo wonderful to have those stories and to see the pictures and know Josh is doing well ... please thank Fred for his work in letting those of us back here in on the life of our boys over in Iraq."
A number of readers have asked how they can contact Fred directly.The answer is, it's very difficult. He hasn't been able to use e-mail since he left Kuwait City. Paper mail can take weeks to arrive. And, again, our phone connection is tenuous at best. The best we can do is save up messages for Fred and those he's traveling with to convey when they reach a spot where he can connect with e-mail again.
Some readers have asked why Fred's photos of the unit have shown no African-American Marines. The answer is that though there are several Hispanics in the unit, there are no African-Americans assigned to the company during this operation. A black Marine who usually serves with Company B is among nine who have been assigned to other units. And the embedment arrangement means that Fred's contact with other units is severely limited. Obviously, there are many thousands of black Americans fighting in Iraq, and our editors are making sure that we use some of the photos from national wire services that portray the diversity of U.S. fighting forces.
Overall, the military's embedding program has been a tremendous success so far. Americans have gotten a clearer picture of the war overall as well as an idea of what things are like for the ordinary soldiers and civilians who are caught up in it.But along with the success there has been tragedy. One of the best-known embedded journalists died Friday in an accident. Michael Kelly, the columnist and editor, will be missed by readers and journalists around the country. He used a highly readable writing style to put across his unmistakably conservative views.As readers of his regular syndicated column in The Tribune well know, Kelly was a strong supporter of the war in Iraq. Now, sadly, he has become one of its victims.
We hope that Fred and the Marines he's covering will be safe at home soon, along with the other Americans risking their lives in Iraq. In the meantime, Fred's reports and photos will continue. We're glad you are reading them, and appreciating them.
A Tenuous Link with Reporter in Iraq
OPINION By TIM HARMON
In some senses, it might sound like a dream job. Write stories and take photos whenever you want. Send them whenever you can. Call the office whenever you can, but if we don't hear from you for days at a time, that's OK, too. All meals provided; all expenses paid. But not many would envy Tribune Weekend Editor Fred Dodd's latest assignment. He has been embedded with a South Bend-based Marine Corps unit for the past month in Kuwait and southern Iraq.
Along with the Marines he covers, he has been through sandstorms and sweltered through increasingly hotter days. Before the unit left Kuwait, he and the others had to dive for the bunkers and fumble with their protective gear during several chemical-gas alerts, including one when a missile hit nearby. The death of an embedded journalist in Iraq Friday underscored the dangers all those fighting and covering this war may face. Fred linked up with Company B, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, in early March, while the Marines were still camped near Kuwait City.
For several days the unit has been in southern Iraq, moving inexorably north toward Baghdad. We at The Tribune literally have no idea when we are going to hear from Fred. He has a satellite phone that theoretically should allow him to stay in touch at all times, but he has to keep it turned off most of the time to conserve power. When we do talk, there often are technical difficulties. Now that he is in the war zone, we assume that there also are times when he's required to stay incommunicado.
In pure numbers, I suppose we have gotten more response to other articles in The Tribune -- serial narrative stories, perhaps, or particular columns we've run about Notre Dame football. But we've never gotten response as warm and enthusiastic as we've had to Fred's columns. Nor have we ever had a better reminder of what being a local newspaper is really all about. We've heard from relatives and friends from Michiana and around the country who eagerly await Fred's reports on the South Bend Marines. "Mr. Dodd's articles have helped us to allay our concerns somewhat and for that we are deeply appreciative," wrote the parents of one Marine.A friend of another wrote, "It has been sooooooo wonderful to have those stories and to see the pictures and know Josh is doing well ... please thank Fred for his work in letting those of us back here in on the life of our boys over in Iraq."
A number of readers have asked how they can contact Fred directly.The answer is, it's very difficult. He hasn't been able to use e-mail since he left Kuwait City. Paper mail can take weeks to arrive. And, again, our phone connection is tenuous at best. The best we can do is save up messages for Fred and those he's traveling with to convey when they reach a spot where he can connect with e-mail again.
Some readers have asked why Fred's photos of the unit have shown no African-American Marines. The answer is that though there are several Hispanics in the unit, there are no African-Americans assigned to the company during this operation. A black Marine who usually serves with Company B is among nine who have been assigned to other units. And the embedment arrangement means that Fred's contact with other units is severely limited. Obviously, there are many thousands of black Americans fighting in Iraq, and our editors are making sure that we use some of the photos from national wire services that portray the diversity of U.S. fighting forces.
Overall, the military's embedding program has been a tremendous success so far. Americans have gotten a clearer picture of the war overall as well as an idea of what things are like for the ordinary soldiers and civilians who are caught up in it.But along with the success there has been tragedy. One of the best-known embedded journalists died Friday in an accident. Michael Kelly, the columnist and editor, will be missed by readers and journalists around the country. He used a highly readable writing style to put across his unmistakably conservative views.As readers of his regular syndicated column in The Tribune well know, Kelly was a strong supporter of the war in Iraq. Now, sadly, he has become one of its victims.
We hope that Fred and the Marines he's covering will be safe at home soon, along with the other Americans risking their lives in Iraq. In the meantime, Fred's reports and photos will continue. We're glad you are reading them, and appreciating them.
