Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of. Michael yon grenade launcher carried by hong konger. This is a follow up to deuce four commander wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of ltc erik kurilla via michael yons blog. Its a familiar place for deuce four soldiers, whove seen some of the most sustained and intense urban combat of this war, receiving over 150 purple hearts in the process. Michael yon project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Before it was over, bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed. The unit, which is based at fort lewis, washington, is known as the deuce four. Kurilla gives a copy of gates of fire to every new officer and orders them to read it. Before it was over, bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed in. Navy and philippines airlines to distribute hundreds of thousands of books. The cheapest place ive seen it so far is from the publisher. Moment of truth in iraq, by michael yon richard vigilante books, 227. A father of a soldier with the deuce four unit that michael yon is embedded with called this afternoon to talk about how yon has been their lifeline. Michelle malkin has a good post about it with links to more information.
Michael yon will be there, too, and writes about the upcoming event. Photos of combat with deuce four in mosul, iraq, 2005. Despite being seriously wounded, ltc kurilla immediately rejoined the intense and closequarter fight that ended in handtohand combat. Michael yon is perhaps the premier citizen warjournalist of his generation. But michael yon says he went to iraq because he wanted to see for. Yon has embedded multiple times with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of the 25th infantry division in mosul, iraq that ended in september 2005. Yon has been interviewing them for a book about the unit and the. Thanks to some of your donations, yon s new camera caught a battle between deuce four.
Interview with combat journalist michael yon business insider. Willis will attend the deuce four ball near fort lewis, on november 5th, 2005. This is an amazing book cause not only does he detail the many acts of. His book is most definitely not a rehashing of the rationale of the conflict or its origins. Michael yon has been covering the fighting in iraq for years and has been all over that country.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of michael yon books online. Lack of bravado is the mark of great character, and michael yon has hit the nail squarely on its head. Despite petraeuss early successes in mosul, the city is now perhaps iraqs most violent. The commander of deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was shot three times in. He has spent a phenomenal amount of time in theater throughout the middle east. Emailer sherry has turned me on to some incredible iraq war reporting by michael yon. The commander of the deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was not there to pin the medals on his soldiers.
Purple hearts were awarded to soldiers wounded in action. Michael yon born 1964 1 is an american writer and photographer. Yon has been embedded on numerous occasions with american and british troops in iraq, most prominently a deployment with the 1st battalion, 24th infantry regiment deuce four of the 25th infantry division in mosul, iraq that ended in september 2005. Dont expect any soldier of fortune nonsense, this book is about respect for oneself and for those in your charge, the love of a mother and zest for life. Michael yon born 1964 is an american writer and photographer. I said to the commander, you know i will write about this, dont you. Deuce four by michael yon, 9780982716335, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. From what i hear about the news back home, this might sound unreal. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Navy families who were stationed in the philippines. Deuce four drove back to base, heading straight for the hospital, where they waited for word of their friends. And until i had the privilege of working on this book with michael i was always for.
After covering soldiers of deuce four battalion in iraq for around five months, he became intimately acquainted with the soldiers some of them. The us soldiers of deuce four were on a mission and i was with them. Distinguished guests flew in to attend what was officially called the redeployment ball. The battle for mosul the deuce four fighting for mosul mosul, northern iraq as the new map of iraq unfolds, a picture of progress emerges. Kurilla was the last deuce four solider wounded in iraq, and was recovering from three gunshot wounds. In the gates of fire chapter he describes when deuce four found a sniper the hard way. This book deals with his biography, interweaving between his childhoodcoming of age with his time going through army ranger training. When kurilla woke in recovery a few hours after surgery, he called csm prosser and asked for a bible and the book. The commander of deuce four, ltc erik kurilla, was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes. Moment of truth in iraq 9780980076325 by yon, michael and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
He served in the special forces in the early1980s, and he became a writer in the mid1990s. The iraqis who want freedom and democracy are gaining ground. Also in attendance was the pulitzer prizewinning photographer jim macmillan, who was nearly shot to pieces up in mosul while with the deuce four. Deuce four original music song writtenrecorded in iraq youtube. I hesitate to suggest that there is entertainment to be found in these struggles that too often involve the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. General erik kurilla makes an amazing speech 28 comments details published. Bruce willis wanted to do a movie about erik and the deuce four, and asked me to write a book, but long story short i stayed in the wars. After we make it through this virus storm, the economic meltdown coming with it, and have beat down the chinese communist party, i finally will tell the epic cannibal stories, the deuce four combat experience, and 52 sbct stories from iraq. The michael yon library is in indanaan, jolo, sulu, philippines and comprises 1,000 students who live in a war torn area of the country books for the barrios adopted this school in 1995 and supply the site with full libraries in each room and a separate library and a computer learning center. Michaels dispatches gates of fire 68 comments details published. Al qaeda and other terrorists were crawling all over the town, murdering people in the most terrible ways. From 20052008 he had a series of trips to iraq, working with u. After a hard year of fighting and nationbuilding in northern iraq, the deuce four has finally and completely returned home to the united states, where they threw a party to mark the occasion.
I am an author, photographer, war correspondent, and former cannibal hunter. Inside the inferno is a series of photo essays by michael yon, a former special forces soldier now war correspondent. Michael yon has another great post, demonstrating his ability to show the good and the bad, the failure and the successes in iraq. Michael yon photos of combat with deuce four in mosul. Michael yon and the duties of civilians the hugh hewitt show. General erik kurilla makes an inspirational speech mentioning in detail heroes like scott smiley erik is the finest combat leader i. Michael yon sees the country, and the war, without. And heres a message about the photo via bad bob from ltc kurilla, the battalion commander of deuce four. Yon briefly stopped over to afghanistan in early 2006. In this photo michael took, you see battalion commander ltc erik kurilla right after he is shot struck three times in the legs and doing a crazy judo roll, while to the left, enemy bullets strike the. Fearless, brilliant, wounded repeatedly, returning to battle again and again li.
Books for the barrios, the michael yon library, philippines. This is a follow up to deuce four commander wounded which follows the exploits and wounding of ltc erik kurilla via michael yon s blog today, bob d. Buy deuce four by michael yon from waterstones today. From 1981 to 1986, they worked closely with other knowledgeable, motivated volunteers as well as the u. Yons first book, danger close, details this event and tells the story of his life up to the age of 20, after he had completed the selection.
The deuce four also welcomed producer stephen eads who worked with bruce on many blockbusters, such as the sixth sense and armageddon, to name a couple of their outstanding film projects. Yon spent many months in mosul embedded with the 124th infantry regiment, or deuce four, and his firstperson narrative of firefights in the citys streets and alleys is relentless and gripping. Deuce four original music song writtenrecorded in iraq. Bruce willis, military supporter, actor and musician, will be attending the deuce four 124 ball this weekend to demonstrate his support for ltc kurillas battalion. Yon covered his time in iraq in his second book, moment of truth in iraq, published in april 2008. He covered the war in iraq for several years afterward, notably covering the deuce four forces. Willis wanted to personally thank american soldiers for their successes and sacrifices in iraq, and made plans to fly to the fort lewis area and thank soldiers who fought so well. I jumped up and there was csm robert prosser, the top enlisted soldier at deuce four. A short time after kurilla gave me the book, following the death of one. Ltc erik kurilla and sfc robert bowman in mosul at fob marez, home of the deucefour, the morale crackles in the air like gunfire. February 12, 2008 yon, a 43yearold american citizen journalist, has spent years reporting on the wars in iraq and afghanistan but not. Erik is the finest combat leader i ever went to combat with. He focused on military writing after the invasion of iraq.
Follow the exploits of the great deuce four battalion that became the center. Lieutenant colonel erik kurilla commands the 124th deucefour. Storied iraq soldier recuperating the seattle times. Kurillas men describe him as a ferocious fighter, afraid of nothing, a man who leads from the front. Lama, under his roof, wanted to make sure that my audience knew how much easier michael yon s work had made it for them.
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