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Generation Kill – The Cradle of Civilization – REDO
By Richard S. Lowry
I am compelled to clarify some of my statements from last weeks review. Last week I challenged Evan Wright to support his claim of a friendly artillery fire incident in which he claimed that five Marines were wounded and that some died of their wounds. I knew of no similar incident. I also took offense at some of the editing. My “impressions” were not subjective and I apologize for thinking that the producers were criticizing 2d LAR.
More importantly, I really believed that the friendly fire incident was contrived. Evan Wright actually contacted me about my review and we had an interesting conversation about that incident. What I found is that every man has his own perception of the “truth.” We swapped a few emails and a new “truth” came to life.
Richard S. Lowry is the award-wining author of “The Gulf War Chronicles” and “Marines in the Garden of Eden.” He served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service from 1967-1975 and spent the time from 1975 to 2002 designing sophisticated integrated circuits for everything from aircraft avionics to home computers. He is currently working on his next book, “New Dawn,” which will tell of the fight to free Fallujah. Visit www.marinesinthegardenofeden.com for more information.
Evan was at the Euphrates River Bridge when he heard an artillery round scream in and explode, followed by cries for corpsman. When he looked up over the raised road, he saw several wounded Marines being tended to. In our conversation, Evan told me that it was a British artillery unit that had fired the errant round. In fact, a British artillery battery had showed up at 1/10’s position and set up to support the fight in Nasiriyah.
The British artillerymen were moving north to support the British paratroopers’ attack on the airfield which is talked about in the third installment. This explains why no Marine after-action report talks about this incident.
After rereading my own book, I found an incident which fits Mr. Wright’s description. There was quite a fight at the Euphrates River Bridge on 24 March. Marines from 2/8 were fighting on the east side of the bridge, across the raised road from Evan. The Marines I interviewed were under artillery and mortar attack from the enemy. On one occasion, an artillery round hit next to a 2/8 gun truck. LCpl Santamaria, the machine gunner, was hit by a piece of shrapnel in his shoulder. A Corpsman, Doc Cordova, was also superficially wounded in the explosion.
Both were moved to a casualty collection point on the east side of the road where several other wounded Marines were being treated and prepared for evacuation to the Battalion Aid Station. (“Marines in the Garden of Eden,” p302). Kerry Sanders was filming at the BAS when Santamaria and others were being treated. No Marines were killed in this incident.
My description of the fight on the 24th would have been much stronger if I had had the opportunity to speak with Evan during my research. He has added detail to my understanding of what happened that day. I want to let everyone know that what he saw fits with my understanding of the day’s events and what he heard about the results falls under the “fog of war.”
After our conversation, it is very clear to me that Evan has made every effort to make Generation Kill the most accurate portrayal produced to date. My confidence in Generation Kill has been restored.
Richard S. Lowry is the award-wining author of “The Gulf War Chronicles” and “Marines in the Garden of Eden.” He served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service from 1967-1975 and spent the time from 1975 to 2002 designing sophisticated integrated circuits for everything from aircraft avionics to home computers. He is currently working on his next book, “New Dawn,” which will tell of the fight to free Fallujah. Visit www.marinesinthegardenofeden.com for more information.
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Comments
Richard, good on you for clarifying.
I'm also having the same thoughts as Bullnav...
I read Nate Fick's book and enjoyed it. I've enjoyed Generation Kill so far, but I've had the oppertunity to watch each episode with a Marine there, but in a different unit than in this story.
Thanks for the update Richard, after that last update I admit you had some influence on my thinking regarding GenKill, as this update does as well.
I put this on the other page, but wanted to get it up here as well:
I wanted to thank Mr. Lowry for posting my reply to his criticism in its entirety, followed by his redo. I also feel I owe him an apology for the snide tone my comments took toward the end of my remarks. By this point in writing my response I had simply become hotheaded.
Having exchanged emails with Mr. Lowry since I recognized that both of us share a similar passion for the Marines and the historical events at hand. Moreover, I value the service he renders as an author, television critic and host of this site.
I look forward to his next posting and book.
Evan Wright
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
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Richard - thanks for the clarification. I was wondering about that incident. There are a number of portrayls in Episode 3 that I have questions about also...I think I need to read Mr. Wright's book as well as Nathan Fick's book.