Iowa Soldier Wants Troops' Voices to be Heard in America

John Carlson/TN : May 25, 2007
The DesMoines Register

Issues a call for nation's media to begin reporting good news coming out of Iraq.

Reporter John Carlson notes that a "tired and disgusted" Blackhawk helicopter pilot from Iowa by the name of Chief Warrant Officer Jim Funk, "fired off an e-mail a few days ago, telling family and friends how things are going in Iraq." (Photo: DesMoinesRegister—Chief Warrant Officer Jim Funk, an Iowa National Guard Black Hawk helicopter pilot from Ames, has been serving in Iraq since October.)

Regarding his unit's morale, he said: "We're treading water. We continue to kick—on missions and take care of each other, even though we know the American public and government DOES NOT stand behind us. Ohhhh, they all say they support us, but how can you support me (the soldier) if you don't support my mission or my objectives. We watch the news over here. Every time we turn it on we see the American public and Hollywood conducting protests and rallies against our 'illegal occupation' of Iraq."

According to the report in The DesMoines Register, his greatest frustration is the performance of the people who deliver the news to the American people.

Says Funk: "Hello media, do you know you indirectly kill American soldiers every day? You inspire and report the enemy's objective every day. You are the enemy's greatest weapon. The enemy cannot beat us on the battlefield so all he does is try to wreak enough havoc and have you report it every day. With you and the enemy using each other, you continually break the will of the American public and American government...daily we put a 'whoopin' on the enemy, but all the enemy has to do is turn on the TV and get re-inspired. He gets to see his daily roadside bomb, truck bomb, suicide bomber or mortar attack. He doesn't see any accomplishments of the U.S. military."