Dispatches – Mon. Jul 29. 2013 – Recommended Viewing This Afternoon & Tonight on National Geographic Channel - Hi Folks, A few weeks ago I recommended two excellent documentary programs on the National Geographic Channel: Battle Ground Afghanistan and Eyewitness War These series have been aired on Monday nights but tonight is the last night. For your convenience here is a schedule for the entire late afternoon and evening airings. The 4 to 6:30 airings are repeats of pervious broadcasts - Time Show Episode 6:00 PM Eyewitness War I’m Hit! 6:30 PM Eyewitness War Trapped by the Enemy 9:00 PM Battleground Afghanistan Homeward Bound 10:00 PM Eyewitness War Out of Ammo 10:30 PM Eyewitness War Sniper Hunt 11:00 PM Battleground Afghanistan Homeward Bound (Encore) 12:00 AM Eyewitness War Out of Ammo (Encore) 12:30 AM Eyewitness War Sniper Hunt (Encore) For Background Info on these shows log onto: //channel.nationalgeographic/channel/battleground-afghanistan //channel.nationalgeographic/channel/eyewitness-war These two offerings render a unique insight to the combat operations that have been and continue to be experienced in Afghanistan US Marine Corps and US Army infantrymen. The material was photographed by troops under combat conditions. In my humble opinion these are shows that every American should watch with humility and reverence regardless of their political leanings or opinions of war, or the US government. The brave American fighting men and women deployed to Afghanistan have to endure on a daily basis hardships and life threatening dangers that are impossible to imagine for the overwhelming majority of Americans resting comfortably here at home. A Frost Commentary - Somebody told me recently they found these programs rather boring, as did some of their friends and acquaintances who watched only parts of the shows. Obviously these were people with no military experience whatsoever. Folks, anyone who finds the stirring images in these two programs boring needs to “get a rifle and stand a post.” Better still they need to go through the experience of Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training and any special Desert Warfare Training required before deployment to that part of the world. Then they need to experience the rigors of such a deployment: the patrols, firefights, night Ops, lurking IEDs, scorching heat, biting flies, days on end wearing the same clothes without hot showers or “normal” toilet facilities or a decent hot meal with refreshing beverages - and not just for one deployment but for two and even three deployments. Granted not every Soldier or Marine deployed to the Middle East is in a combat outfit. The actual ratio of troops in infantry, artillery and armor units to support personnel is about 1 to 6 or 1 to 8. I haven’t been able to find an accurate figure. Suffice to say there are more troops in support positions than troops exposed to the actual fighting and risky air operations. But it must be noted that troops in support missions provide a vital contribution to the war effort – medical specialists, mechanical, maintenance and IT specialists, administrators, intelligence analysts, logistics specialists and musicians, to name but a few - and danger for them lurks at every turn. IEDs kill and maim truck drivers, and RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) fired into rear area compounds can kill and maim Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen in support operations at any moment. The operations and responsibilities for all of our military professionals serving in a Theater of Operations is of sufficient “pucker” factor to satisfy any thrill seeker. Anyone who doesn’t believe that I have a sure-ass way they can find out – JOIN UP! Watch – Learn – Respect. And be safe out there. Frost
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 21:20:02 +0000
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