Did Michael Yon Post Too Soon...for the Right Reasons? Update II

Update II:

Michael Yon has posted his latest dispatch, "Gates of Fire," and he adds further information about the engagement LTC Kurilla was wounded in and it is an amazing account of a firefight in which even Yon picks up a weapon! To answer my question, Yon did not post too soon as LTC Kurilla was able to call his wife on a satellite phone and tell her himself that he had been wounded. Perhaps more impressive is LTC Kurilla calling the mother of Sgt. Lama earlier to let her know that her son had been wounded and was going to be fine. He does that for all his wounded men. THAT is leadership. No wonder his troops love him. Be sure to read "Gates of Fire." Are you still here? Get over to Yon's website and get reading! Blackfive and Mudville Gazette readers welcome. I wanted to be sure that I Tracked Back to their sites as I did with my original post when I asked the question of whether Yon had posted too soon.

UPDATE:

Both Edward and Mike O left excellent comments and I wanted to address them. First, I used the term journalist in it's most positive sense. No doubt that term has been cheapened over the years by the behavior of those that consider themselves journalists. Second, even though I asked the question of whether Yon posted too soon, I in no way was implying that he  and his work were not something I admired greatly. I have hit the Tip Jar and encourage you to do so as well. And as Mike O said, I would be honored to buy Yon a steak and a beer. Yon's money is no good around me. Lastly, what struck me about his dispatch was how emotionally involved he was with the men of the Deuce Four. That is admirable. Too many in the media do their best to distance themselves from their country as noted by the CNN reporter, (I believe it was), that said he was a journalist first and an American second.  As Edward said, "I wish there were a thousand Yons."

Via Blackfive there is great news that LTC Erik Kurilla, the CO of the 1/24 Inf. that Michael Yon is embedded with, has returned home and is in stable condition. Readers of Michael Yon have come to feel like they know this giant of a Commanding Officer and I can tell you that when I read that Kurilla, "was shot three times in combat yesterday in front of my eyes," I was distraught.

On reflection last night, I came to think that Yon may have been wrong to post this information so soon. After all, did/should LTC Kurilla's family and friends learn he had been seriously wounded via Yon's blog? I do not know and doubt that is the case. Perhaps the reason he may not have elaborated at the time or "went dark" as some have  suggested is to allow for family notification. Again, this is just speculation as I do not have the time line but it does make for interesting questions that embedded journalists have to deal with on a regular basis.

From the tone of the dispatch, it was clear that Yon was upset at what had happened. He was quite defiant about when and how he would post his dispatches and seemed rightfully agitated. If he did in fact post on this operation too soon, it was for the right reason; He was upset about what he had just witnessed. I mean this in the best of ways, but it appears he had ceased to be only a journalist and became a friend. He has clearly come to identify with the men of the Deuce Four, something that the great war correspondents of WWII did. Were more journalists that allow their humanity to shine through then the ambiguity we see in the press as to who are the good guys and who are the bad would disappear.

Please do not take this as an attack on Yon. I love and very much respect his work. Deciding how long to wait to post a dispatch when you are an embed is an important question and I am glad I do not have to answer it. Most importantly, LTC Kurilla is going to be okay. Outstanding!

Comments

[Mike O]

Yon may have erred in this case but the man has done such great work, I think he can be forgiven in this case. I'm sure the original Earnie Pyle showed his humanity as well from time to time.

I certainly won't withdraw my offer to Yon to cover steak and beer any time he's in my neck of the woods because of it :)

[Edward]

Michael Yon is not a journalist. He is a war correspondent, and a damn good one, who is knowledgable about that which he covers. In my opinion, the sobriquet "journalist" is a four-letter word, considering the turkeys who are flying under that appellation. Michael has moved beyond Ernie Pyle in his reports from the field. Pyle would never have been able to file the reports that Yon is filing. Not only does Yon give us the human face of the incredible men and women serving in theater, he also describes the theater itself in a depth that Pyle never did. I wish there were a thousand Yons.

[Papa Ray]

How about, steak, lobster, a keg of what ever he wants...?

Also, in an email exchange I cautioned him to remember that behind that Camera, he was not bullet proof.
(I had had a reporter tell me long ago, that when he was taking pictures, that he sometimes forgot he was there and could be killed).

Michael's reply was "What, you mean I'm not bulletproof!!" His sense of humor is something else.

BTW, in case you missed it, he said this in the referenced writing: Gates of Fire

"Prosser shot the man at least four times with his M4 rifle. But the American M4 rifles are weak--after Prosser landed three nearly point blank shots in the man's abdomen, splattering a testicle with a fourth, the man just staggered back, regrouped and tried to shoot Prosser."

This is not the first time he has brought attention to this. He is not the only one that knows this, just about anyone that has shot someone with this issued (5.56mm) weapon has said that it has no stopping power. Some have said if the spin rate was increased, it would fragment better. I don't think that is the answer.

I knew this long ago, when it was called the M16, I would continue to shoot, because I knew from experience that if I didn't, I most likely would be killed myself. It just does not have enough stopping power.

When I shoot someone, I don't want the to have the ability to shoot back. That could ruin your day.

Only one little discussion about the M4:

http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=216

I sure hope the promised replacement, (if they can ever, ever, make up their minds) does a better job.

I'm afraid politics has gotten in the way, again..

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA