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The Hard Sell
Posted By Matt On 5th August 2005 @ 00:03 In Blogs, Internet, Technology, Poetry & Writing, War in Iraq, War | 10 Comments
ALa points to a riveting blog post on My War: Killing Time in Iraq. The author, CBFTW, was the subject of a great deal of controversy last year when his Army commanders discovered his blog. The post that got him in trouble was titled “Men in Black”; it contrasted a bland CNN account of a battle with his own fiery, real-life experience. That post has been removed from My War’s archives, but you can still find it if you know how to look. I’d recommend doing so.
In his most recent post, One Year Later, CB describes the strong-arm tactics being used by the Army to pressure veterans back into active service.
The post begins with a recounting of a recent dream, which indicates some of the effects of war on the human psyche:
CB’s disconcerting reverie is interrupted by an unwelcome phone call:
I didn’t answer his question, I didn’t want to. It’s been awhile now since somebody has addressed me by my last name or as “Specialist” and god knows I kinda want to keep it that way. I paused, and asked, “Let me guess you’re the United States Army right?” He laughed as he said that he was, and he gave me his name and rank (Sgt) and asked me how I was doing today, I told him “I was doing fine until you called” and as I lit up a smoke I quickly said, “Let me guess, you’re calling to remind me that I’m in the Inactive Ready Reserves right? And that I can be called up to active duty at any time now, right?” I couldn’t figure out what was so god damn funny about that as he again laughed, and mentioned that I was again correct. Since I was on a roll here, I asked him another question, “And let me guess, your going to tell me that I can be called up at any moment now, and that I probably will, and if I don’t want to get deployed and risk getting killed again out there in Iraq again, all I have to do is sign up for the Army reserves, right?”
Amazed, he told me that I was again correct, and I could avoid getting called back, if I sign up for the Army Reserves.
Bullshit.
I’m pretty sure that when this guy signed up for the army he didn’t request to be like an 11TangoMike (Tele-marketer) or something like that for the United States army. I asked him how he got put on this detail, to call up and harass guys who already put their time in, served, got out, and are now trying to get on with their lives, and try to intimidate them to sign back up again so that they could go back in, using scare tactics. He then just told me, “You know how it is.”
I laughed. Yea, I know exactly how it is. We then talked for a bit. When he realized that there was no way in hell I’d come back in, he then got confrontational with me and said that if I don’t sign up for the reserves now, the Army would probably call me back up on the Inactive Reserves, which he said they probably were going to do, and if they called me back and I chose not to go, I’d go to jail.
Jail? I then asked him for his name and rank. He refused to give that to me. He said that he already divulged that information, so I asked him who his commanding officer was, since he didn’t divulge that bit of info to me. Even after several requests, he refused to tell me. So I hung up on him, and slowly made my way to the window and stared out at the street scenery for awhile.
A long while.
I noticed that the birds flying around here are a little bit different than the ones over there.
Thankfully, CB has not stopped squawking. He is writing a book based on his experiences; it will be published by Putnam, and is currently on pre-order at Amazon. The cover of the book features a blurb from Esquire:
Based on what I’ve read today, that’s an assessment with which I’d have to agree.
10 Comments To "The Hard Sell"
#1 Comment By Kate On 5th August 2005 @ 00:37
I can’t wait to read Buzzell’s book. I’ve followed his blog for a while now. It had to be good with that picture of Picasso’s Guernica on top! How completely cool. I suspect a number of soldiers will come back to write books. Hopefully Zach at A Soldier’s Thoughts will. He’s an excellent writer, I think, and he’s got a lot to say as a stop-lossed father of two.
Take care, Matt–
#2 Comment By Kate On 5th August 2005 @ 00:38
And hopefully Daniel at All the King’s Horses will write a book too. I meant to include him in my first comment. Sorry!
#3 Pingback By SkaroffBlog » Blog Archive » Men In Black On 5th August 2005 @ 11:10
[…] Via Tattered Coat and ALa I found this remarkable post by CBTFW, a soldier who fought, and blogged, in Iraq. Though the post has been removed from the site due to complaints by the Army, CBTFW explains in stark detail the difference between CNN’s representation of a firefight in Mosul, and his own experience: Shortly as we were driving down the main street leaving our FOB, a man, dressed in all black, jumped out from the side corner of a building, pointed his AK47 right at me. Right at my fucking head and all I saw was the fire from his muzzle flash leaving the end of his barrel and brass shell casings exiting the side of his AK as he was shooting directly at me. I heard and felt the bullets whiz literally inches from my head, hitting all around my hatch and 50 cal mount making a “Ping” “Ping” “Ping” sound. I ducked the fucked down in the hatch. I yelled “We’re taking fire! 3 O’clock!!!” […]
#4 Comment By Thom H On 7th August 2005 @ 22:39
Wired did a decent job with this mil-blogger and some others in The Blogs of War. Worth checking out.
#5 Pingback By The Tattered Coat » Blog Archive » Another Military Blogger Silenced On 23rd October 2005 @ 02:00
[…] Months ago, in response to a post I wrote about the military blogger Colby Buzzell, Kate of Broken Windows told me to pay attention to Daniel, a soldier writing a blog called All the King’s Horses. Unfortunately, I never followed her advice. And now, as Lizzy tells us, it is too late. […]
#6 Pingback By The Tattered Coat » Blog Archive » Another Military Blogger Silenced On 23rd October 2005 @ 11:20
[…] Months ago, in response to a post I wrote about the military blogger Colby Buzzell, Kate of Broken Windows told me to pay attention to Daniel Goetz, a soldier writing a blog called All the King’s Horses. Unfortunately, I never followed her advice. And now, as Lizzy and Fred tell us, it is too late. […]
#7 Comment By Mark On 6th November 2005 @ 00:59
I heard Colby interviewed the other night on a Las Vegas station. The host was a moron, but Colby was down to earth and funny just like I thought he would be when I read his book. I can’t recommend it enough! The interview starts about 25 min into the show and lasts about 30 min.
http://www.lvrocks.com/audio/listen.m3u
#8 Comment By Laura On 4th February 2006 @ 20:24
I heard about Colby Buzzell’s book in a CNN article about military personnel recording their experiences like never before. I ordered the book and am so glad I did. It is a Great book! My Dad was in the Army back during Vietnam and I was in during the Gulf War (neither of us were in battle though). I don’t think the Army every changes. Same shit no matter when you were in. Thanks for writing this book Colby. It is a great insight for non-military. I’m making my husband read it. Great book!
Laura
#9 Comment By aaron woods On 7th May 2006 @ 23:48
I wish to send this to Colby Buzzell. I am really enjoying his book. I almost have it finished and it has only been one day. Two good friends (brothers) of mine have come back from a tour in Iraq and have given me permission to write of their experiences. It would be a perspective of Native Americans in combat. I wondered if he could give me any pointers/advice? Please reply.
Best,
Aaron Woods
awoods04@cox.net
#10 Comment By Combat Doc On 8th July 2006 @ 02:22
Thanks for the press. Help us tell our story.
Doc Haibi.
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