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Please leave your thoughts about the HBO Documentary Films special ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
10/18/07
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(61 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Oct 19, 2007 12:10 AM
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Hi,
I would like to say this is by far the BEST documentary I ahve watched on Iraq and the returning soldiers, sailors & airmen who are putting it all on the line for us.
I watch this finally for the first time Wednesday 16 Oct 2007.
Why does this matter? Because on 19 Oct 2007 is my ALIVE DAY!!! 3year and I am still alive and dealing with everyday life.
I was shot by friendly fire in Iraq and due to current regulations I am not due a Purple Heart for my injuries.
I had served my country for 14 year on Active duty in the US Army and then 13 years in the Washington Army National Guard. I wa sactivated in Oct 2003 and arrived in Iraq on 1 April 2004. I was medically discharge from the military on 10 June 2006. 27 years 11 months & 20 days from the first day I Joined the Army.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
10/5/07
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(60 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Oct 5, 2007 2:55 AM
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Mr. James Gandolfini and the HBO producers & executives.
Not being a big TV watcher I came across this documentary while channel surfing. It was the most compelling, gut wrenching, insightful and thought provoking piece I have seen in some time. To the 10 combatants you portrayed and the countless others we owe these people a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Their courage in recounting their experiences speaks volumes. To hear from those on the ground versus our elected officials provides a human point of reference and reality that thus far has been obscured. I’ve forwarded the link to all in my address book. Hopefully it will be passed on to others outside of my sphere of influence. Knowledge is power; hopefully this will raise the consciousness of others. Thank you for this very important work, but more importantly my profound thanks to all who have and are currently serving in theater, be well and God speed.
Regards,
Christopher T. Brown
Metro Washington DC
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Posts:
3
Registered:
9/20/07
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(59 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Oct 1, 2007 7:42 PM
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usaproud,
I like what you said, and the way you said it.
I wish i were as eloquent as you.
I share your point of view on forgiveness.
Personally, i think forgiveness is not like trust,
given for free, while knowing the risk.
I think forgiveness must be something you can understand,
and be sure of. I'll never understand why anyone would
want to destroy humanity.
I am sure that I'm all for stopping those nut-jobs.
Thank God for the soldiers that fight for us!
--
Edited by Zielite at 10/01/2007 4:47 PM
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/30/07
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(58 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 30, 2007 10:31 PM
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I saw this show today for the first time. It is incredibly difficult to watch, if you care for the men and women giving up their lives to protect our freedoms. I lost many friends of my family on 9/11. I then saw boys I knew give up their freedoms to serve in our military. Luckily so far they have all come home safe. I am proud to be an American, I would never want to live anywhere else and I support our troops 100%. The sickest part of this whole thing is you can here the insurgents saying allah akbar (god is good). These people are killing our men and women in GODS name, because they truly believe he will praise them,martyr them. Jesus said before he died "father forgive them for they know not what they do." I don't know if I can forgive radical extremist for destroying humanity, and human lives for a twisted cause. God Bless America and the US Military. Thank You for every minute of every day you've either spent serving our country, or trying to put back the pieces of your lives so we could live ours.
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Posts:
2
Registered:
9/30/07
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(57 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 30, 2007 8:17 PM
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this message is specifically for Michael Jernigan. I'm so proud of you Michael. You've come a very long way since I was in touch with you and sending letters and cards of support. What a treat it was for me to see you on the HBO special. I had no idea I'd see you when I turned the program on.
Anyway, please keep up the hard work, my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Semper fi.
Your Marine mom friend always.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/30/07
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(56 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 30, 2007 2:41 PM
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Great job on the show. I was in OIF 1, diagnosed with COPD, TBI, PTSD and depression. I am still going through the medical board process. I just hope that if there is another show like this, there is a little more focus on not only the struggles of living with the injurries but the extreme life change that occours from being suddenly release from a job that for some is the only "Trade" they have. And the extreme difference in the reality of some injuries limitations and what the "medical board people" say is your limitations, Especially for those soldiers with injuries that are not outwardly "obvious" like PTSD, TBI (post concussive). No soldier should feel that they should have been more seriously wounded, or lost a body part to be properly taken care of by the military or department of defence.
I'm sorry if this has turn into a rant or just babbling, but in going through all this, and realized my dim outlook for the future of myself and my family even after we've been through so much already really bothers me. I KNOW there are hundreds more service men and women goin through the same junk we are now, and I think it's a shame.... especially after almost two decades of service.
Anyway, great job on the show again, keep up the great work
SSG P.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/25/07
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(55 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 25, 2007 12:20 AM
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I had DVR'd the show serveal days ago and just got the chance to watch it. It was a real eye opener... I currently serve in the US Navy, but when you are out in the middle of the water on an Aircraft Carrier, you still only catch a glimpse into what it is like for the troops on the ground.
It really hits home for me because my younger brother joined the Navy last year and trained as a Navy Corpman and is now stationed w/ the 2nd Marine Division. He leaves for Iraq in October.
There need to be more documetaries like this that tell the stories of our Sailors, Marines, Soldies and Airmen that are put in harms way everyday over there, maybe the powers that be would come up with a plans to start bringing our troops home.
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Posts:
6
Registered:
9/21/07
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(54 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 22, 2007 6:09 AM
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Dear James Gandolfini,
My name is Melissa. It was through a Grantwriter who brought me to your Program. My husband has been home from Iraq for 2 months today. I knew that there would be trials. But in watching the video I was humbled as to the real trials that these Men and Women go through. When unpacking my husbands bags with him, I came across this medal. In asking him what it was for he just replied everyone got one, and continued unpacking. I did not press the issue, My husband received the Medal of Valor. Since then I have been hearing bits and pieces about what a brave Soldier he is. I well up in emotion and tears, because it is all the trials that Our Nation's finest has gone through and their response is always, " I just did my job." During those 16 months of my husband being gone, I came upon my Mission. It si called Healing Sacred Hearts Program. Who are we? We are Spouses, Family members, and Veterans who believe that The Soldier and Family need to heal as a whole Unit to survive the War PTSD Effects. I am writing you because I need your help. I realize you are extremely busy. Please call me. I think that once you hear about us that you will want to be involved in our Mission to keep the Nation's Family coming back from War. On February 16th, 2008 we are having a Red & Black Tie Plated Dinner/Auction. I would love to invite you to be a guest speaker. In Portland Maine. I am going to Washington DC to Let the Senate know about us. What it is the Families Need in order to keep their Families together, to help the Survival. This is my mission and I would like to share this with you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvcdbNpxuPU
www.healingsacredhearts.org
Please help us!
Thank you for your time Sir, and God Bless you for giving the avenue that shares the gift of our Soldiers and what our Nation's Men and Women are going through.
HOOAH from Bath Maine
Melissa Albert
melissaa@suscom-maine.net
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/21/07
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(53 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 21, 2007 3:24 PM
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As a wife of a United States Marine, i was not sure if i would be able to handle watching this show. I was so hard to hold back the tears. I breaks my heart what these men and women have gone through. It also opened my eyes and showed me what my husband had to experience. He didnt want to watch the show, it gave him bad memories.
I want to say Thank you for making this! The people need to see this they need to realize what is going on!!
Thank you to the men and women in the military!! thank you!
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/21/07
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(52 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 21, 2007 3:24 AM
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Earlier this evening I watched this documentary. As a wife of a young man in Iraq, I knew it was going to be hard to watch, but knew I needed to. I watched it, wrote the email to my friends below and then waited for Adam to call. We just got off the phone and I miss him more than ever. Thank you, Mr. Gandolfini, for your courage to tell these stories. My husband is a huge fan, and now so am I. Here is the email I sent out tonight:
Hey there -
So, I just spent the last hour getting a pretty great education. Although I've tried to avoid it, I finally watched the HBO special produced by James Gandolfini from the Sopranos called "Alive Day Memories; Home from Iraq." I knew it would be powerful and I knew it would make me sad and probably cry, but I didn't know how much I was going to learn about the war we are in and that my husband is fighting. I'm writing to you because you are my friend and, because of that, you are now Adam's friend. It's easy for us all to say (myself included) that Adam's in Iraq at war and he'll be home soon. What's not easy is imagining what he is actually going through over there. This shit is real and happening and really, really fucked up.
As I watched this special, I saw the real faces of the real soldiers who's lives have been completely and forever changed by the battles they have fought. As the dates of their "Alive Day" (the day of their injury) appeared on the screen, my mind went to where I was in my life around that time. "Oh, that was when I was in Greece." "Oh, that was a few days after my 33rd birthday, I'm sure I was partying it up with my friends." I never even thought of the hell these kids were going through wearing American uniforms. It's such a joke how horrific things are over there and how most of us don't even know it. I get it - life here goes on, we have our own, very real daily trials and problems and it's all relative, but it's actually funny how drastically worse it is for them there and how so much of what we deal with pales when compared with the anxiety, fear and pain they are faced with on a daily basis. Please don't take this as my demeaning your challenges. That is definitely not my intent. I know many of you have had some huge things to deal with and that things haven't always been easy or positive. I'm just overwhelmed by this show and by the vulgarity of the situation for our soldiers in Iraq (and back home) right now. Ugh. What a mess.
I guess what I am trying to say (and undoubtedly being way too dramatic doing so) is that if you get a chance, watch this special. Adam is the most important person on my planet and through my loving him, he is now a part of your life. This special helped me learn more about what life is like over there and get a more firm grip on the reality of this whole, completely fucked up situation. I have ultimate respect for my man and for the men and women who are over there fighting, getting injured, doing horrible things they never thought they were capable of doing, living and dying. I know you do, too. But, most of us are not faced with this reality every day and this special helps remind us what sacrifices are being made. Maybe it will help you be more sympathetic, maybe it will help you understand better, maybe it will piss you off to the point that you are more active when voting time comes around. It will evoke an emotion of some sort, I'm sure.
Thanks for listening to me rant. You are my best friends and I just needed to share. You have all been rock stars for being so damn supportive and loving, so thank you. Thanks for embracing Adam and for putting up with my emotional ass. And, watch this show if you can. If you don't have HBO, call me and you can come watch it over here. I'll supply popcorn, wine and tissues.
xx
d
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Posts:
3
Registered:
9/20/07
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(51 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 20, 2007 11:14 PM
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I saw the Documentary last night.
Not since 9/11 has television moved me so emotionally.
Thank you HBO, and thanks to you brave soldiers!
I feel both humbled, and inspired.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/19/07
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(50 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 19, 2007 10:28 PM
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I'm not on the main front line like my fellow brothers and sisters of the Marines and Army, but being a Sailior who volunteered for Iraq duty, I know the dangers first hand. My heart goes out to every one of them who have been injured or lost their lives for this war. I have lost many close friends (both Sailor and Marine) so this show hit hard. I have never cried during my three nine month tours like I did after watching tonights show. Thank you HBO and James (Tony S.) Gandolfini for bringing to American homes what our Brothers and Sisters in the Armed Forces have gone through and continue to go through to defend our Country.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/19/07
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(49 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 19, 2007 10:07 PM
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I thought it would be hard to see this show. Since I've been back I have tried to avoid anything that is related to war, especially this one. I held back tears when I saw this show and it brought back bad memories but I was happy to see that I wasn't alone. When you get back you feel like no one knows what you know or have done. It's hard to share with people what you went through when they haven't been there. In a way you feel alittle ashamed. Nevertheless, it was a great show and I hope it helps people understand just alittle better how it is over there...
Bear 26, out.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/19/07
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(48 of 61)
Re: ALIVE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ
Sep 19, 2007 10:03 PM
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The best documentary on America's heroes I've seen yet. Please pass along my Thanks to the producers and executives that put this together.
As far as the soldiers featured, they have my admiration and gratitude. Thanks is far too small a gesture to express what I feel towards them.
Mike McDanield
Overland Park, Ks.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
9/19/07
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(47 of 61)
Sep 19, 2007 9:42 PM
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Thank you for putting this together and allowing us to hear the amazing storis of these courageous stories. THANK YOU to all of our soliders whose dedication keeps us safe. To those who shared your stories to HBO, thank you for showing us a level of courage that I didn't know existed in today's world. I appreciate everything everyone of you have done.
I hope that all of our elected officials are sent a copy of this show to watch while they are fighting policies.
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