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Marines in Afghanistan
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Michael Hubler
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Sep 04, 2009 14:46 PDT
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A grim reminder that Marines are very involved in a very serious =20
shooting war.
Calm - then sudden death in Afghan war
By: The Associated Press
September 4, 2009 10:43 AM EST
DAHANEH, Afghanistan (AP) - The pomegranate grove looked ominous.
The U.S. patrol had a tip that Taliban fighters were lying in ambush, =20=
and a Marine had his weapon trained on the trees 70 yards away. "If =20
you see anything move from there, light it up," Cpl. Braxton Russell =20
told him.
Thirty seconds later, a salvo of gunfire and RPGs - rocket-propelled =20
grenades - poured out of the grove. "Casualty! We've got a casualty!" =20=
someone shouted. A grenade had hit Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard =20=
in the legs.
A Marine and son of a Marine, a devout Christian, Iraq war veteran and =20=
avid hiker, home-schooled in rural Maine, Bernard was about to become =20=
the next fatality in the deadliest month of the deadliest year since =20
the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
The troops of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines had been =20
fighting for three days to wrest this town in southern Afghanistan =20
from the Taliban who had ruled it for four years. As dusk approached =20
on Friday, Aug. 14, things had quieted down. The Taliban seemed to =20
have gone. Another day had passed in the long, hard slog for U.S. =20
troops serving on the parched plains and mountains of Afghanistan, in =20=
a war that has steadily intensified.
Then, as the Marines were enjoying some downtime, reports of mortar, =20
machine-gun and sniper fire sent them scrambling again. The 11 =20
Americans and 10 Afghan soldiers edged their way into the town's
abandoned bazaar. With them were Associated Press correspondent Alfred =20=
de Montesquiou, AP photographer Julie Jacobson and AP Television News =20=
cameraman Ken Teh.
Eyes scanning rooftops for gunmen and the ground for buried bombs, the =20=
patrol pushed past shops still smoldering from U.S. mortar shells, =20
past Taliban posters on the walls exhorting the populace to fight the =20=
Americans. Bernard, his face daubed in gray and brown camouflage =20
paint, was the point man.
A young Afghan in front of the family store showed the patrol a patch =20=
of upturned earth in a ditch. It was here that insurgents had fired =20
their mortars a few minutes earlier.
"But don't say I told you, or they'll kill me," the man said.
As he spoke, the Marines got word of the ambush being readied nearby. =20=
Two Cobra helicopters circling overhead fired Hellfire missiles at a =20
mortar position. The Marines weren't sure this had settled the matter =20=
with the Taliban. They pushed on.
Then they reached the pomegranate grove.
---
At first Jake Godby thought Bernard had stepped on an explosive =20
device. Godby, a 24-year-old 2nd lieutenant from Fredericksburg, Va., =20=
quickly regrouped his men and directed the returning fire.
The squad found itself stuck under sustained and heavy fire with a =20
wounded man on a narrow crossroad - buildings behind them, insurgents =20=
hidden in the orchard in front of them, and a large puddle from a =20
broken water pump in the middle. Godby had the troops advance to the =20
cover of a mud wall and an irrigation ditch.
The orange streaks of bullets whizzing in every direction grew visible =20=
as the light faded.
"That's when I realized there was a casualty and saw the injured =20
Marine, about 10 yards from where I'd stood," Jacobson would write in =20=
her journal. "For the second time in my life, I watched a Marine lose =20=
his. He was hit with the RPG which blew off one of his legs and badly =20=
mangled the other. ... I hadn't seen it happen, just heard the =20
explosion. I hit the ground and lay as flat as I could and shot what I =20=
could of the scene."
Bernard lay on the ground, two Marines standing over him exposed, =20
trying to help. A first tourniquet on Bernard's leg broke.
A medic applied another.
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe," Bernard said. Troops crawling =20
under the bullets dragged him to the MRAP, the mine-resistant armored =20=
vehicle that accompanied the patrol.
"The other guys kept telling him `Bernard, you're doing fine, you're =20
doing fine. You're gonna make it. Stay with me Bernard!' He (a Marine) =20=
held Bernard's head in his hands when he seemed to go limp and tried =20
to keep him awake. A couple more ran in with a stretcher," Jacobson =20
recalled in the journal.
"Another RPG hit the mud wall on the other side of the street from =20
where we were, about 5 yards away. It was a big BOOM, and I just lay =20
my face in the dirt and everything went quiet for about 10 seconds. It =20=
was just silence like I was wearing noise-canceling headphones or like =20=
world peace had finally descended upon the
earth. The air was white with sand. Then I started feeling the rubble =20=
fall down around me. And I thought, `Is this what it's like to be =20
shell shocked? Am I all still here? I can't believe I am.'
"I was fine and surprised at how calm I was and that I could actually =20=
still hear."
---
The rocket-propelled grenade exploded in a powerful pinkish blast, =20
lighting up the scene and briefly knocking out de Montesquiou and =20
Staff Sgt. Alexander Ferguson. When Ferguson recovered, he helped haul =20=
Bernard inside the vehicle. Bernard was driven back to base some 500 =20
yards from there, receiving first aid
along the way. Minutes later, a helicopter evacuated him to Camp =20
Leatherneck, the main Marine compound in southern Afghanistan. His =20
vital signs were stable when he left.
At the ambush site, the fighting continued uninterrupted for 10 to 15 =20=
minutes. The men could see the grenades coming in at them, and even =20
some of the machine gunners. They estimated they were facing six to =20
eight fighters.
Adding to the confusion, an Afghan soldier with the troops fired his =20
own grenade at the insurgents, but he hadn't checked whether anybody =20
was close by. A Marine was knocked out by the back-blast. Another =20
grabbed the Afghan by the collar.
"Once he stopped shooting, we were able to get control of the =20
situation," Russell said.
Some Marines are uneasy patrolling with the Afghan National Army. For =20=
one thing, there's a language barrier. During the shootout at the =20
orchard, the patrol's Afghan interpreter disappeared and took cover, =20
leaving the Marines unable to coordinate their moves with the Afghan =20
soldiers.
"They're not lacking courage, they're just lacking training right =20
now," said Russell, 22, from Stafford, Va. "At least they were =20
shooting in the right direction."
The fighting ebbed with nightfall. Godby and some of the Marines =20
equipped with night vision glasses pushed deeper into the orchard, but =20=
the insurgents were gone. Intelligence pointed to three enemy dead, =20
several Marines said, but it could not be confirmed.
That night, officers assembled the platoon in a darkened room of the =20
run-down house where the Marines had camped after taking Dahaneh two =20
days earlier. There the officers delivered the news: Bernard had died =20=
of a blood clot in his heart on the operating table. He was Golf =20
Company's third fatality since arriving in Afghanistan in May.
Bernard was the 19th American to die in Afghanistan in August. Fifty-=20
one Marines, soldiers and seamen lost their lives that month. Of the =20
739 Americans killed in and around Afghanistan since 2001, 151 died =20
last year and 180 so far this year.
---
Down a rural dirt road in New Portland, western Maine, John and Sharon =20=
Bernard sat on their porch and talked about their son. Joshua, they =20
said, loved literature and showed early interest in the Bible and =20
Christianity. "He had a very strong faith right from the beginning," =20
his mother said.
His father described him as "humble, shy, unassuming - the very first =20=
to offer help." He didn't smoke or drink, and always opened the door =20
for others. His main friends were his church group, whom he would =20
visit when on leave, and his sister Katy, 20.
Bernard's father is a retired Marine 1st sergeant. Three weeks before =20=
the Aug. 14 ambush that killed his son, he had written to his =20
congressman, Rep. Michael Michaud, expressing frustration at what he =20
described as a change in the Afghanistan rules of engagement to one of =20=
"spare the civilians at all cost." He called this "disgraceful, =20
immoral and fatal" to U.S. forces in combat. Joshua loved videogames =20
and snowboarding, and hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail with his =20
father. He hoped to become a U.S. marshal.
"Service and personal honor," is how his father summarized his son.
---
Three days after Bernard's death, as his belongings were being packed =20=
for shipment to his family, Cpl. Joshua Jackson, his squad leader, was =20=
still referring to him in the present tense.
"He definitely doesn't hesitate," said Jackson, 23, from Copley, Ohio. =20=
"He's very good, he definitely has the nerves to do what he's needed =20
to do."
He called Bernard "a true-heartedly very good guy ... probably one of =20=
the best guys I've known in my entire life."
The hardest part is "just wondering if there's something that I could =20=
have done different, or maybe prevented him from dying," Jackson said. =20=
"But that's something we've all got to deal with."
"I think it's got to do with being a Marine; you just carry on," said =20=
Godby. That night he got two hours of sleep. Before dawn, his platoon =20=
took part in a raid on a suspected Taliban stronghold.
Bernard was determined, his comrades said. That's why he was chosen as =20=
the squad's point man and navigator, moving at the front of his unit.
Lance Cpl. Jason Pignon, 22, from Thayer, Ill., was his close friend. =20=
They had been in the same platoon since 2007 when they joined "the =20
Fleet," as Marines call the units preparing to deploy. They served =20
together near Fallujah in Iraq in 2008, and again in Afghanistan.
During the firefight, Jacobson had wrestled with a question every war =20=
photographer faces: whether to offer to help save a life, or keep out =20=
of the way of the professionals and go on shooting pictures. She =20
wondered whether the Marines would be upset that she went on =20
photographing.
Some of Bernard's comrades asked to see the photos. In her journal she =20=
described them flipping through the images she had captured that day: =20=
"They did stop when they came to that moment. But none of them =20
complained or grew angry about it. They understood that it was what it =20=
was. They understand, despite that he was their friend, it was the =20
reality of things."
---
It had all gone very quickly. It was late afternoon when the Taliban =20
fired their first RPGs. It was dusk when the Marine was driven away in =20=
the armored vehicle. And it was night when the patrol returning to =20
base saw the dark silhouette of the helicopter that flew him away.
Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard was 21 years old.
=A9 2009 Capitol News Company, LLC
=09
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<html><head></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">A =
grim reminder that Marines are very involved in a very serious shooting =
war.<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Calm - then sudden =
death in Afghan war</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">By: The Associated =
Press</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">September 4, 2009 10:43 AM =
EST</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">DAHANEH, Afghanistan (AP) - The pomegranate =
grove looked ominous. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The U.S. patrol had a tip that Taliban =
fighters were lying in ambush, and a Marine had his weapon trained on =
the trees 70 yards away. "If you see anything move from there, light it =
up," Cpl. Braxton Russell told him.</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Thirty seconds =
later, a salvo of gunfire and RPGs - rocket-propelled grenades - poured =
out of the grove. "Casualty! We've got a casualty!" someone shouted. A =
grenade had hit Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard in the =
legs. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">A Marine and son of a Marine, a devout =
Christian, Iraq war veteran and avid hiker, home-schooled in rural =
Maine, Bernard was about to become the next fatality in the deadliest =
month of the deadliest year since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan =
in 2001. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The troops of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, =
3rd Marines had been fighting for three days to wrest this town in =
southern Afghanistan from the Taliban who had ruled it for four years. =
As dusk approached on Friday, Aug. 14, things had quieted down. The =
Taliban seemed to have gone. Another day had passed in the long, hard =
slog for U.S. troops serving on the parched plains and mountains of =
Afghanistan, in a war that has steadily =
intensified. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Then, as the Marines were enjoying some =
downtime, reports of mortar, machine-gun and sniper fire sent them =
scrambling again. The 11 Americans and 10 Afghan soldiers edged their =
way into the town's</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">abandoned bazaar. With them were Associated =
Press correspondent Alfred de Montesquiou, AP photographer Julie =
Jacobson and AP Television News cameraman Ken =
Teh. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Eyes scanning rooftops for gunmen and the =
ground for buried bombs, the patrol pushed past shops still smoldering =
from U.S. mortar shells, past Taliban posters on the walls exhorting the =
populace to fight the Americans. Bernard, his face daubed in gray and =
brown camouflage paint, was the point man. </span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">A young Afghan in front of the family store =
showed the patrol a patch of upturned earth in a ditch. It was here that =
insurgents had fired their mortars a few minutes =
earlier. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"But don't say I told you, or they'll kill =
me," the man said. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">As he spoke, the Marines got word of the =
ambush being readied nearby. Two Cobra helicopters circling overhead =
fired Hellfire missiles at a mortar position. The Marines weren't sure =
this had settled the matter with the Taliban. They pushed =
on. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Then they reached the pomegranate =
grove.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">--- </span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">At first Jake Godby thought Bernard had =
stepped on an explosive device. Godby, a 24-year-old 2nd lieutenant from =
Fredericksburg, Va., quickly regrouped his men and directed the =
returning fire. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The squad found itself stuck under sustained =
and heavy fire with a wounded man on a narrow crossroad - buildings =
behind them, insurgents hidden in the orchard in front of them, and a =
large puddle from a broken water pump in the middle. Godby had the =
troops advance to the cover of a mud wall and an irrigation =
ditch. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The orange streaks of bullets whizzing in =
every direction grew visible as the light =
faded. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"That's when I realized there was a casualty =
and saw the injured Marine, about 10 yards from where I'd stood," =
Jacobson would write in her journal. "For the second time in my life, I =
watched a Marine lose his. He was hit with the RPG which blew off one of =
his legs and badly mangled the other. ... I hadn't seen it happen, just =
heard the explosion. I hit the ground and lay as flat as I could and =
shot what I could of the scene." </span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Bernard lay on the ground, two Marines =
standing over him exposed, trying to help. A first tourniquet on =
Bernard's leg broke. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">A medic applied =
another. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"I can't breathe, I can't breathe," Bernard =
said. Troops crawling under the bullets dragged him to the MRAP, the =
mine-resistant armored vehicle that accompanied the =
patrol. </span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"The other guys kept telling him `Bernard, =
you're doing fine, you're doing fine. You're gonna make it. Stay with me =
Bernard!' He (a Marine) held Bernard's head in his hands when he seemed =
to go limp and tried to keep him awake. A couple more ran in with a =
stretcher," Jacobson recalled in the journal.</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"Another RPG hit the mud wall on the other =
side of the street from where we were, about 5 yards away. It was a big =
BOOM, and I just lay my face in the dirt and everything went quiet for =
about 10 seconds. It was just silence like I was wearing noise-canceling =
headphones or like world peace had finally descended upon =
the</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">earth. The air was white with sand. Then I =
started feeling the rubble fall down around me. And I thought, `Is this =
what it's like to be shell shocked? Am I all still here? I can't believe =
I am.'</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"I was fine and surprised at how calm I was =
and that I could actually still hear."</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;">---</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The rocket-propelled grenade exploded in a =
powerful pinkish blast, lighting up the scene and briefly knocking out =
de Montesquiou and Staff Sgt. Alexander Ferguson. When Ferguson =
recovered, he helped haul Bernard inside the vehicle. Bernard was driven =
back to base some 500 yards from there, receiving first =
aid</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">along the way. Minutes later, a helicopter =
evacuated him to Camp Leatherneck, the main Marine compound in southern =
Afghanistan. His vital signs were stable when he =
left.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">At the ambush site, the fighting continued =
uninterrupted for 10 to 15 minutes. The men could see the grenades =
coming in at them, and even some of the machine gunners. They estimated =
they were facing six to eight fighters.</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Adding to the confusion, an Afghan soldier =
with the troops fired his own grenade at the insurgents, but he hadn't =
checked whether anybody was close by. A Marine was knocked out by the =
back-blast. Another grabbed the Afghan by the =
collar.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"Once he stopped shooting, we were able to =
get control of the situation," Russell said.</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Some Marines are uneasy patrolling with the =
Afghan National Army. For one thing, there's a language barrier. During =
the shootout at the orchard, the patrol's Afghan interpreter disappeared =
and took cover, leaving the Marines unable to coordinate their moves =
with the Afghan soldiers.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"They're not lacking courage, they're just =
lacking training right now," said Russell, 22, from Stafford, Va. "At =
least they were shooting in the right =
direction."</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The fighting ebbed with nightfall. Godby and =
some of the Marines equipped with night vision glasses pushed deeper =
into the orchard, but the insurgents were gone. Intelligence pointed to =
three enemy dead, several Marines said, but it could not be =
confirmed.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">That night, officers assembled the platoon in =
a darkened room of the run-down house where the Marines had camped after =
taking Dahaneh two days earlier. There the officers delivered the news: =
Bernard had died of a blood clot in his heart on the operating table. He =
was Golf Company's third fatality since arriving in Afghanistan in =
May.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Bernard was the 19th American to die in =
Afghanistan in August. Fifty-one Marines, soldiers and seamen lost their =
lives that month. Of the 739 Americans killed in and around Afghanistan =
since 2001, 151 died last year and 180 so far this =
year.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">---</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Down a rural dirt road in New Portland, =
western Maine, John and Sharon Bernard sat on their porch and talked =
about their son. Joshua, they said, loved literature and showed early =
interest in the Bible and Christianity. "He had a very strong faith =
right from the beginning," his mother said.</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">His father described him as "humble, shy, =
unassuming - the very first to offer help." He didn't smoke or drink, =
and always opened the door for others. His main friends were his church =
group, whom he would visit when on leave, and his sister Katy, =
20.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Bernard's father is a retired Marine 1st =
sergeant. Three weeks before the Aug. 14 ambush that killed his son, he =
had written to his congressman, Rep. Michael Michaud, expressing =
frustration at what he described as a change in the Afghanistan rules of =
engagement to one of "spare the civilians at all cost." He called this =
"disgraceful, immoral and fatal" to U.S. forces in combat. Joshua loved =
videogames and snowboarding, and hiked parts of the Appalachian Trail =
with his father. He hoped to become a U.S. =
marshal.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"Service and personal honor," is how his =
father summarized his son.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">---</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Three days after Bernard's death, as his =
belongings were being packed for shipment to his family, Cpl. Joshua =
Jackson, his squad leader, was still referring to him in the present =
tense.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"He definitely doesn't hesitate," said =
Jackson, 23, from Copley, Ohio. "He's very good, he definitely has the =
nerves to do what he's needed to do."</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">He called Bernard "a true-heartedly very good =
guy ... probably one of the best guys I've known in my entire =
life."</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">The hardest part is "just wondering if =
there's something that I could have done different, or maybe prevented =
him from dying," Jackson said. "But that's something we've all got to =
deal with."</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">"I think it's got to do with being a Marine; =
you just carry on," said Godby. That night he got two hours of sleep. =
Before dawn, his platoon took part in a raid on a suspected Taliban =
stronghold.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Bernard was determined, his comrades said. =
That's why he was chosen as the squad's point man and navigator, moving =
at the front of his unit.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Lance Cpl. Jason Pignon, 22, from Thayer, =
Ill., was his close friend. They had been in the same platoon since 2007 =
when they joined "the Fleet," as Marines call the units preparing to =
deploy. They served together near Fallujah in Iraq in 2008, and again in =
Afghanistan.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">During the firefight, Jacobson had wrestled =
with a question every war photographer faces: whether to offer to help =
save a life, or keep out of the way of the professionals and go on =
shooting pictures. She wondered whether the Marines would be upset that =
she went on photographing.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: =
normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Some of Bernard's comrades asked to see the =
photos. In her journal she described them flipping through the images =
she had captured that day: "They did stop when they came to that moment. =
But none of them complained or grew angry about it. They understood that =
it was what it was. They understand, despite that he was their friend, =
it was the reality of things."</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">---</span></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay"=
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">It had all gone very quickly. It was late =
afternoon when the Taliban fired their first RPGs. It was dusk when the =
Marine was driven away in the armored vehicle. And it was night when the =
patrol returning to base saw the dark silhouette of the helicopter that =
flew him away.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard was 21 =
years old.</span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: =
13px;"><br></span></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal =
normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"VTScreenplay" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 13px;">=A9 2009 Capitol News Company, =
LLC</span></font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; =
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