Foxholes and Dogtags

This is War

I got an email about three weeks ago.

This Is War: Memories of Iraq is the feature length documentary that has everyone talking. Bold, brash and a little sick, This Is War takes viewers inside Iraq and reveals the story that can only be told by the men and the women living the deployment. Although featuring members of the Oregon National Guard 2/162, This Is War is really the story of all of America's warriors that have been deployed.

Already the winner of numerous awards (Best Documentary; Idaho International Film Festival, Florida Media Market and Sweet Onion Film Festivals) and accolades, This Is War is not a movie for the Left or the Right, it is simply a movie that showcases the reality, hopefulness, hopelessness, fear and joy in Iraq through the video and photos of the soldiers themselves, as they survive intense combat and the hunt for IEDs that define their mission.

Priced at $19.95, all sales of This Is War: Memories of Iraq help to support the Wounded Warrior Project, the National Combat History Archive and the Iraq/Afghanistan Oregon Memorial Fund.

I was given a copy of this documentary with a request to review it and write about it on my blog. I took a little longer then I meant to do so.

First off, I can agree that this is a film that is neither for nor against war, it's just a film about war, and about the soldiers that find themselves in the middle of it. It really is their story, their experiences, about their buddies in combat and the sense of brotherhood that comes with being a part of the military.

It follows an Oregon National Guard unit throughout their deployment in 2004 through Baghdad, filmed by the soldiers themselves from their view point. And it shows the soldiers being soldiers, putting a human face to our troops overseas, how the grunt on the ground thinks and feels about what is going on around him. It is frank and honest, sometimes very candid, soldiers video journaling their experiences right after it has happened, or in the middle of a mission.

Indeed, this is not anti-war propaganda like I've heard of other similar documentaries such as Stop Loss. This is a film that simply is what it is. I often look for good videos that I can potentially show trainees once I hit the trail, and this is a film that tells it like it is, from the soldiers themselves in the middle of combat. This is about lessons learned, and what to expect. Which is something I can take for granted, as I have yet to experience it myself.

I do heartily recommend viewing it for yourself, especially if you are curious about the war from the viewpoint of the soldiers themselves.

All proceeds go to help the Wounded Warriors Project. Click here to learn more and order

1 Comments:

Kami said...: Retrieved Comments for this Post:

Glad to hear some honest depictions about this struggle exist without all the typical leftist propaganda.
This year along with "Stop-Loss" we can expect the doc "Sir, No Sir" and a remake of "Johnny Got His Gun". All credit goes to the military who go about their jobs despite the endless din of a soft and ignorant public.
Rob | 03.01.08 - 11:56 pm | #; 6/4/08 16:12

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