Tim Sumner

Iraq, Support our troops

Specialist Nick Maranell on 5 years in Iraq: Somebody had to step in

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The Associated Press gave voice to one soldier’s opinion, Army Specialist Nick Maranell, on five years of war in Iraq, after his 15-month tour there:

“Pretty much ninety percent of the stuff we did was stuff to help the Iraqis. I wouldn’t be giving up that much of my time risking my life for something I didn’t believe in… My fear is we’d leave too soon. It is so volatile right now; it is so unstable that anyone could walk in there and take over the country. There are so many good people there … They say we shouldn’t be there. Somebody had to step in.”

Hat tip to The Long War Journal.

heroes

Hometown heroes: FDNY firefighters rescue two women

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FDNY Ladder 18 firefighters rescue two lower Eastside women

In this morning’s New York Post:

The women were in an apartment on the third floor of the building at 1223 FDR Drive at around 4:30 p.m. when the fire broke out, a Fire Department spokesman said. Firefighters Charles Maloney and Steven Katz of Ladder 18 followed the screams of the health-care provider, in her 50s, who was trapped behind a child-guard screen … Maloney, in a bucket ladder outside of the building, removed the guard and pulled the aide to safety. Katz then went into the apartment and carried the bed-ridden elderly woman, in her 70s, from the blaze.

“That’s what we do, we come to work everyday hoping we can do this,” said Maloney of their heroism.