A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

PART ONE: APRIL 6, 2004

Program 09-10-25-A

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© David Robert Swanson, USA, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Iraq. April 6, 2004. This day marked the Marines' heaviest fighting since Vietnam and was the start of the Iraqi insurgency. By the end of the day more than 40 Marines and hundreds of Iraqis were dead. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, a day that transformed the war in Iraq. General Sanchez, commander of US forces that day, will give us his perspective. And, we'll talk with the Marines who were there about a day they'll never forget.

SEGMENT 1:

This hour takes a look back at one momentous day during the war in Iraq: April 6, 2004 saw the birth of the Iraqi insurgency and the heaviest fighting the U.S. Marines had encountered since Vietnam. Donovan Campbell commanded a platoon of Marines in Ramadi. He tells Steve Paulson that to understand the events of April 6, you have to know what went on the night before. He also tells the story in his memoir, "Joker One."

SEGMENT 2:

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez served as Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004. He shared power with Paul Bremer, the Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority. Sanchez commanded Coalition Forces during the capture of Saddam Hussein, the revelation about Abu Ghraib and on April 6, 2004. His memoir is called "Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story." General Sanchez recalled his service in this candid discussion with Steve Paulson.

SEGMENT 3:

Steve Levin is the producer of a documentary film, "Jerabek," which follows the family of a young Marine killed in the ambush at ar-Ramadi on April 6, 2004. Levin talks with Anne Strainchamps about his film and its subject - Ryan Jerabek, his family and community. Also, journalist David Swanson was embedded in ar-Ramadi with Ryan Jerabek's unit the day Ryan died. He tells Jim Fleming the Marines knew that location was dangerous and resented having to patrol there every day at the same time. David Swanson is a staff photographer at the Philadelphia Inquirer. His war photography is available at http://edafe.org/2005/05/echoes-of-war.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-10-25-A.

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Books & CDs:

Lt. Gen. Richardo S. Sanchez, Wiser In Battle: A Soldier’s Story (Harper)
Lt. Donovan Campbell, Joker One: A Marine Platoon’s Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood (Random House)

Websites:

• For more on the film “Jerabek” please go to: http://www.jerabekmovie.com
  
• To view David Swanson’s photos from April 6, 2004: http://edafe.org/2005/05/echoes-of-war
  
• More from Donovan Campbell:
  http://www.joker-one.com/
  

Music:

• Like Spinning Plates/Radiohead/Amnesiac/EMI
  7/Moby/Play/Little Idiots Records
  
• Porcelain/Moby/Play/Little Idiots Records
  
• Shot in the Back of the Head/Moby/Wait for Me/Little Idiots Records
  
• Original theme music for “Boots on the Ground: Stories from the War in Iraq” was written by Steve Mullen at Walk West Productions. http://walkwestworld.com

Distribution dates: week of 10/25/2009 - hour 1 click HERE for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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