This
was the posting of how the good people on the Freedom Republic
Message Board came to know of Gunny Popaditch.
During
the war, several hundred news-addicted Freepers kept up with
fast-breaking events on daily threads called "Operation
Iraqi Freedom--The Situation Room--Day #___".
Many
threads ran to 5,000 or 6,000 posts a day. They were exciting,
sad, informative and (during news lulls) hysterically funny.
There were dozens of networks with "BagCams"---live
feed from Baghdad---where, among other things, we could watch
the correspondents on our computers when they didn't realize
we were watching...very funny!
All
the BagCams and network broadcasts were eventually trained on
Firdos Square, the traffic circle with the statue in the middle.
We became very familiar with that blue mosque, the reporters
on top of the hotel, the dog who would bark every time a bomb
landed. Bombs would also set off all the car alarms in the vicinity...it
was funny.
As
troops moved into Baghdad, we watched our computers excitedly
for tanks rolling into BagCam range. Finally they did and "the
Situation Room" erupted with cheers, tears and pride. There
were some stupid humans-shield types in the square with a huge
banner saying "Go Home U.S. Wankers". Some Iraqis
had taken it away from them and changed it to "Go Home
Human Shield Wankers!". They paraded around the square
with that sign.
Right
then someone posted the wonderful photo of Nick and his cigar.
It looked just like he was laughing and blowing smoke at the
Wanker human shields! (Many female freepers fell instantly in
love with Nick...we envy you!). He became an instant icon in
The Situation Room. He captured for us the joy of that moment
when our wonderful troops completed that perilous journey and
finally drove into "our traffic circle". Thank you,
Nick.
For
a good idea of what it was like, I'll provide a link to the
Situation Room anniversary thread posted a few weeks ago. Much
of the humor was probably one of those "you just had to
be there" things, so some of it may not make sense.
ANNIVERSARY:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1101684/posts
Please
keep in mind we didn't know Nick was wounded....or that he was
happily married...***blush***.
Here's
a link to the day the tanks rolled into Firdos Square. I don't
know if the pictures still show up...I doubt it...you'll probably
see a little square with red X instead of pictures. Start around
#1757.
TANKS
IN THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/888599/posts?q=1&&page=1751
I
haven't re-read those threads, so I hope we didn't say anything
to embarrass you (or us!). Please know how much Nick means to
us and that he is in our prayers every day.
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