Questions about Baqubah DVD answered

The Guardian has received many inquiries about last week’s article, “Lessons of Baqubah now on DVD,” most asking how to get copies of the DVD, like this one:

Dear Mr. Kramer:

Where can I buy a copy of this DVD?

I was on the American Red Cross team (just up the dirt road from Tomahawks at CP Liberty) during this operation. I spent countless hours being a friend to many 1-23 (3-2) and 1-38 (4-2) Soldiers, before, during and after missions. Too many memorials. Too many tears. Too many thousand-yard stares. But I saw such bravery that I know I’ll never see again; such determination and loyalty; and young men courageously shouldering responsibilities that they never thought they could. I was never so proud to be an American, as I was over that year!

I would very much like to have a documentary of this very significant tactical turning point. I truly feel like I was also a part — albeit a very small part — of its success.

Thank you,

Susanne Harlandt

American Red Cross

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

The answer is: you can't.

The video was produced by the Fort Lewis Battle Command Training Center through the efforts of William Koziar and Matt Latimer in the leadership development section. They strung together interviews of leaders from all levels of 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment and attached cavalry troops, along with photographs and video shot by Soldiers themselves. Soldiers from 5-20 Inf. previewed the video June 5 before it was made available on the Web at https://StrykerNet.army.mil.

The DVD focused on the period from March through June 2007 before the Arrowhead Ripper offensive, before the Regulars got help against al-Qaida resistance from the available Stryker Soldiers in 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

The DVD is “For Official Use Only,” not releasable to the public and therefore not available for wide distribution. Soldiers and DA civilians must have secure access to their Army Knowledge Online accounts to view the 90-minute video online on StrykerNet.

The BCTC will also provide copies of the DVD to Soldiers and DA civilians with military mailing addresses, to be used only for official purposes. To request copies, contact the Fort Lewis BCTC leader development team.

Note: the secure URL for AKO account holders in last week’s print article was incorrect; the video, along with all SLA Marshall series interviews and contact information, can be accessed at https://StrykerNet.army.mil, Click on the leader development tab.