Embedded journalism from the front lines of
Afghanistan & Iraq ~ by Mike & Carlos Boettcher

I just wanted to let you know your reports are keeping my family and i updated on my brothers every move! He is with the 2/8 co. please send our love and blessings to him LCP Rodgers. Thanks for the reports

Mike,
Though I have only been following you for a short while (I have a dear friend in 2/8 Golf Co.) I have found you to be a great source of info and education. Thank you for putting a personal touch to something that means something to me and so many others. Good Luck and keep up the great work!

Our son is with 2/8 Golf. We have had the opportunity to follow your videos/blogs as our only contact with our son and his comrades/friends. It is a great launching platform for prayer which we and our church body have been diligently engaged in. We will continue to check your site multiple times daily in hopes of remaining connected to you and the boys. Great thanks to you and Carlos for your commitment and sacrifice on behalf of these marines and our country. We will also keep both of you in our prayers.

Mike and Carlos,
Thank you thank you thank you – I read your column as much as i can and you help me to understand what the marines are going through on a daily basis and the general feeling about the place they are in. I am afraid a lot for my son and read everything i can and of course, look at every pic sure i see my son. He is in echo co – lcpl daniel craft – machine gunner. If you see him tell him his mother loves him please. Be safe and thank you so very much for covering this war. Love debbie

Mr. Boettcher,
You are an American hero. I can tell from your posts and stories that you know you are with heroes, fighting for all Americans everyday, but you are right up there with them. You have a choice of staying stateside in the air conditioning and comfort, and you have chosen to be in that hell, risking your own life, so that you give us this story. I wish there were words that could make you understand how much it means to me, as a mother of a Marine in 2/8, to read what you are writing. Your blog and twitter feel like our lifeline – our connection, right now, to our son and to so many of these young men that we have gotten to know and love. I hope that in the days to come, many, many Americans could see, hear, and realize what an incredible story you are covering and telling.
Thank you, very much, for what you are doing.
Sincerely,
Rachel Jackson
PS – If you see my son, tell him to call his Mama!!!

Thank you for your insights into this war. Your work has been fantastic to read and it’s been a great insight into how life actually is in the Middle East.

Mike,

You covered Beiruit when I served there as a young man. Now, you are embeded with my son in 2/8 Golf. I don’t know what it means, but it feels like something special. Keep up the good work and Say hello to Rory when you see him. I’m visiting you site every day.

Mike: Congratulations on a career well done. I look forward to the next chapter. Carlos: You’ve blossomed into a gifted writer in your own right. Please make use of the gifts and experience you have. To you both, best wishes for a safe journey home. To the Marines of 2/8, and to all our service men and women: THANK YOU.

Mike and Carlos,
I am the mother of Lcpl. Navarrete from Golf 2/8 and this is the only lifeline that I have to my son. I read and re-read everthing single day what you post .Even though I worry about my son, I feel the need to know as much as I can about him. I have not heard from him in a while but, thanks to both of you I have some information on him and his brother marines. I wrote to you last week telling you that I pray for you and all of our marines there in Afghanistan and, I will continue to pray until all of you come home again. If you should see my son, please tell him that I love him with all of my heart and soul. Tell him that we are here waiting here at home for his safe arrival. I tell everybody about you and your son’s great heart to love these marines enough to put you your life in danger to tell their story. Thank you, thank both of you from the very bottom of my heart! God bless you, your son and all of our marines always. Blanca

Mike and Carlos,
Thanks for your excellent heartfelt reporting on the 2/8. Best of everything to you both as you work your way thru this assignment. And a hearty hello to my son, 1Lt. Ben Kezar (you had him in a couple video shots during the field episode) and all his fellow Marines should you run across him again. Thanks for being the engine on this, one of life’s craziest roller-coaster rides. Stay safe, all of you.
Mitch Kezar

Mike, I would like to thank you and Carlos for all you are doing to bring home the truth about what our brave troops are doing in Afghanistan. What you are doing is appreciated and valued, especially by the families of those who serve. Thank you.

I am currently taking a college class and writing a paper on “rules of engagement” as it pertains to our nation and it’s history. I came across an article where the writer quotes you as a source. I am required to verify the information I am using to cite my information from. If you would be so kind as to email me at the address on this comment so I can verify that the info he attributes to you is accurately yours, I would be very grateful.

Thank you again for all you and Carlos are doing bring our brave troops closer to home.

Y’all are doing a great job. It was so cool to see Carlos’s face on the news. I can’t believe he’s all grown up! I’ll be following you and keeping you in my prayers. Looking forward to your next story…

love, Rhonda (Texann)

Mike, Thanks for what you and Carlos are doing. My son is in 2/8 Golf Co. 2nd Platton. Pfc. Lucas Watson . It is nice to be able to stay in tune with what is goin on through your reports. As a Father and former Marine, I’m very proud of Lucas and all of his brothers over there defending freedom.

Semper Fi,

Stephen Watson

Mike and Carlos, as I am getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan in a couple days, it is a good feeling to know that you and Carlos are getting ready to return from there also. I have thought many time’s about you and where you might be over the years and have gazed at many news reports trying to spot you….I will never forget seeing you report the first Desert Storm in the early 90’s as I was stationed at Ft Knox at the time…..You have both done Great things for the American People and I am proud to call you my Cousin……Give my regards to all at home when you return. Master Sergeant Dale Blubaugh, 38th Infantry Division “Cyclones”

Mike, you and your son are angels! Thank you both for the sacrifices you make in getting information and photos of our loved ones that are abroad. My son is in 2/8 Golf Co. 1st Plt. I saw him in your video and a photo holding the 2/8 Golf Flag! I hadn’t talked to him in over month until 4 days ago. It was a very short call but it was one that was really needed and cherished. This is my son’s 3rd deployment – twice to Iraq and now Afghan. We are all proud of our Marines and all of our troops. We appreciate their bravery and sacrifices that they are making for us here at home. And now we appreciate the same for you and your son for your sacrifices and bravery too. From the bottom of this proud Marine Mom’s heart……. Thank you! We are praying not only for our loved ones speedy and safe return home, but we are also praying for your speedy and safe return. God Bless our Troops and the non-military personnel that accompany them.
Sheila Yehl
VPMM of Cpl Alex Bolicke
2/8 Golf Co 1st PLT

To Mike & Carlos-Thanks for sharing these great stories.
To the folks whose stories have been shared, thanks for your service.

Mike!

I’m enrolled in you’re class and I am so excited about it you cannot believe it!

Mike and Carlos,

Thank you for what you are doing. My son is a corpsman for 2/8 echo and with what you are doing I can see what all of our American Heros are doing, you included every day and night for all of us here at home. You are truly making history. I grew up in the Army and now with my son over there doing what he is doing I know my dad would be very proud of his grandson!! You are all in our thoughts and prayers…stay safe and thank you for all that you are doing!

Mike, this is Fred Hall. I met you at Kuka Lake in NYS with your wife, her mother & father, Jack Holmes and most of your Hohn family. I have followed you as close as possible over the years and chat with your very outspoken wife on the net. I hope you enjoy your new life and teaching at your old school. Good luck……..
Fred Hall

Mike,

Thank you so much for all that you have done for so many of us Marine families. You have been the connection to our boys over there. Most of us haven’t heard from them directly since the push started, but we have been with them every step of the way through your camera and your words. I wish you all the luck in your new position. You have amazing stories and insights to share with your students. You can tell them of the heroes that you have gotten to know. Again, thank you for bringing a piece of the Marine’s lives to us here in the states! Good Luck!!!

Mike, thank you for the outstanding reporting over there with those Marine’s. My son is Lcpl Bruce Ferrell, with the 2/8 Fox co. It has been well over a month since we’ve heard from him. so if you see him , tell him his mother loves and misses him very much. We are all praying for you all over there. I’m so proud of each and everyone of those guys , doing what they do for there families and country. and especially you too, who is risking it all to get these stories back to the states to us. Thank you and God Bless, Proud MOTHER OF A UNITED STATES MARINE, PAM FERRELL

Thank you for your coverage. I’m the little sister of a fallen Beirut Marine and a Nurse that cares for the wounded coming home. I’m currently on medical leave for a serious illness but that doesn’t stop me from finding a way to help a Marine everyday. Every single day I find a way to do something for a Marine and I will never stop doing so until my last breath on this earth. It’s how I honor my brother. Thank you again for all you do. T~

From one Oklahoman to another – You have done yourself, your profession, and Oklahoma proud!
Thank you.

Thank you so much for all that you have done. And a special thanks to all the Marines that are putting their life on the line. Recently you received a comment from Pam Ferrell (my aunt). Now we have come to know that we have lost our loved one (Lcpl Bruce Ferrell) that has put his life on the line. Please let the other ones know to please be safe. I am not real sure on the mission that you all are trying to reach, but this is what Bruce wanted to do and thats what he did. It is hard to let go, but at least he fulfilled his dream as one of the best UNITED STATES MARINE CORP, Jessie Turner

We love and miss you Bruce!!!!
Thank God you finally got to talk to your mom one last time!!!