Topic: Iraq

An Army Interrogator, His Grandfather, and a Bond Across Two Wars
“My parents, like most Chinese immigrants, valued education as the ultimate achievement,” writes veteran Hunter Lu. “The military was for dumb people.”

“They Didn’t Make It?”—When Your Brother’s Homecoming Starts in a Burn Ward
After an IED exploded in Iraq, a badly burned Marine asks his brother if his teammates survived. “He knows I won’t lie to him. We are both warriors.”

A Journalist’s Favorite Image Mirrors a Loss
A journalist learns of death that paralleled the moment he took his favorite picture.

“It’s so inaccurate”—How the VA Is Failing to Track Veterans Burn Pit Claims
VA figures show an astonishingly low rate of approval of burn pit claims: Of the 10,588 claims, 2,360 veterans had their benefits granted and 8,228 were denied.

Hellfires and “Half-Smashed Bugs” in Sadr City
As a platoon searched for bombs, the enemy tried to attack them. It didn’t end well.