NEWS TOPIC

[DOGRUNNER]

Martin Savidge of CNN, embedded with the 1st Marine battalion, was talking
with 4 young marines near his foxhole this morning live on CNN. He had been
telling the story of how well the marines had been looking out for and
taking care of him since the war started. He went on to tell about the many
hardships the marines had endured since the war began and how they all look
after one another.

He turned to the four and said he had cleared it with their commanders and
they could use his video phone to call home. The 19 year old marine next to
him asked Martin if he would allow his platoon sergeant to use his call to
call his pregnant wife back home whom he had not been able to talk to in
three months.

A stunned Savidge who was visibly moved by the request shook his head and
the young marine ran off to get the sergeant. Savidge recovered after a few
seconds and turned back to the three young marines still sitting with him
and asked which one of them would like to call home first, the marine
closest to him responded without a moments hesitation," Sir, if is all the
same to you we would like to call the parents of a buddy of ours, Lance Cpl
Brian Buesing of Cedar Key, Florida who was killed on 3-23-03 near Nasiriya
to see how they are doing".

At that Martin Savidge totally broke down and was unable to speak. All he
could get out before signing off was "Where do they get young men like
this?".

CAPT (SEL) Barney R. Barendse, NC, USN