Battle Company is Out There; Q& A

Does the writer hold your attention through a long article? If she does, how did she do it? If not, why?

In my case, the writer wasn't able to hold my attention through the long article. It was just too long for me. I was bored by the way he described the details of the story. I think the descriptions were too lengthy and there were information that I think were unnecessary.

Quote the most vivid and vigorous sentences in this feature.

A sudden wail pierced the night sky. It was Slasher, an AC-130 gunship, firing bullets the size of Coke bottles. Flaming shapes ricocheted all around the village. Kearney was in overdrive. The soldiers back at the KOP were radioing in that the drone was tracking 10 men near the tree line.

Flaming rockets flashed through the sky. Thunder rumbled and echoed through the valley. Then there was a pause. Slasher asked Caroon whether the insurgents were still talking. Kearney shouted over to Yarnell in his ditch, “You picking anything up?” Nothing. More spitting rockets.

I was fixating on Rougle’s black hat, lying by the bloodied rock patch where Dunn was sitting, when Sergeant Stichter, Dunn’s senior, appeared, out of breath and shaking, back from tending to Vandenberge. He needed water. The F-15 known as Dude was en route, the Apaches were chasing men and Kearney — who had bolted down the mountain, throwing grenades in caves — was barking orders. Kearney was badly shaken. He adored Rougle, and he’d broken down when he saw his big old buddy Rice bleeding at the landing zone. Rice comforted him and then lumbered to the helicopter, just asking to talk to his wife before they put him under.

Write this feature as straight news, 100 words maximum.

War affects soldiers’ mental health

Korengal Valley, Afghanistan – There were reported incidents of post-war soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Dean Kerney, colonel of the troop set out to with one goal in mind—to subdue the valley. “It’s like being in charge of a soap opera,” he said “I feel like Dr. Phil with guns.”

Soldiers in the valley reported that they were terrified by the weird behavior of their predecessors last May. To prevent this from happening to new soldiers, certain measures has been implemented – like a change in Kearney’s management of the troop, sending in a psychologist and prescription of medication.