Michael Yon finally has his long-awaited (by me, at least) article on the Deuce Four banquet:

The overwhelming joy of being home with families and friends was grounded by the permanent losses and severe battle scars of those who paid the highest price for the success of the mission. The ghosts of the fallen took their places alongside widows and family of the fallen comrades. One young wife, overtaken by despair, had taken her own life shortly after her husband died in Mosul. The widow of another soldier killed in an attack that I witnessed was left alone to parent four children. A mournful fog skirted the edge of the dance floor all night.

The evening began with toasts, to the Army, and to this and thatâ€â€?customary at such events–then proceeded to a video created by Deuce Four soldiers. As the footage of the battles for Mosul played on the two big screens, there was a sense that many of the wives and girlfriends were just realizing the severity of the violence through which their soldiers had fought.

Then came the speeches. Brigade Command Sergeant Major Adams took the podium�his retirement imminent�Adams happily clarified that he no longer felt compelled to moderate his words. With much humor punctuating the gravity of his remarks, CSM Adams said the Deuce Four was the best battalion he had ever seen in his entire 27 years in the military. Second place wasn’t even close. He went on to praise its commander, LTC Erik Kurilla, as the best Battalion Commander he has ever had seen�period.

As someone who has personally witnessed LTC Kurilla during close-quarters combat�killing terrorists right in front of me�I can attest that Kurilla is a steadfast leader, enthusiastic and relentless in battle with terrorists.

The Deuce Four also received the Valorous Unit Award. This is an important designation. Although the Deuce Four leadership was characteristically modest about it, I saw the actual citation, along with the handwritten note from 4-Star General George Casey that read, “This may have been the best brigade in Iraq. Their return from the November collapse in Mosul to elections was brilliant against very tough opposition.�

When Kurilla next approached the podium to congratulate his men on an outstanding fight, his limp betrayed the fact that he’d been shot in combat in Mosul. I witnessed three of the four bullets strike him in Mosul, but I also watched as he kept fighting while he bled.

The soldiers love this man. Bruce has been to Iraq, and was probably the safest man in America when he was surrounded by the Deuce Four Punishers.

Ever the master of the moment, Erik Kurilla turned the microphone over to Bruce Willis. Bruce had taken the time to fly in as a guest speaker to thank the members of the Deuce Four. He gave the most impassioned speech I can remember, using clear terms�including some well-selected profanities to describe terrorists�to express his admiration and support for the troops. Bruce’s speech was so accurate in his description of the war, and so charged with emotion, that he seemed ready to lead the troops himself back to Iraq; and they were ready to go.

Interestingly, I learned later�and I am not sure Bruce wants this to be known�Bruce actually tried to join the military to fight in this war but they told him he is too old. He doesn’t look too old. Not judging by the reaction of all the women in attendance at the ball that night.

And for those of you who have been following his reporting, it looks like Walt Gaya finally will get his well-earned U.S. citizenship.

With Yon back in the States, some of the best front-line reporting in Iraq, for my money (and Greyhawk concurs), is from Kevin Sites.

Yes, that Kevin Sites. He of the “footage of U.S. Marines killing a wounded insurgent” controversy. I think he got an unfair amount of flak over that. He did everything right. The story got warped after it left his hands. But at that point, he was an element in the story, not a reporter, and he no longer had any control.