advertisement

One family's worry

Phyllis Parsons often avoids watching television news or even reading newspapers. With three sons serving in Iraq, she knows that when there is a big operation; like the one currently in the city of Baqouba, usually one of her sons is involved. This week has been especially difficult for Phyllis and her family.

In the Associated Press Tuesday, her eldest son, Capt. Huber Parsons III described how members of a Stryker brigade from Fort Lewis fought in the city 35 miles northeast of Baghdad: "Al-Qaida had months and months to run rampant because we didn't have the forces available to come in here until now," Parsons said. "They controlled this neighborhood, but they don't anymore."

CONTINUED »

Discuss (4 comments)  Email this | Link to this

Three Brothers in Arms

Parsons Band of Brothers 2006 in Iraq (L-R): Lt. Charlie Parsons, Capt. Huber Parsons III, Capt. Bill Parsons (courtesy photo)

All three brothers are members of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, a Stryker Brigade Combat Team from the Army's Fort Lewis, south of Seattle.

The elder twins are Capt. Bill Parsons and Capt. Huber Parsons III and the younger brother 1st Lt. Charlie Parsons, who also has a twin sister, Christine, a teacher in Jackson, Miss. "I think the most important thing as a sibling of a soldier or multiple soldiers in Iraq is just we need to be supportive of them and let them know we're thinking about them, said Christine, "the best way is by e-mailing them, writing them letters, encouraging them, to know they are not alone we support them and we support their decision of serving their country."

CONTINUED »

Discuss (15 comments)  Email this | Link to this

Recognition for 'Fallen Heroes'

Editor's note: "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" recently won eight National Headliner Awards. You can read more details here. Mike Mosher produced one of the stories, part of our "Making a Difference" series. The spot introduced viewers to Michael Reagan, a Vietnam vet who sketches portraits of servicemen and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can read and watch the award-winning story here.

Awards are special, but what really is overwhelming are thoughts like a note I received from a mother touched by Michael Reagan's work. I cannot stop looking at this photo of Cheryl Lee Patrick-Nussberger standing beside the portrait of her son Patrick. It's beautiful. And it's really true that pictures do tell stories words cannot begin to describe.
 
I asked Cheryl to share the photo and the e-mail message she sent me after she heard about the National Headliner Award.

CONTINUED »

Discuss (1 comments)  Email this | Link to this

Vintage cars & the art of the deal

Roger Wroley is ready to sell his 1972 Dodge Challenger (10:1 compression ratio, 281 cam, 470 lift). Wroley's put years of tender loving care into this HEMI replica that originally cost $3,800. At auction, he thinks he might get $60,000 for it.

But he's up against some pretty stiff competition at the KRUSE Vintage Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. The fairgrounds are packed with American icons of an era past. There are the ever popular '57 Chevys and a 1956 Oldsmobile with only 21,000 original miles. There's a Super Bee, a Dodge 1970 Coronet, and the pink 1957 Thunderbird convertible is getting a lot of second looks.

Mickey Weise, the former race car champion, wants to add to his collection. He's got his eye on a BOSS Mustang. The bidding will probably start at more than $100,000 for this jewel.

But Roger Wroley may have a secret strategy to sell his Challenger.

Click here or on the image to watch it all unfold on video.

And watch the broadcast tonight for more from correspondent Kevin Tibbles on why these very hot wheels are going for unbelievable prices.

Discuss (0 comments)  Email this | Link to this

Sketching America's "fallen heroes"

"He captures their eyes." That's what family members say when they look at the portraits Michael Reagan sketches of their loved ones who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reagan is a Vietnam War veteran who took up drawing as a hobby during the war. It later became his profession. His home studio in Edmonds, Wash., is stacked with signed drawings of some of the 1,500 celebrities, athletes and presidents he's drawn.

Two years ago, Reagan drew a portrait of a serviceman killed in Iraq and presented it to the man's wife. Her reaction was so powerful and positive that Reagan realized he wanted to close his art studio, retire and draw for the families of all the fallen heroes.

Photo caption: Pfc. Sam Williams Huff, 18, of Tucson, Ariz., died on April 18, 2005, from inuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle in Baghdad. Drawing courtesy of Michael Reagan.

CONTINUED »

Discuss (18 comments)  Email this | Link to this

Back in Beirut, 30 years later

The blogger, in his press pass photo as NBC's Beirut Bureau Chief in 1976, left, and today, as an NBC News producer based in Los Angeles.

The immigration officer at Damascus airport opened my 48-page passport full of stamps from Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Vietnam, Pakistan and Afghanistan and immediately spotted the ink that read Ben Gurion. "Whoops," I thought, "after 30 years working the Middle East story I should have known better."

"Come with me, Mister," the officer said, and escorted me to his superior.

Rule number one for working the Middle East story is always keep a clean passport. An Israeli stamp in your passport can mean you will be denied entrance into some Arab nations. So if your work calls you to visit Israel, you better get a second passport or ask the Israeli immigration officer not to stamp your document. They usually comply. If you remember to ask.

CONTINUED »

Discuss (2 comments)  Email this | Link to this

San Francisco quake update

There's been an interesting development in our coverage of the retired San Francisco Librarian Gladys Hansen.  Hansen has spent 40 years attempting to establish an accurate death count from the 1906 earthquake. In this case our story first appeared on MSNBC.com last Friday. I suggested we do the television version of it on Nightly News Tuesday, because we knew that Gladys Hansen would be going to a monument for the earthquake dead to pay her respects there in private instead of attending the large celebration at Lotta's Fountain.

CONTINUED »

Discuss (2 comments)  Email this | Link to this