The Inside Story of What Happened at <em>Stars and Stripes</em>
For generations, the newspaper has served American military families without interference from the government. That work must continue. And it must remain editorially independent.
During the Vietnam War, "chicken plates" were used by pilots as protective shields in their vests. These plates were bulky, hot, and provided limited protection against small-arms fire. Pilots sometimes sat on them, which offered protection from bullets coming from below. In Iraq, the reporter encountered this same issue with gunners in a convoy outside of Tikrit.
Gunner James Murphy, a sergeant from New Jersey, faced a dilemma: stand up and expose himself to threats, or remain seated and risk endangering the convoy. Two gunners removed their chicken plates entirely for better visibility. The military lacked data on gunner casualties and whether the plates were effective. An Army general in Iraq questioned why so many gunners were losing their lives.
The reporter's stories prompted improved equipment for deployment, but many soldiers were hesitant to share their concerns due to fear of being viewed as complaining. The Pentagon valued independent journalism that exposed deficiencies and helped improve conditions for service members. However, publicly criticizing the reporting or the news outlet created a chilling effect for truth-tellers, including those in the military.
The best journalism uncovers information that complex bureaucracies overlook or suppress, and when leaders treat asking tough questions and reporting uncomfortable facts as disloyalty, they devalue an essential tool for fixing crucial problems. The Pentagon, now closed off to press, is facing challenges in maintaining transparent communication with the public, especially as U.S. service members continue to fight in the Middle East.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
