Other Columns by Thomas D. Segel
Thomas D. Segel Bio

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If there is any area of news coverage where media bias exists, it is the seemingly universal ignoring of the human face of war by the mainstream press.

Those labeled as "traditional" broadcast outlets and print publications have consistently offered the public a laundry list of bombs, bodies and devastation, but have seldom reported little more than the numbers. It is rare indeed when a person or group are examined as living, breathing participants in what is perhaps the most horrifying and uncivilized of endeavors.... war.

To bring the reality of the conflict in Iraq into focus, one must turn to what is rapidly being referred to as "the new media". In more precise language it is the combined efforts of talk radio and the electronic publications of the Internet that reach the heart and the hurt of what is happening to the men and women of our armed forces.

A prime example of this would be when reporting about those who have been wounded in action. Traditional publications seldom report on wounded Americans. If they do, the items are short and usually limited to numbers or totals. Those wishing to learn more must search out websites on the Internet or tune in the commentators of talk radio. A Google or Yahoo search will give you more than 1,400,000 hits on information about Americans wounded in Iraq.

The topic can best be examined using the heart- wrenching story of Marine Sergeant Eddie Ryan. On April 13, 2005 this young Marine was manning a rooftop position along with other members of his sniper platoon. Not much was happening until that first shot and a bullet pierced his brain. It was quickly followed by a second shot that smashed into his jaw. The enemy had not even pulled the trigger that day. Ryan had been the mistaken target of friendly fire. But, this is not really a story of a devastating wound, but instead it is one of faith and prayer.

Eddie Ryan died that day. There was not a breath of life in him when teammate Sergeant Karl Schaeffer started CPR. He continued forcing air into Ryan and applying the life saving technique until the young Marine was again breathing on his own.

When Eddie was in condition to be moved, he was flown to Germany. He was sustained by a variety of life support systems and given little chance of survival. His parents were flown in to be by his side. Doctors told them that even if he did remain alive there was no way he would ever remember his family or anything about himself. All his father, Chris could do was remain by his side for hours on end and pray to God for his life.

Eddie never left them. When he was stable enough, he was air evacuated to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. At the time doctors said it was so he could be close to family and friends at the end. Everyone's prayers continued. WABC's Mark Levin who asked all his listeners to pray for Eddie heard the family had asked for a network of prayer and informed his audience. Sean Hannity reported the story on his radio program. The hometown community and the church offered prayers. They were all answered far beyond anyone's expectations.

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