Posted on Oct 26, 2017
Martha Raddatz and Eric Bourquin here to discuss the new Iraq War feature: ‘The Long Road Home’ on Nat Geo. What questions do you have?
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MARTHA RADDATZ
Martha Raddatz is chief global affairs correspondent at ABC News and co-anchor of “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.” She has covered national security, foreign policy and politics for decades, reporting from the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House and conflict zones around the world. Raddatz is the author of “The Long Road Home—A Story of War and Family,” a highly acclaimed book about a battle in Iraq, which made both The New York Times and The Washington Post best-seller lists. The Washington Post described the work as "a masterpiece of literary non-fiction that rivals any war-related classic that has preceded it." She is also on the board of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which supports wounded veterans and their families.
ERIC BOURQUIN
Eric Bourquin is a production consultant and a U.S. Army veteran that was Involved in the April 4, 2004 battle. Born in Dallas, he was raised all over central Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in College Station, Texas, in winter 1998 and went on to train as an infantryman while completing basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Arriving at Fort Hood, Texas, in April 2001, Bourquin went on to serve in the 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Infantry Division in various leadership positions and completed three Army combat deployments in support of the global war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. After medically retiring in 2013 with 15 years of service, Bourquin has spent his time focusing on his wife, Leslie, and his children — healing, helping others and enjoying new experiences.
About “The Long Road Home”
From Academy Award-nominated executive producer Mike Medavoy and based on The New York Times best-selling book Martha Raddatz, National Geographic’s "The Long Road Home" relives a heroic fight for survival during the Iraq War, when the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood was ferociously ambushed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad — a day that came to be known as “Black Sunday.” The series cuts between the action on the ground in Iraq and that of the homefront back in Texas, where wives and families await news for 48 hellish hours, expecting the worst. Starring Michael Kelly, Jason Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Sarah Wayne Callies, Noel Fisher and Jeremy Sisto, the eight-part miniseries premieres Tuesday, November 7th at 9/8C on National Geographic.
MARTHA RADDATZ
Martha Raddatz is chief global affairs correspondent at ABC News and co-anchor of “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.” She has covered national security, foreign policy and politics for decades, reporting from the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House and conflict zones around the world. Raddatz is the author of “The Long Road Home—A Story of War and Family,” a highly acclaimed book about a battle in Iraq, which made both The New York Times and The Washington Post best-seller lists. The Washington Post described the work as "a masterpiece of literary non-fiction that rivals any war-related classic that has preceded it." She is also on the board of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which supports wounded veterans and their families.
ERIC BOURQUIN
Eric Bourquin is a production consultant and a U.S. Army veteran that was Involved in the April 4, 2004 battle. Born in Dallas, he was raised all over central Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in College Station, Texas, in winter 1998 and went on to train as an infantryman while completing basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Arriving at Fort Hood, Texas, in April 2001, Bourquin went on to serve in the 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Infantry Division in various leadership positions and completed three Army combat deployments in support of the global war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. After medically retiring in 2013 with 15 years of service, Bourquin has spent his time focusing on his wife, Leslie, and his children — healing, helping others and enjoying new experiences.
About “The Long Road Home”
From Academy Award-nominated executive producer Mike Medavoy and based on The New York Times best-selling book Martha Raddatz, National Geographic’s "The Long Road Home" relives a heroic fight for survival during the Iraq War, when the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood was ferociously ambushed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad — a day that came to be known as “Black Sunday.” The series cuts between the action on the ground in Iraq and that of the homefront back in Texas, where wives and families await news for 48 hellish hours, expecting the worst. Starring Michael Kelly, Jason Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Sarah Wayne Callies, Noel Fisher and Jeremy Sisto, the eight-part miniseries premieres Tuesday, November 7th at 9/8C on National Geographic.
Posted in these groups: 
Entertainment
Military service
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Military History
Q&A
Entertainment Military service Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Military History Q&A
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 17
So question to Martha Raddatz. As a reporter, what is the queue you personally use as feedback that your pushing too hard or too far with the questions? There have been instances in the past on TV where I have seen the reporter not give any space or know when to back off a bit from the questioning.
Martha Raddatz
I think the most important thing to do when asking questions is to listen to the answers. And to sense when you are pushing too far. And I think that is what it is--just a sense. And not everyone has it! I am never going to push someone telling me an emotional story too far. I just want to listen and "feel" how far they want to go.
This question is to Ms. Raddatz, how many people from 1st Squadron, 2d ACR did you interview?
SPC Stephen Jester
From what I understand, as a medic for 3rd squadron, 2 ACR in country at that time, is that our troopers played a significant role is saving the the lives of the soldiers in 1st cav during that battle. Going back for resupply several times just to be sent back out again. All this because the commander of that unit was to proud to listen to the advice of those who have been there already of not going to Sadr Coty and to take great heed if they do. Any thoughts?
SSG (Join to see)
First of all 1st CAV didn’t listen to shit we told them. That’s the main reason they got destroyed that day. I don’t even want to watch this show because it will just kiss me off of how inaccurate it is. Not once during the trailers or commercials did I see a mention of 1st Squadron 2 ACR, you know, they guys that had to go rescue their asses out of Sadr City.
SGT Benjamin Hayhurst
First of all, the show is showing the elements of your unit that came out and helped us that day.
Second, I find it incresible that you think that we managed to screw up relations in sector in four days. That is how long we had been there. And 2acr was still in control of the area until after the ambush had started. So explain how an uprising that had to have been planned out weeks (or more) in advance was the fault of the incoming unit?
Second, I find it incresible that you think that we managed to screw up relations in sector in four days. That is how long we had been there. And 2acr was still in control of the area until after the ambush had started. So explain how an uprising that had to have been planned out weeks (or more) in advance was the fault of the incoming unit?
I am not sure I will be able to watch it. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, I remember the April uprising quite vividly. That was a really bad time to be in Iraq. I hope it is done in good taste and not a glorification of the violence.
SPC Erich Guenther
National Geographic has pretty high standards in that regard, they would not air anything that glorified war. They have a lot of past experience with bush conflicts while attempting to do animal documentaries. They also did a pretty good job on their special with the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. They don't really take political sides but rather tell the story through other peoples perspectives.
SGT David T.
SPC Erich Guenther - I like their stuff on animals lol. I just don't watch a lot of stuff about war unless the word star is in front of it lol
SFC Eric Bourquin
This is not a glorification of the violence of war. This is about fallen warriors, families and what they endure while being with a service member. I hope you are able to identify with it when it airs.
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