Our man in Baghdad
"War talk,” wrote Mark Twain, “by men who have been in a war is always interesting; whereas moon talk by a poet who has not been in the moon is likely to be dull.”
This is a valuable audience development theory from the greatest American writer. And it has helped guide editorial decisions here at Home Channel News—poetry-free since 1975.
In an interesting twist, the Home Channel News editorial staff now includes an actual soldier who has been in the war.
Associate editor Bill Addison returned to civilian life in September, after a tour of duty in Iraq that lasted about 12 months. Today, he’s once again safely covering hardware stores and the tool business, including articles for this issue—the first ever Home Channel News Hardware Store Extra edition. (More on that below.)
Sgt. Addison was stationed in Baghdad’s “Green Zone” with the New Jersey Army National Guard as part of a Joint Force helping to govern and secure the international area.
Yes, the experience produced some interesting stories. He is not allowed to share everything he saw in Iraq, but he did share the following:
There was his first night in Baghdad. After hearing all day that attacks on the International Zone had diminished, Addison’s CHU (containerized housing unit) was shaken to its foundation by the explosion of a mortar attack during his first night. No one was hurt in the incident, but every subsequent alarm was treated with the utmost respect.
There was the ceremony in which Addison received his sergeant’s stripes. In a theater designed for Saddam Hussein, the new crop of NCOs (non-commissioned officers) were on the receiving end of the U.S. Army ritual: multiple hard punches to the chest. “I was sore for days,” he said.
There was the run-in with the general. Literally. Four-star General Raymond Odierno occupied an office in the same palace where Addison worked. One day, while hurrying through the halls, our man in Baghdad physically smacked into the powerfully built Odierno, who was turning a corner with his aides.
“Sorry, sir,” said the sergeant.
“Carry on,” said the commanding general of the Multi-National Force in Iraq.
War stories tend to be interesting. And so do stories about retailers and LBM dealers engaged in competition. The issue in your hands contains several such stories.
Our Hardware Store Extra section begins on page 17, with a focus on Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Do it Best. Member-dealers Jim Zyrowski and Brad McDaniel share some of their success stories on pages 17 and 18. This issue also showcases a pair of award-winning pro dealers: McCoy’s Building Supply and Home Lumber. There are few things more interesting to our business audience than award-winning business performance.
In 2010, we’ll bring readers four Hardware Store Extra editions and four Pro Dealer Extra editions, expanding on our regular news and analysis, which will continue to be in every issue.
And we promise one more thing: No poems about the moon.