[...] Click here to read my original blog on Sgt. Cox. >> [...]

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I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view…

Joe (or Jay as your family calls you),
I am a friend and my wife is a fellow RE/MAX Realtor with your cousin, Sherry Johnson. When she sent me the link to your picture story, I looked at your pictures and I found it hard to breathe. I felt my eye tear up and heard my heart breaking. I felt joy and pride at having men and women such as you making the world we live it so much better. I looked at myself and saw selfishness that you put aside daily as well as, what I consider, a spoiled human compared to many, many others that you see every day.
Bottom line is, Joe, that I don’t know how to properly thank you and all of your fellow service people. My nephew is on the front lines in Iraq as well. “Thank you” seems all too simple, too little. “Thank you” doesn’t seem enough, yet, that’s the only thing I can come up with. But I say it with a heart loaded with admiration, appreciation and prayer for you, my nephew and each and every service person from years past to years in the future that do their best for us, for our country and for the world as one.
Peace and freedom can only be given by men and women with the bravery and honor as you have.
Thank you, Joe, THANK YOU.
Marty Monaco
Flower Mound, Texas

This is a beautiful website! You have done such a great job showing America a side of Iraq that we are not able to see. You are such a strong man to take your pain and hurt of losing your friends and turn it into something beautiful! Thank you for all you do for us and for our freedom! We salute you! May God continue to richly bless you and all the soldiers over there! We support you!

Sgt. J. Cox,

It is great the job that you are doing and there are always going to be those who are going to have negative things to say, but the pictures are priceless and it makes me look at my selfishness. I worry about my children and what it will be like as they grow-up, but when I take a peek at these pictures it just really tugs at my heart and I just thank God for all we have been blessed with.

The bottom line is that this war was not your decision but you made a choice to stand up for us and for that I (we) solute you, and all those standing up for us. I express my thanks with tears in my eyes and I keep you in my prayers. THANK YOU!

God Bless and Keep you. When you get home I will need your autograph, you are a hero in my book.

An ol’ friend,
S. Gehrmann

GOOD WORK!! WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF THE ACTUAL FACES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SO GRATEFUL WE ARE HELPING THEM.NO PROPAGANDA, NO POLITICS,JUST PEOPLE. GOD BLESS ALL..DAVE

Sgt. Jay Cox,

The pictures and your story are great. I thank you and the men and women at your side
fighting for us everyday. I can’t help but think of my small children and what it will be like for
them as they get older, it’s a bit scary. You soldiers are so appreciated.

I am sure your pictures have a great impact on many of the people who see them, they brought tears to my eyes. Keep snapping! You know that you will always have someone who disagrees and those who have better ideas or better plans, but I just want to say thank you because this war was not your decision, but you and the soldiers at your side stepped up to the plate for all of us. So, I (we) solute you.

God Bless you and keep you.

An ol’ classmate,
Sonja Gehrmann

Thankyou, thankyou for this stirring story of our gallant soldiers. Whatt is very significan is that this unit was stationed at Vilseck. Where is Vilseck? Yes it is in Germany an occupied country for how many years? This is a great community. When I was stationed in Hielbronn I visited there every month. Why in the name of common sence are people so overly preoccupied about staying in Iraq for a while to maintain stability and nurture the flurishing infrastructure. Hurrah for the soldiers and their their lovely families who are passing on the freedoms to a depressed and ravaged people, who through no fault of their own have gone throught so much. These occupier soldiers have learned there lesson well in Graffenweir and are the great extension of our land to promote greateness even at the loss of their own lives. I personally feel the pain and fly my flag daily at half mass on their behalf.

Hi, Joe,
I am so proud of you for the job you are doing for your country and everyone in it. God bless you and keep you safe…as well as all our servicemen and women in harms way. Please know that lots of us at home pray for y’all every day and honor the service you give. You are making a difference.

Your Cousin Sherry

SSG Cox and Catharine,
I would like to express my gratitude for the wonderful interview and story. This clearly shows how proud our nation should be of our brave and caring soldiers. The horrible pain of losing our matthew jonathon, chris, todd, sean and zack is there every day. I don’t think it will ever go away. These were remarkable brave and heroic soldiers who we are very proud of. I am sure they are standing watch in heaven over us. I am happy there is people like ssg cox that is showing the truth of what is going on over there. We are defeating the enemy and there will be a democracy over there, and I am proud to say that matthew and his fallen brothers and roy were a part of this. My fear is that the left in this country will try to force us out of iraq before the democracy is formed. I guess these left wing extreme people do not realize we are in a global war on terror. Alqiada killed our sons and roy, the same people that invaded our country and killed over 3000 people in ONE day. Thank you for mentioning our son and his brothers and roy. I will never let them be forgotten for there sacrifice to this great nation. Ronald Reagan called our nation the beacon on the hill and those words make me proud of America.

Duane Pionk

Thank you both for this story. It is so important that people do not forget these fallen soldiers. They had lives beyond the military, they had families and children. They took pride in what they were doing and the public should never forget. It is important to me as Jon’s sister that America knows that my brother made a difference and did not die for nothing.

Jon sent me a picture of some children playing in the street. I thought they were such beautiful children. I wrote him and told him how looking at that picture reminded me that we all start out so innocent and that unfortunately our surroundings mold us and teach us to hate. Maybe the positive interaction he had with those children will leave a lasting impression with them.

I know our troops are making a difference. I thanked my brother many times for keeping my country and family safe. I still thank all of our soldiers for making the sacrifice they make to keep us safe and free.

America should Remember 9/11 everyday because if our troops were not in Iraq I am sure we would have had another attack that was just as devestating.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Rider

Sgt. Cox,

This brings me such great joy.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

SSG Cox,
Thanks for the kind remarks about my son, Jon. They were all fine young men, the best America has to offer and I also thank you for your service. You go where others fear to go and are a better man for doing so. Your mission is noble and selfless. You think not of yourself but of others and represent the highest ideals of our nation.

When I learned of “Roy’s” death I have included him; he was as worthy as his American brothers and died a hero’s death with them. Most American’s don’t know or understand the sacrifice the Iraqi people have made in this fight. On Jon’s tribute MySpace page I have listed all seven that were lost on that day.

Thank you again for bringing us rememberance of our lost one’s on Memorial Day. We were not able to be at Arlington because Jon’s sister delivered his name sake on the 20th and his step-sister delivered another fine boy on the 23rd. We were in Arizona with her so Jon’s cousin, Courtney, represented the family at Arlington.

Next Memorial Day we will dedicate the “Fallen Warrior” statue to honor Jon at our city’s Veteran’s Memorial. Friends from the Regiment will be invited. He was a good man and my mission is to see that he and the others are not forgotten.

[...] this week that made me very much aware of how much we take for granted in our lives. It was titled: “Changing Iraq, One Picture at a Time.” I read about a sergeant, Joe Cox, who takes pictures of the people of Iraq while he is on patrol. He [...]

as i am sure all that read these post, you will realize from the comments left here by mr dozier, and mrs davis, that i was honest about the quality and depth of character when speaking of the men we lost. jon was the guy who had or could find the answers for anything, he had done so many things in life, and had more he wished to do. todd davis was truely a gentle giant, he was tall and strong, his size scared people, but you could never ask for a better friend. i thank the dozier.davis,gaul,mcbride,pionk,sanders, and the family of “roy” the interpeter for the time we were allowed to share with their lost family members. they are and will always be in my prayers, and my thoughts.

Thanks again Catherine for the story. My mission since Jon’s death has been to keep his memory alive. He had a great group of friends who have helped us through this difficult time. I spoke to one of his buddies last night. His parents wanted a picture of Jon to put up at their river house. Jon spend many a weekend there when he was a student at Middle Tennessee State University and Ryan had been close friends for many years.

I’ve been in touch with several of his “brothers-in-arms” and know of the emotional hurt they have suffered. To lose one is hard, to loose so many at once is more than I can imagine.

I’m a very opinionated father. I would tell Jon’s story to the world. On his Memorial card we put John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jon, Matt, Todd, Sean, Zach and Chris did more than that, they laid their lives down for the people and children of Iraq so they could have a better life. They laid their lives down to protect the interest of their nation at a time when so many can not see the truth and the collective memory of the body politic is so short they can not remember the horror of September 11, 2001. This war began in 1978 and has been littered with the bodies of so many since; Beruit, ship and airline hijackings, Kohbar Towers, World Trade Center 1993, Embassies in Africa, the USS Cole and the suicide bombers in Israel. A thread connects all of these; the tread of terror. Sponsored by Saddam, Hammas, Hezebollah, Iran, Syrai, Tailban and on and on.

As Jefferson said, ” a nation can’t remain ignorant and free.” We have become a nation of the ignorant. We have become a nation of the ungrateful. We have become a nation divided and as Lincoln said, “a nation divided can not stand.” Thank you and SSG Cox and Fox News for trying to enlightened an ignorant mass. But, those who should hear it, refuse it. I’ve read their ignorant postings.

If you would like to contact me you may do so through my email.

Respectfully,
Carl M. Dozier

As the father of one of the six soldiers killed by the terrorist blast on 9 January I want to thank SSG Cox for sharing his pictures with the nation. These children and families deserve the chance of a better life. You can see the viberance, happiness, and hope in their eyes. I want to thank him for sharing the story of the six who were lured into a trap and murdered by jahadist thugs. My son was not scared of what he could see, but what he could not. I want to thank Catherine for doing the feature, particularily on Memorial Day. Seeing this tribute to Jon, Matt, Zach, Chris, Sean and Todd was heartwarming for our famly. I have posted the link to my son’s tribute page.

Thanks to Fox News for sharing the success our soldiers who are fighting and dieing for. I lost faith in the mainstream media in 1968 when Cronkite sold out our soldiers in Vietnam. The mainstream media is a mouth piece for the left and un American. When I was commissioned into the army I took an oath to defend the constitution against “all enemies, foreign and domestic.” We have enemies amongst us! Those who have given the least complain the most.

Catherine: Thanks for noticing my comments.

I will deliver your message to the people I am in contact with in Iraq and here in the United States.

Sue Davis

Good Job!

I plan to send this article to my elected congressman & senator’s. It is a shame that there are so many people in our country, that refuse to realize “we are doing alot of good things in IRAQ”.

Thank you so much for bringing SSgt. Joe Cox’ compassionate camera diplomacy to at least the FOX public’s attention, Catherine. His discerning eye and personal generosity so uniquely deployed on Stryker patrols highlights what is so quintessentially different about our modern American Spartans: that they can be ferocious warriors one moment, and caring givers, mentors and protectors the next.

I marvel at the tremendous discipline of mind and heart that this extraordinary spontaneous flexibility entails, and how draining it must be on the reserves of courage, spirit and energy of our young men and women on the OIF/OEF battlefronts. And yet they give their all, mostly unreservedly, because it is the call of their country to do so for their nation’s security, freedom and strategic interests.

I believe it is this adaptive duality in our modern military that is winning the war for us: because it fully takes account of the Middle Easterners’ (and Afghans’) absolute cultural respect for only quality: strength, but leavened by our American cultural orientation to compassion and generosity. Both factors operating in COIN synergy on the battlefront are what will enable us to prevail in the assymetrical warfare which will afflict the international landscape for many years to come.

As a new American who has personal memories of the positive and multifacted impact of American soldiers, sailors and airmen on her birth country, I can directly vouch that these Iraqi children will be forever “imprinted” by their unusual contact with the character of our soldiery, and that impact will influence the future of their country as they grow up to shape Iraq in the mold set by America’s boots on their ground at this moment in their history.

To SSgt. Cox and his battle buddies all over Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Mindanao: I salute you!
America is infinitely blessed to have sons and daughters like you.

Thank you, Ssgt. Cox, and thank you again, Catherine, for bringing both our gallant military, and these innocent “miserables”, to the fore of our consciousness, so they may all be in our prayers for hope and protection, blessings and thanksgiving.

Andy’s pictures of the Iraq people certainly gives you a whole different perspective of what’s happening there. In their simplicity they are powerful and touching. If only both countries’ politician’s could have the same visual photo reality.

James Cox
We gave our son the first camera so he could send pictures home of him and his soldies. Then it got to be a lot of children in them. Our son didn’t ask for this war nor did he want to go but he kept telling his mother that it was his job. I can see in the pictures our son takes the same thing I went thru in Viet Nam. Only thing we didn;t have time to take pictures but I am proud our son does. If this is how he deal with the war I can’t understand why all of the people writting negative things about him and his pictures. I wonder if the ones that write negative things have never served they country or have ever accomplished anything. Be thankful that we have young men and women who will serve without question or politics only freedom. God blees them all. A great BIG THANKS TO OUR SON.

Comment by Nicole Murphy
May 31st, 2008 at 7:29 am
_____________________________________

Fortunately, our American soldiers will contribute more to the lives of the people in Iraq than you, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barak Obama. Each of these soldiers has the courage necessary to make positive changes for the people in Iraq … we are very proud of them and what they have accomplished. Great things are achieved throughout history by people with real courage, not the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barak Obama.

I just wanted to say , how awesome the pics are. And it’s great of Andy to take the pics. God bless him. It’s a good thing to do. Maybe he can change Iraq one pic at a time. Keep up the good work Andy. Take care and be careful over there. God bless and may god keep you in the palm of His hand always.
Claire Grimaldo
Tatum,Texas

Joe: My name is Sue Davis. Todd Davis is my nephew, the youngest child of my brother, Eddie Davis.

Thank you so much for this article and for the pictures. More to the point, thank you so much for your comments about Todd and his comrades that were killed in January. Your pointing out that they were special was so important to them. To us. I am going to forward this to as many of his buddies as I can.

Thanks again.

Sue Davis

Thank yu SSGT Cox…your photos show the real faces of war. Your humanity and caring is shining through your camera. Keep up the good work, and God Bless!

I was a civilian firefighter deployed to US Military Bases in Iraq in 2004/2005. One day we performed a detail for the Army Comm people near the wire. Our base was surrounded by farmland, so when the kids who were working in the fields saw the big red fire engine they ran over to the fence to beg for water bottles, candy, etc. The children looked much like the ones in the pictures taken by SSgt Cox. On our way back from lunch we stopped by our hootches, raided our care packages, went back to the same spot and threw candy, cookies, drink mix, etc to the little ones on the other side of the fence. They seemed to truly appreciate our modest gifts. A few days later while going on R&R I was transiting through the country of Dubai and was jolted by the stark contrast with Iraq. Unlike the Iraqi children who beg for candy, most people in Dubai drive luxury cars, eat at fine restaurants, and have great health care. Certainly a tale of two countries. Which begs the question, how better off would the Iraqi people be if Sadaam Hussein had invested his oil wealth back into the country instead of building dozens of palaces, fighing a war with Iran, and invading Kuwait?

The pictures are great, and it’s nice to see from a soldier’s perspective. But what I am hoping everyone will remember is the reason these people are living in this way is because of the war. I fully support our troops there following orders but I do not, nor will I ever support this war. It was started by a bunch of old men that will never see combat (including the least popular president ever). I hope everyone will remember that his people lied to the American people for the last five years. It funny to me to read so many people out here talking about how the Iraqi people needed our help, but none of you mention anything about any other countries doing the same thing. Were even ok with holding the Olympics in a communist country who is trying to completely wipe out the Tibetan people and America has stood by for years doing nothing. If you’re going to sit there and preach about how we need to help these people then you need to open your eyes and educate yourself on the many different countries around the world doing the same thing to there people and we sit by and do nothing. If you want to fight one war you’re going to have to fight them all

After looking into the eyes of these children, I cannot imagine how Barak Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Hillary Clinton can so easily abandon them.

WOW, i just read obamanations comments, he is right, we have been found out, in fact blackwater has killed all iraqis, we really set on the beach drinking fruity drinks wasteing money………unfortunately he has the right to say these things, even though he get his original thoughts by reading what others write and tell him to think. as for the kids in the pictures, still alive sorry to ruin your day but their parents are alive also. please dear god if you think like this guy never never never reproduce. thank you have a nice day

i have tried to post several times with no luck, i am SSG Joseph Cox, thank you all for the great comments, it was nice to see that most everyone saw the pictures for what they are. i have no intentions for these pictures to be political tools, and anyone who uses them as such, are just as bad if not worse than the people they profess to dislike. these pictures are a veiw of the world through my eyes, what i see everyday, just to answer a few questions, Al Quieda is in iraq, we have detained ove 70 in 10 months, the people are happier for the most part since sadaam is gone. but remember change is hard, and extreme change is slow and even harder. everyone wishes to pull out as soon as possible, i dont have the answers, will iraq survive, will they continue to hate and embrace terrorism, will they continue to kill themselves daily, to these questions i can only say i dont know. i have seen many quotes from books by people who have never been to iraq, some may have never spoken to an iraqi person, i have walked their streets, ate at their tables, patroled the streets with their army, been to wedding, and funerals….. until someone can prove to me the things i live daily are wrong, and my friends died for noreason, i say we to include me stay. this is not written by an analist, but by a person who the analist claim to know what is best for. thank you for your time, and for the person commenting as KM Jacob says hello, by the way i work daily with KM’s husband.

You whine that we are here in Iraq due to events that happened 25 years ago on one breath and recomend that we follow foreign policy recomended by people that lived 225 years ago? Well oneperson anyway, George Washington. The joint resolution for military action against Iraq listed 21 reasons for action. Many of which had nothing to do with the ‘rationale’ you have so kindly provided. Why we are there is an old dead horse now anyway. The story only shows what we can do here now. Now is what matters. Your complaints are truly weak, and you think so yourself if you have to bolster your authority by stating your politcal affiliation and military service, which I doubt anyway. The strongest agument you make is the waste of money. Well considering that the entire cost of 5 years of this conflict is only .002% of only one years budget I would have to say that maybe you could find wasteful spending elsewhere that would have a greater impact.

That is all.

I have awoken at 1:50AM to another sleepless night as I think of my upcoming 14 month tour in Iraq starting in 30+ days. I have read many of these posts, and many are great comments. However, some are dead wrong. SSG Cox has captured some very nice photographs depicting Iraq is no different than many a suffering country. We as America have long prided ourselves as the “World Police” and “Peace bringers”. Our country is changing and turning to a ME country. What is in the best interest for ME, not for our country, or our childrens freedoms for years to come.

Remeber 9/11. We forget quickly our past. For those non belivers in the USA’s Iraq mission I ask did you lose a family member or close friend on 9/11? The USA’s mission may not be directly related, but is related to the “War on Terror” with capturing, killing, and slowing down all extremist who wish to inflict harm on STILL the “Greatest Nation on the Planet”.

Wow.. a real American hero! It is great to see the work done by this soldier and others like him – people who have a dramatic impact on Iraq and its people. Thanks to people like this guy, they are learning what Americans are really like and yes, their lives are benefiting.. slowly but surely.

Mrs. Cox, please pass along my thanks to your husband and the soldiers who serve with him for their service and for going above and beyond to help the people of Iraq. And yes, please post information on how we can help him continue this great work.

My sincerest hope is that he and all all our servicemen and women will return safely and that the mission will be accomplished soon. They are in my thoughts every day.

THANK GOD FOR YOU SGT.COX- WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE WINNING THE WAR, AND ALSO WINNING THE HEARTS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. AND LET US PRAY THAT THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN WILL BE EDUCATED, AND KEEP DEMOCRACY GOING STRONG.

Oh, BTW Arturo Mandorfski

If you align yourself wit Jefferson then you are not a conservative or republican, you are a FEDERALIST….just a little political lesson for you

Arturo Mandorfski

I hear Canada is beautiful this time of year, perhaps you should move their if you are so unhappy with your country. Also, do you have any 100% definitive proof that all of those things are lies? Or is it more left wing propoganda and hatemongering?

amazing, i am crying right now.

These people are so beautiful. Thank you for posting these pictures.

I am sadden by the fact that war exists and look for the day when true freedom can be a shared value the world over and through all of our worldly differences.

I really do think this is eye-opening for us in Texas to see what is going on in Iraq. I for one appreciate our soldiers, and think that they are there and know what they are fighting for. The compassion shown in these pics by the soldiers speaks volumes to the critics. I see hope in the kids faces, that might not have been there 5 years ago.
God Bless our troops, and I pray for a safe a speedy recovery, and I support you all 100%

Catherine
Jo Cox here. Yes there is something the people can do. My husband and I collect school supplies and send to SSGT. Cox to give to the children. We have also set up an account where people can make money donations for his cause. I would be willing to give anyone the information if they are interested. I have made it a non-profit campaign so if they give money it could be deducted on their taxes.
Also, I would like to get in touch with Andy. If you could give him my e-mail address, I would appreciate it very much.
You also mentioned the two soldiers on the roof, there was one that made it out of the building alive. I am in contact with him and repor to my son how he is doing. He praises my son for saving his life.If you are interested in contacting him, let me know
Thanks,
Jo Cox

Thank you for such a wonderful article and pictures. SSG Cox is very talented and he is capturing the innocence in Iraq. Something we all have forgotten about long ago. Never are there any news stories about the good things happening in Iraq. We only hear of the bad, the mistakes made and the sacrifices given. It is refreshing to be reminded of why our loved ones are there: So each of the children in the pictures he has taken can one day be free to walk down the streets of their towns and villages without worrying about evil. SSG Cox is in the same company as my husband and I wish all of the soldiers of the 3/2 SCR my neverending support, respect and thoughts for the courage each one of them have.

Thank You Wolfpack!
K.M.

-People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. George Orwell, (attributed) English essayist, novelist, & satirist (1903 – 1950)

Kudos… the point the photographer is making is that there is another side of the war that we are never shown. Guys like Arturdo miss that with their political talking points…
Kudos…

Shouldnt we not forget that the military (myself a past member for 8 years) is also here to protect the freedom of all of those who are labeled “Left, Right, Liberal, or Conservative”, not just FoxNews and its opinions? The pictures are warm and touching (I commend Sgt Cox for his ability to show us that children are the same all over the world), but the fact still remains, the current administration has gotten us into Iraq and we need to finish the job and get it over with (at this point it does not matter how and why we went in there). Not everyone will be happy how or when this war comes to a conclusion, but we need to leave it a better place than what it was when we arrived. At least let us leave those children with some glimmer of hope for a future. As for myself, I read several sources which include NPR, CNN and FoxNews and others and attempt to find some bit of truth from all of them. (Label me what you may).

This is a great story. Thank you Sgt. Joe Cox’s for your work in helping the Iraq people. My oldest son is in the Army and my second son is in basic training right now in the Marine Corp. in California. This fall both will be ready for deployment. May God bless our troops in harms way.

These pictures are breathtaking and just really show a side of the story that we never get to see. Although everything we hear is bad, these help us realize that Iraqi people are trying to live their lives as best they can in a horrible situation and they are really a lot like us. They’ve seen so much loss, destruction, and heartache and I can’t imagine the fear that they live in. Really, these pictures are fantastic and thank you to the soldier that has been taking these. I think all of us here who are disenchanted by the war need to see pictures like this so we can remember that the people of Iraq do need our help and we shouldn’t leave them until it gets better. Thank you to all of the soldiers serving our country–you are doing a great job.

Catherine

I was just checking out the blogs and I came across yours. I am so totally impressed with how responsive you are to your bloggers. And your replies are not the typical boiler-plate responces. Im absolutly impressed with your input. And you sound as nice as I thought you would be. Take care.

You’re doing a great job of showing us the real people in Iraq as well as generating good will of the people to us in general. Thank you and Gods blessings on you!

Not allowed for the military to share there religion, I believe there already doing this. These pictures are proof.

Nice spin, yet again. The first comment here has it dead on. The reason for this waste of time and lives of a war has indeed changed so many times. To the photographer: I understand that war is very difficult and stressful. I do indeed hope that your spin on this does indeed help prevent the PTSD suffered by so many soldiers who know deep down that all this is wrong. I mean that sincerely, even though it could also be construed as sarcastic. I really do hope it helps you sleep at night, to be one of the few that does see the humanity instead of only potential targets.

These photos reach into one’s soul. Thank you and all the men and women serving in our military and thank you so very much for sharing your talent with us.

God bless and keep you safe.
Sue Stakes

You are doing Gods work. I will be praying for you and these people who you have “captured” so perffectly in pictures. Every culture is unique and special. God bless you.

I Like these pictures. I had a few nice ones while we were dismounted but that was with a point and shoot. I never printed out the pictures though. I want it to be very clear that as a soldier I don’t HATE any of the Iraqis. Its hard when you see so many people back in the states saying things that are so off the wall about the mission. Great pictures. I would love to trade some sometime. Take care

“Doc” Bailey

These children having their pictures taken and returned to them will be a positive influence of how they think of Americans through SSgt Cox, and others that enter their lives in a positive way.

Also, the Iraq War was not a preemptive war started by the US. It was a resumption of hostility because Iraq under Hussein failed to abide by the Cease Fire agreement enacted in 1991, no matter what causes he and his government may have had. I think if Saddam Hussein expressed his concerns about Iran to the US, we might have restructured our relationship with Iraq and his regime.

And furthermore, all wars are over land: what we can get out of it, what we can put on it, and how we can use it. It’s natural for people to secure those things which are instrumental for their own survival (and quality of living). We go to war when we (all nations, all people, through-out history and into the future) percieve threats (real or imagined) to those things.

A great picture story, one that should be spread by the media.
Thanks

Thanks
Its men like you that hepl bring people together. Words & things of showing kindness like you have done. Keep up the good work,know there are people who appricate what you are doing, even us in the states. Again Thanks, Mary

The photos are certainly nice, but it doesn’t alter in the least the fact that we started a war in a country who didn’t attack us and was no threat to us, and didn’t have one single WMD. Memories so are short.

This war and subsequent occupation has killed and maimed thousands of innocent Iraqis, and displaced millions more.

For those of you who can now see that the Iraqis are no different from any other people , you can thank the propagandizing of the Bush Administration that you would have ever thought otherwise.

I entered into this blog because I saw views from a soldier’s eyes that captured my heart. I’m a mother whose daughter has been a soldier in Iraq. She spoke to me often of children that stood outside her camp. These beautiful children are caught in the middle. My heart goes out to all these children and their mothers, to all the soldiers and fighting warriors from this nation, to all the broken families and lost ones. War is ugly, but it’s nearly impossible to avoid unless you can turn your backs without a conscience bothering you. Sovereignty of integrity. No matter how anyone wants to slice it, they can’t touch integrity and cause any damage. No matter how loud they may scream. What’s right is right and will always be. Humans deserve to live a life of joy unfettered by dictating heathens. I praise God that our nation’s children do not have to awake every morning to the scene that these small children awaken to. I praise God for SSGT Cox for daring to expose the good in what we do. There is no shame in doing a job well done. The only shame goes to those that do not see what SSgt Cox’s lenses reveal. Well done, good and faithful servant! WE salute you! Semper Fi!

Sgt. Cox, thank you for your good work. Thank you for humanizing people who are most often represented by numbers and have only existed abstractly in my mind. There is very little difference between them and myself apart from the environments in which we live.

I am printing out a couple of these pictures to put on the wall of my apartment, so that they will (in some tiny way) be a presence in my life, and so the photos will stand as a call to prayer for the people in this very difficult place in life.

And thank you also for the love you show these communities in this way. It is a small act, but that is exactly how each of us is to act in whatever community we find ourselves.

What an amazing story. This soldier is capturing the evidence of why these wars must be fought and won: the innocents. I am humbled to think of what they have been born into. They deserve our compassion and assistance. Thank you for your service to our country, your service to these people and the message you are delivering, one picture at a time. God bless.

These photos are lovely. Yet, I am amazed that anyone would see these as a way to defend the war. These children are living in bombed-out buildings. They are doing work that should be reserved for adults. They have never had a family photo before. These poor, desperate people were such a threat that the US felt the need to invade their country? How sad. Do you think these people are grateful?

And six more American soldiers are dead. I support the troops enough to think that their lives should not be wasted. What a disaster.

It is good to see the REAL people of Iraq and not the terrorist we see on the news all the time. These are beautiful people especially the children. My heart goes out to them. These people are the ones we are fighting for, the innocent. These are also God’s children and He loves them. They have been deceived into worshiping a false god but the bible says that in the last days there will be a pouring out of the Holy Spirit to the Arab people. These are also decedents of Abraham and God has not forgotten them. We MUST defeat the terrorist who teach these children to hate and kill and who even will kill the children themselves if it benefits their political plan. Perhaps we are part of God’s plan to bring them freedom so they can worship whomever they choose including Yeshua! God bless you and all our brave troops. May God bless America and Israel.

Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful pictures! I for one support our efforts in Iraq and believe that if we were to pull all of our troops out of there it would be disasterous for the Iraqi people. I also believe that by doing that, we are dishonoring all of our brave men and women who have given their lives already to make Iraq a better place to live.

I know that I am blessed to have been born in the United States. It could have been different. I could have been born into a country where I had no rights, where I had to hide if I wanted to worship and I wasn’t entitled to an education. I could have grown up in a place where I lived in constant fear for my life and the lives of those that I love. But I wasn’t. If I had been though, you sure bet that I’d want a chance at a better life. ALL men are created equal, not just AMERICAN men but ALL men. The Iraqi’s deserve to have us there building them schools, water systems, etc. Through us they will be blessed also.

Catherine, you’ve questioned several postings about why they think mainstream news tends to report more on the negative? Maybe that’s what they think we want to hear? I think it’s human nature to want all the gory details. How many times has traffic been backed up where you live from people who slow way down so they can gawk at the accident on the side of the road? I think there needs to be a balance though of negative and positive news. Your article was a gem! Few words but a picture is worth a thousand of them, right? Thanks for making my day!

The pictures are very warm and touching and it is enjoyable to find that someone can capture those moments to show us back home that there is more than just EID’s exploding in Iraq. But, almost everyone’s comments seem to put a label on someone else to blame them for the situation we are now experiencing in Iraq. Please let us remember, one of the reasons military service men and women are there, is to allow us citizens the freedom to continue to make the choice of being labeled “Right, Left, Center, Moderate or even Indifferent”. That is part of what the United States of America is all about and why we have those individuals who serve in that capacity. As for me, I spent 8 years in the military and I am very proud of that fact. I am a registered democrat who reads online each day, articles from NPR, Foxnews, CNN, BBC and often others. I attempt to keep abreast of what everyone is saying.

What gets me is in the past or when they talk about anywhere else, liberals always talked about world peace and helping the children of the world. Hollywood stars would do fundraisers and musicians would do concerts. We were always told we had to do something. Now that we are there in Iraq and Afghanistan actually doing something and making a difference you don’t hear that much from them. It’s all about hating our President or America for getting involved. That’s because all they ever did was talk. They never actually did anything or promoted doing anything except throwing money at it. They think that all the military does is destroy things and kill everyone. They don’t look at history and realize that the US soldier, marine, sailor, airman, or coastguardsman are the one who truly bring peace and prosperity to nations of the world. Thanks Catherine Herridge for doing this piece and Staff Sgt. Joe Cox for reminding us that the revolution of 1776 is still ongoing. That our forefathers gave us this charge in our Constitution by saying we will “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. Posterity being all future generations.

Thank you for sharing your new perspective on Iraq and god bless you and all who serve from one who has served. It’s about time people get to see what this thing is about. I always try to get people to understand it’s not about all that the drive-by media shows them. These are good people who needed our help to achieve freedom from the regime that oppressed them they could not do it themselves. They don’t all hate us, just a minority of them do.
This type of story really needs to get out there to all and not just here on Fox because it is my opinion that peopl that live by the drive-by media don’t ever check out Fox because they can’t handle “fair and balance” news coverage.
Again God bless you and all who serve to keep us and others free.

I encountered similar responses from the Indonesian people when I went to Banda Aceh in September 2005. A 99% muslim nation, they welcomed westerners and loved the photos we handed out after posing for pictures. I have come to realize, like the other responders above, that people all over the world share the same fears, hopes, dreams, family no matter what the economic situation.

Dear Scott, Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. People think we “Don’t need to be there” but I’m glad we are. Everybody deserves a chance and God bless our military for giving our U.S. soldiers to help out people who never would have had any peace at all if not for you. All of us in America could stand a week in another country to humble us a little. Thank you again for your pictures and your dedication to keeping America informed, about the good stuff!!!! Kay Brownsword

I love and appreciate our guys so much! Despite all controversy, I hope our troops know how much their selfless sacrifice and service to this country means to us. To me, ALL of them, are “rock stars”!

God bless you all!

Thank you for sharing the wonderful picture. It is very comforting and rewarding to see them. There is so much negativeness being reported by the news media and to see that you are providing us with a different perspective is wonderful. The American people are not bad people, just the opposite. We are a very caring nation. It is time that the news media to include FOX News let the people know that war is bad but in realty there is a need for war sometimes. I have to believe that my President made the right decision and it was based on information from many not just his final decision. Thank You!

Some how the photographer managed to miss the over 1 million Iraqi casualties since the war has started. O well, at least we killed their leader for nothing more than crimes that American Presidents have committed time and time again. Former Sgt USMC

i am like this too. america is great. With more efforts america can be also helping other countries needing such services, as well becoming more in democracy, and also more in peace . . . lovely faces, so much in happiness for their being delivered away from the evil of life under saddam. I am gladly liking america to be in iraq. I am even thinking christians not so bad. allah akbar i say to my wife and she smiles at the pictures. sargant crox can know now the beatiful way of all people. i am sure he is not knowing before. please. i forgive accidents of deaths of many iraq children in way of clusters bombs and such. freedom is not free, there is price. even if shot by accident or on purpose by blackwaters. makes no difference to the path of peace. in end, peace will be there and all wll be worth it. only america sticks neck out to help and care for the suffering. for this we need to be in prayer 5x and seek the help of god in this mission.

This is wonderful….SOME GOOD NEWS…being reported in IRAQ…
Our troops will not abandon these children or the country…they are the future of IRAQ.

Carrots and Sticks wont save them either…Only our TROOPS and our responsiblity.
And John Sidney MCCain…as the next PRESIDENT.

Catherine.

For me it is nice to see another light shown on the occupation of Iraq. That they are people too, and that they live breath, eat, have children, and are beautiful people. Instead of just hearing about the barbaric things that al-Queda are doing in the middle east. Also, I feel that a lot of Americans are disenchanted by the war seeing our economy spiral out of control while we spend $1 billion dollars in Iraq instead of helping fellow American family’s that have to go to food banks because of the price of energies.

I think stories like this and movies like “The Darjeeling Limited” help Americans see people from the Middle East, Tibet, India not as uncultured but do the simple things that we do on a day to day basis just like we do. That is a connection that we need to have. We need to love these people like we love other countries like Jamaica and Peurto Rico.

Wonderful this is the story that needs to be told. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
With all the technology today a well thought out image conveys much more emotion and humanity.

Richard Perry

this comment is for kevin, you refered to micheal yon, i anm friends with micheal, if you look through his old blogs, i was in the 25th infantry, during oif3 i was in the fight for mosul, micheal is an outstanding man. once again thanks to fox news, not as much for what they do, but for the people they hire, Andy and Catherine went out of their way to make this happen, and if you study up on Catherine you will find she is just as caring of a person, as for Andy Ryan, i met him only 3days prior to loosing 6 very dear friends, i could not have asked for a better man, or FRIEND to have been there with and for myself and those of us who were still alive. if you are seeing this andy, both you and donny are just as deserving to be put out there to better help everyone understand the reasons behind why we the common men fight. thank you to all who have posted, good or bad it doesnt matter, as long as you use your rights, my friends didnt die in vain…..

To Casey Cox: I am SSGT Cox’s mother, you can e-mail us at : lacyvile1@sbcglobal.net. We are doing a family history ourself ans would like to hear from you.
Thanks, J cox

These are nice photos. These are the faces that I’ve seen when I went through Iraq three times. The children are always happy to see us and so are the families. People that haven’t been in the military can make their comments all they want, until they make the sacrifice they shouldn’t say a thing. Until they see from their own eyes how the people are living and their freedom has come to life, they are only being IGNORNANT. We have LIBERATED these people from harm of a SELFISH and CORRUPT man and Party.
People please, talk to the military and ask them what is really going on. Ask them if they see smiling faces, jobs being created, freedom to go to church if they want to, children being able to play outside the fences. Not all of Iraq is safe, but Iraq is a much safer place than three years ago.

Great pics, keep taking them. even though they are poor, they still seem to smile and
portray happiness. But, where are all the men. Mainly seem to be women and children

Catherine – please be fair and balanced and post my message. . . .

Sgt. Cox,

Well done! I really hope you can publish the pics some day. The world needs to see that children just want to be children, irregardless of their country of origen. They say “the pen (in this case, the picture) is mightier than the sword (gun)”. More change for good will happen because of your pictures than anything that heavily armed platoons and companies of soldiers will ever do. Keep up the good work! May God bless you and your family back home.

Mike (Arizona)

To the comment left by SA Coog, you seem to be “left”…left out of the loop, that is. More people, Muslims, were dying under Sadam’s rule than you are aware of. I, personally, know a man who fled Iraq in 1984 – while under gunfire – literally running for his life. He showed me pictures of four of his friends who were shot (and killed) by their own government’s people because they were fleeing to come to America where they would be free and able to not live in fear.
Your comment should have been only about the picture, rather than your hatred of our American President. I have the feeling that you aren’t a natural citizen, or that you are more interested in what the government can give you than relying upon your own ability to get a job and support yourself.

Now this is the kind of coverage we could honeslty use. This may actually “win hearts and minds” here at home and remind people what this war REALLY IS ABOUT. It’s not about oil, it’s not about money, it’s not about George Bush, it’s sure as heck is not about turning Iraq into a graveyard. It’s about people, Iraqi and American.

Putting a human face on this is important during this time will also help people make wise decisions about who to vote for. Whoever that happens to be. Send this to Barack, Hillary, and John and see if you don’t get some varied reactions. Since all three of them are parents, maybe they’ll think about the things they are considering especially as far as pulling out.

We are not there to make Iraqi lives mieserable, the terrorists we want mibserable, not the Iraqis. not ifonly thisi would work with folks like Bashar Assad this would be a real coup, but we would need some “heavy-duty ammo” in his case just to convince him ot quit sending terrorists overthe border. I doubt if even sanctions woud stop him or Ahmadinejad from doing that. try e-mailingthis all over the place and see what happens.

What Sgt. Cox has left out, is that immediately after shooting these pictures, a Blackwater helicopter flew over and obliterated these security threats. If we pull out, our the sacrifices of fallen soldiers will be for nothing??? Yes, it makes imminently more sense to sacrifice MORE soldiers an MORE Iraqi children before we are done! That will make the dead feel much better about their plight.

Does ANYONE on the RIGHT have the slightest ability to think that there is no WWII style “VICTORY” here? Best case, we give them back their destroyed country and they can begin living under their majority mandated Taliban style theocracy. THERE IS NO WINNING IN IRAQ!!!! THINK!

I think it is time for Bush to start playing golf again . . . . . Now that we have committed another $170,000,000,000 to this noble effort. Oh yes, our kids will cover that – no problem

WOW, i am SSG Joseph Cox this really takes me by suprise, i am sitting in Diaylah Iraq, seeing all these great comments, and i am truely thankful, all i really wanted from these pictures was for my family to see what i see and understand why i fight. Were it not for SSG Andy Ryan, this would never have been possible, he set up my meeting Catherine Herridge, this woman is GREAT, she worked so hard to make our meeting and getting this piece done happen. i was home on leave, always busy, she stuck it out, and did her homework. i am always thankful for people such as Andy and Catherine. i really hope no one veiws these pictures as political tools, they are just what they are, (its their world that i have been lucky enough to share a small piece of with them) they are my daily life my world shared and seen from my point of veiw. anyone who is seeing anything political your not seeing the real picture and you are cheating yourself out of the greatest things in life…..

Great photos! Thanks to you, sir, for taking them and to FOX NEWS for publishing them.

Mark, You talk a good game. If your convictions are so strong about these pictures I sure you are now at the local recruitment center signing up for military service so you can have boots on the ground impact instead of typing about it. It is easy to get caught up fairytale propaganda from your home in the US. Our soldiers are not in Iraq to protect or liberate the people, they are in Iraq to ensure oil continues to flow to the US. There are many places on this earth where human rights are worse than in Iraq. Why does the US government do nothing in these instances? I’ll tell you why – because these other countries have nothing of value to offer the US.

How can we support you? This is an excellent way to go around the liberal media and the Democrats.

This brought tears to my eyes, the children, you are a wonderful man to focus on them, hopefully it will not be too long until all these children are free to lead happy lives. God Bless the troops and I am truly sorry about the loss of your comrads. I remember back to WW2 and Ernie Pyle and his camera, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words. Take care and stay safe. Marty

What a great person to take such beautiful pictures…
Truly inspirational