Reporter's Notebook

“The Last 600 Meters”

Between all the different screenings, I wasn’t able to catch all of “The Last 600 Yards,” a documentary about the battles of Najaf and Fallujah based on interviews with Marines and soldiers of all ranks who took part in the battles. What I saw looked great – very honest and gripping. Hearing two or three troops describe watching a fellow Marine get shot is an engrossing way to learn about a battle.

But to get the full scoop, I asked audience member Robert Parker to give me his impressions. Parker is a civilian with no military affiliation. His thoughts:

“I thought it was an excellent movie, front to back.”

The service members’ “perspectives were very impressive. I think it’s something that some of our political leaders should see as well.”

“What really impressed me was how forthright the individuals who were interviewed were at all levels.”

“They were very willing at all levels to say, ‘We thought this was a mistake or we thought things should have been done some other way.’ But yet they do understand their job is to execute.”

Should military members check this movie out, I asked? “I think they’d feel some justified pride,” Parker said, but this one’s of greatest value to the public and to the folks in government.