Military Channel 'Salutes the Troops' With Special Programming Leading up to Memorial Day

Military Channel 'Salutes the Troops' With Special Programming Leading up to Memorial Day

SILVER SPRING, Md., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For two weeks in May, the Military Channel will turn its focus to honor the men and women serving in the military. In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, the Military Channel has planned a lineup of programming that includes personal messages of thanks and appreciation from Americans back home, messages from servicemembers to their mothers and all-new videos straight from the troops. With close to 500 videos submitted to date, this effort will continue the channel's unfiltered dialogue with its viewers. And on Memorial Day, the network will air military-themed documentaries that salute the valor and courage of men and women in uniform.

MILITARY CHANNEL SALUTES MOMS

Five times each hour throughout the entire day on Sunday, May 13, the Military Channel will feature Mother's Day wishes from the troops. The messages will come from servicemembers from locations all over the world to their mothers back home. The messages will also be featured online at http://military.discovery.com/ .

SALUTE TO THE TROOPS

Following the Military Channel's successful Valentine's Day OPERATION V-DAY with more than 1,000 messages from the troops to loved ones back home, the channel will air messages to the troops overseas. From May 14 through May 28, the Military Channel will air taped messages from Americans, with individuals and families sharing a personal "Salute to the Troops." The messages will air twice an hour, 24 hours a day and will also be posted online at http://military.discovery.com/.

MY WAR DIARY

Every night at 8 PM (ET) the week of May 21-26, the network will debut a new episode of MY WAR DIARY. The series features unfiltered stories from the frontlines of Iraq, told by personal videos and photos sent by those serving in the armed forces. Episodes will include intense battle scenes straight from a fighter's point of view, a glimpse at military life in Iraq during downtime and reflections on the emotional strain of being far from home.

MY WAR DIARY episode descriptions:
May 21 - Courage Under Fire

From a deadly attack in Iraq to a music video produced by Navy personnel, video clips and first-person stories from the U.S. military include: a humanitarian mission that turns deadly when a convoy is attacked in Mosul; the lighter side of life on an aircraft carrier as depicted in a music video; soldiers in Iraq responding to a surprise attack in a remote location; and an Interpol tip that leads the Iraqi Police and U.S. Army to a counterfeit ring.

May 22 - This Is Iraq, Baby

Video submitted by servicemen in Iraq includes: a combat cameraman rolling tape in the heat of battle; soldiers incorporating a military cadence in a rap video about day-to-day life in Baghdad; a medevac team talking about rescue missions in the war zone; and sailors chronicling their work and downtime protecting an isolated oil terminal.

May 23 - Brothers in Arms

Footage and interviews from men and women serving in Iraq includes: a soldier's changing perspective on life in the war zone; a team of Army bridge builders living in a former palace of Saddam Hussein; a Navy medic and his Marine buddies attacked while guarding a river outpost; a Marine leading humanitarian efforts who becomes an honorary "sheik" in a local village.

May 24 - Strategy on the Fly

First-person interviews and video clips from Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait include: soldiers participating in an intense battle to regain Fallujah; a U.S. team training Afghani soldiers attacked by Taliban fighters; heavy equipment truck convoys encountering IEDs and other dangers while moving people and supplies; and Navy personnel overseeing a massive customs and cargo operation in Kuwait.

May 25 - Taking Control

Soldiers face imminent danger in Iraq, as depicted in video clips from the frontlines, including: "Trailblazing," which takes on new meaning for a team of engineers tasked with clearing roadside IEDs; a combat medic who does double-duty as a videographer and photographer; an Army unit that takes on mortar fire while living in the former palace of Saddam Hussein's son; and a combat correspondent who documents a major air assault and humanitarian missions during his deployment.

May 26 - Second to None

Troop video submissions from Iraq and Afghanistan include: a helicopter pilot who comes to the aid of a convoy ambushed by the Taliban; an Air Force MP who boosts morale with humor; a National Guard unit that recovers weapons caches and encounters terrorist cells in Al Zour; and a combat correspondent who covers USMC activities in Ramadi and Fallujah.

MY WAR DIARY is produced for the Military Channel by LMNO Productions. LMNO executive producers are Eric Schotz and Lisa Bourgoujian. Mark Allen is executive producer for the Military Channel.

MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAMMING

On Memorial Day, May 28, viewers of the Military Channel will be able to see a stellar lineup of critically acclaimed war-themed documentaries.

8 AM - 1 PM (ET)

OPERATION HOMECOMING - 2005 documentary about a group of military men and women who come home from their service and are reunited with their families.

1 - 3 PM (ET)

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE - Follows the 10,000-mile cross-country journey of a restored Vietnam combat UH-1 "Huey" helicopter to the backyards and farmyards of war veterans and families to hear their stories.

3 - 4 PM (ET)

AN OCEAN AWAY - Vietnam War documentary that tells the story of the death of Lt. Donald Matocha in Vietnam and the return of his remains to his family.

4 - 6 PM (ET)

D-DAY REFLECTIONS OF COURAGE - Documents the personal stories of many of the men who engaged in battle on D-Day. The film includes interviews with soldiers along with historical footage.

7 PM - 2 AM (ET)

GOIN' BACK - A four-part series that tells the story of a remarkable journey by the first American combat troops to return to Vietnam since the end of the war. Each part will cover a different war: 7 PM and 11 PM - Bataan & Corregidor; 8 PM and 12 AM - Iwo Jima; 9 PM and 1 AM - Korea; 10 PM and 2 AM - Vietnam.

The Military Channel brings viewers compelling, real-world stories of heroism, military strategy, technological breakthroughs and turning points in history. The network takes viewers "behind the lines" to hear the personal stories of servicemen and women and offers in-depth explorations of military technology, battlefield strategy, aviation and history. As the only cable network devoted to military subjects, it also provides unique access to this world, allowing viewers to experience and understand a world full of human drama, courage, innovation and long-held military traditions. Visit online at http://military.discovery.com/ .

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion people in over 170 countries. Through TV and digital media, Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks include Discovery Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Health. DCI is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Cox Communications Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information please visit http://www.discovery.com/ .

To download photos go to http://www.press.discovery.com/

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Source: Military Channel

CONTACT: Jill Bondurant, +1-240-662-2927, Jill_Bondurant@discovery.com ,
or Denise Arrigali, +1-678-580-1245, darrigali@comcast.net , both for Military
Channel

Web site:

http://military.discovery.com/
http://www.discovery.com/

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