PS. Regarding the Marines thinking that "Soldier" is demeaning, all who serve should consider themselves Soldiers, as in "Onward Christian Soldiers...Marching on to War"! I have never served, and regret that decision every day!
Thanks for reading my post!
Steve

I just stumbled upon this "chat" and thought you'd like my take on this discussion. I have been insensed about this topic for a long time, and would like your opinion on a letter I sent to the Federal Communications Commission recently:

Dear Chairman, Please issue a "cease and desist order" to all Broadcast Journalists who daily exacerbate the anti-war movement, or liberal left-wing of the American Society, by misusing the word "Troop" or "Troops" in thier reporting of the Iraqi War death counts! This "Scare Tactic" is a gross misuse of the English Language, but also the Public Airwaves - to encite viewers, or sensationalize the News! The definition of "Troop" in the military sense is as follows:

TROOP: Military. an armored cavalry or cavalry unit consisting of two or more platoons and a headquarters group.

A Soldier is NOT a Troop!

News Journalists need to use the word "Soldiers", "Marines" or "Infantrymen", 'Airmen", or "Seamen/Sailors" when describing how many die each day in the line of duty. I "Support Our Troops", and wish to honor them (and thier families) with correctly worded and accurate reporting.

I hope you will treat this with the sense of urgency it requires - as Journalists, we need to be experts of the English Language.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this, it has been ignored far too long!

Kindest Regards for the job you all do!

Steve Thacker
Former Broadcast Journalist