Combat Journalist

2006 – 2014

Beirut – Ramadi – Fallujah – Afghanistan – Haiti…following the 9/11 attack, young Americans, including my son, rushed to enlist – and as they were making American history fighting against a determined enemy, I was honored to be able to record it. Not only were their fathers- mothers – brothers – sisters and neighbors able to follow their warriors, but future generations will be able read and study how these young men and women answered their country’s call.

Between 2006 – 2014 I had multiple embeds into the combat zone, living, eating, and patrolling with our young Marines. Between windstorms, sandstorms, and the never-ending heat, I’d spend 6 – 8 weeks ‘livin’ the dream’ while writing articles, taking photographs, and trudging to the MWR at 0300 in hopes for sufficient bandwidth to send my work Stateside.2006: Beirut w/24th MEU; pulled 17,000+ American citizens off the beach as the Israel – Hezbollah war broke out.2006: Ramadi, with 1st Bn, 6th Marines based at Hurricane Point; this was the start of “The Anbar Awakening.”2006: Beirut w/24 th MEU; pulled 17,000+ American citizens off the beach as the
Israel – Hezbollah war broke out.

 

2007: Ramadi-western Anbar: Sheik Sattar & Mayor                                         Latif, Afghanistan – RC East 

2008: Ramadi-western Anbar, Afg- RC East with                                                   Marine Corps ETT (Embedded Training Team,                                            Guantanamo Bay-U.S. v Hamdan, Afg w/ETT,                                                   Surobi, Kapisa, Tagab2009: Afg w/24th MEU                                                      Helmand River Valley,  Nawa, Mether Lan w/Nevada National Guard

2010: Haiti earthquake; w/22nd MEU, Afg; Helmand River Valley; Delaram, FOB Eddy, Musa Qala, 

2011: Afg, Helmand River Valley w/ 2nd Bn, 1st Marines; Khan Neshin, Lakari, Marja

2014: Okinawa, Iwo Jima

I also accompanied, and reported on the USMC – NATO allies and USMC – ASEAN allies joint exercises such as Comptuex 2011, Bold Alligator 2011-2012, Steel Knight 2012, Dawn Blitz 2013, Ssang Yong 2014.

With Ramadi’s Mayor Latif; 2008

A soccer match in Garmsir, Afg, 2011