Photography - Iraq 2003

Evidently I am unable to post photos without a backstory.

One bright sunny day in February of 2003, I remember getting a call from my unit. "Good afternoon Corporal. It is my duty to inform you that your unit is being mobilized in support of Noble Eagle/Enduring Freedom..." The rest of the day is a blur. Hell the rest of the month was blur. We deployed to Iraq shortly after being mobilized, and I found myself in the middle of Iraq fighting a war. But not the war you see in the movies or in the documentaries or read about in books. The war I was experiencing was nothing like I was expecting. We were rock stars. When we came to a new town, people would line the streets and cheer. This was not what I was expecting at all. Locals wanted to shake our hands, they wanted to get their photo taken with us. The entire experience was surreal, but we made it home. All of us.

To my Marine brothers and sisters and the Navy Corpsmen who take care of us, Semper Fidelus.

Photo by me. Merchant and his son. Al Kut, Iraq

Photo by me. This family prepared a meal for us when we arrived in their town.

Photo by me. A patrol through Suwayrah, Iraq

Photo by me. Market in Kut, Iraq

Thanks for taking the time to read a little bit about me.

-Chris