Aliza Nadi, Bahrain

It’s been one week since we arrived to the Middle East, camera in hand, not knowing what to expect.  It’s been overwhelming, emotional, moving, frightening.  It’s been a little of everything. 

Cerissa and I are in Bahrain right now.  It’s our fourth country, and fifth base. 

Of all the memories I’ve collected, the one thing I keep going back to are the people. 

It was around dusk in the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the band was finally playing in an indoor setting with the AC cranked up, and that’s were I encountered James.   He was standing against the wall, a little out of place.  He had arrived just a few hours ago from Iraq, here for R&R, for 2 days.  We interviewed him.  It was an informal one.  The band’s music echoing in the background.  And James just talked, and talked, candidly.  It’s hard not to talk from your heart after experiencing war, I realized. 

James turned 21 the day before he left for Iraq.  He’s from Ohio, has 4 brothers and 1 sister.  He’s blond, handsome, with piercing eyes and a navy and white baseball tee.  He’s the kind of guy you’d seen in an Abercrombie ad. 

One of the contracters in the room told us we could easily pick out the troops here for R&R from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Simple enough.  They’re the youngest ones.   

James is a photojournalist on the frontlines.  He holds his camera in his left hand, his rifle in his right hand.  His job is to capture raw images of the troops, for themselves and their family, and sometimes for publication, but that comes second.  He said he didn’t like the life he was leading back home, so that’s why he joined the Army.  He told me he has about 7 months left till his deployment ends.  Almost all of the young troops we met have have told us exactly how many days they have left till they return home.  And that’s how I’ve slowly come to identify them.  Joy, 90,  Cody: 90,  Debra: 39.

I could tell James enjoyed being on camera.  He liked the attention.  It made him feel special.  He took off his watch that he’s been wearing everyday in Iraq.  James offered to give it to me.  I couldn’t take it.  "Maybe that’s been your good luck charm," I said.   

The next day I met another young soldier, Jason, in the recreation center.  We just finished filming the band in the base’s hospital.  And came to the rec center for pizza and baseball on large flat screen TVs.  Soldiers in gym uniforms were playing table tennis, war video games, and pool.  Jason was sitting behind me, and started talking to Magoo, the guitarist.  Cerissa and I overheard his story, and had to talk to him.  He was here for R&R from Afghanistan.  When we approached him and asked if he wanted to be interviewed on camera, he seemed nervous, anxious.  He asked the PAO if he’s allowed to speak. He looked all around, to see if there’s anyone he knew.  He pushed his plate to the side because he thought he’d get in trouble for enjoying a slice of pizza on camera.

He told us about his time in Kandahar.  The joy he gets from interacting with the local children, handing out slippers, pencils, candy.  How coming to the 379th AEW was the first time he’s seen a paved road in 6 months.  How being in civilian clothes is strange.   How he feels naked without his weapon.  He was engaged once, but his fiancee broke it off because he was away.  He said being overseas has destroyed all his relationships.  After the interview, he shook my hand fiercly, I thanked him for his work in Afghanistan, I told him I was there a couple months ago, and that he’s one of the good ones. 

A few hours later, we bumped into Jason during the soundcheck.  He was sitting in front of the stage, alone, waving a lighter.  The band dedicated 3 songs to him and handed him a CD.  It’s been a while I’ve seen someone that genuinely happy, glowing.  "This will carry me through the rest of my time there," he said.  He told me didn’t want to leave but he did a few minutes later.  He had to get on the plane back to Kandahar.  Jason, 60 days. 

This morning, Magoo asked how our interview with Jason went.  "It was one of the best," I said.  "They all have that same look in their eyes," he said.  "The ones that have been fighting, they all have that look."   

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