Bold Alligator 2012
February 10th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
A CH-53 lands aboard USS Wasp in Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 03, 2012. The Wasp is participating in Bold Alligator 2012. (Mike Morones/Staff)
I spent a few days aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp for part of the exercise Bold Alligator 2012 with Marine Corps Times writer Dan Lamothe. I don’t get away from the desk much so it was a nice change of pace to spend some time with the sailors and Marines as they went about their business. As often happens our coverage plans went out the window in the face of unforeseen circumstances, bad weather and some logistical problems but we adjusted as best we could. Despite not seeing everything we wanted to report on, it was a great chance to experience life aboard a ship, especially in light of the fact that many Marines have never served aboard a ship. You can see some of Dan’s work over on the Battle Rattle blog.
Equine Therapy
February 7th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Alan Lessig
Robert MacTamhais, a National Guard veteran who was a medic in Iraq in 2008, gives a goodbye hug to Mel after his equine assisted therapy session, at Rocky Top Therapy Center, in Keller, Texas. The center recently received a grant for its new Horses for Heroes program to work with veterans and their families to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological injuries and adjustment issues. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Lara Solt)
Mess Deck Happy Dance
February 6th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Alan Lessig
Aboard USS Wasp, Atlantic Ocean 02/05/2012:Sailors and Marines dance and joke around after preparing dinner on the mess deck aboard USS Wasp on Feb. 05, 2012. From left: AOAN Charlee McKinsey, LCPL Ray Rosario, PVT Arthur Garza, Seaman Ossn Jumalou and CPL Jonathan Delabre. (Mike Morones/Staff)
Observation Balloon Burns at Fort Sill, 1918
January 23rd, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
Hydrogen filled balloons were used at Fort Sill, Okla. for observation of artillery fire. In 1918, a spark of static electricity caused a balloon to explode while the ground crew was still holding onto the guide ropes. Six Soldiers were killed and another 30 injured in that incident.
(Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Historical Society)
While editing the Frontlines slideshow, I came across this picture from Fort Sill and thought it worth sharing, especially in light of today’s widespread use of unmanned observation aircraft. Given the camera technology of the day, the fact that the photographer managed to even make this picture is amazing. -Mike
Breaking Down Barriers
January 13th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
Cpl. James Hernandez, a combat engineer with Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, and a native of Goodyear, Ariz., uses an electric saw to dismantle a HESCO barrier at Firebase Saenz, Helmand province, Dec. 13. FB Saenz is the first of several patrol bases being demilitarized by the Marines of 9th ESB throughout the month of December. (Cpl. Bryan Nygaard/USMC)
Air Force 2011 Year in Pictures
January 9th, 2012 | Photography | Posted by Alan Lessig
An A-10 Thunderbolt II with the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., drops an AGM-65 Maverick missile during a close air support training mission Sept. 23, 2011, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. This photo by Senior Airman Brett Clashman is just one of several eye-catching images released today by the Air Force as part of their 2011 Year in Pictures gallery.
AP Photographer Searches For Wounded Marine
December 29th, 2011 | Photography The Wires | Posted by Mike Morones
In this Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, photo, injured United States Marine Cpl. Burness Britt reacts after seeing pictures of his evacuation laid out on his bed in the Hunter Holmes Medical Center in Richmond, Va. Britt is facing a long recovery after a large piece of shrapnel from an IED in Afghanistan in June 2011 cut a major artery on his neck. During his first operation in Afghanistan he suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
AP photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus has covered war and conflict for 20 years. She has received a Pulitzer Prize and the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Award for her work. She has spent considerable time covering the Afghan conflict and spent 2 1/2 weeks in June with the U.S. Army’s “Dust Off” Medevac unit in southwest Afghanistan.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Inside the medevac helicopter in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Cpl. Burness Britt bleeds profusely from his neck. He and two other Marines have just been hit by shrapnel, with Britt’s injuries the most serious. The medevac crew chief clutches one of Britt’s blood-covered hands as he is given oxygen. I take hold of the other.
With my free hand, I lift my camera and take some pictures. I squeeze Britt’s hand and he returns the gesture, gripping my palm tighter and tighter until he slips into unconsciousness. His shirt is ripped, but I notice a piece of wheat stuck to it. I pluck it off and tuck it away in the pocket of my body armor.
In my 20 years as a photographer, covering conflicts from Bosnia to Gaza to Iraq to Afghanistan, injured civilians and soldiers have passed through my life many times. None has left a greater impression on me than Britt.
I knew him only for a few minutes in that helicopter, but I believed we would meet again one day, and I hoped to give him that small, special piece of wheat. Click to continue reading here
In this Saturday, June 4, 2011, photo, injured United States Marine Cpl. Burness Britt reacts after being lifted onto a medevac helicopter from the U.S. Army’s Task Force Lift “Dust Off,” Charlie Company 1-214 Aviation Regiment. Britt was wounded in an IED strike near Sangin, in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan. At the Hunter Holmes Medical Center in Richmond, Va., Britt is facing a long recovery after a large piece of shrapnel cut a major artery on his neck. During his first operation in Afghanistan he suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
2011 Military Photos of the Year
December 22nd, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
PHOTO OF THE YEAR: Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2011 after Gaeta’s ship returned from 80 days at sea. It’s a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings – one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one. (AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot, Brian J. Clark)
The War in Iraq Through the Lens of Military Times
December 16th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Mike Morones
While by no means a complete history of the war in Iraq, here are a handful of images as Military Times photographers covered the 2003 invasion as well as various assignments through 2011.
Highlights from Army Navy 2011
December 11th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by M. Scott Mahaskey
A decade of dominance, Navy defeats Army 27-21 for Navy’s unprecedented 10th straight victoryagainst Army in the 112thmeeting of the two service academies. Check our staff’s images below and read full story here:
Navy leans on senior kicker to win 10th straight over Army
