November, we arrived to this area with no idea what to expect. The Iraqi elections were approaching quickly and being prepared was the priority. Fear is consuming coming from the United States where you feel safe and happy; Now we must go out and attempt to interact with a populace that full of ill wills for us. The best way to describe what it feels like when you go on your first mission is to imagine being a parent turning around and your child is gone. The emptyness in your stomach as though everything in life no longer matters. There is only here, and now. You have all the stories from soldiers before you and the media and the door of the vehicle opens, you are no longer in the safety of the base but you are on the out-skirts of a small village in northern Iraq. Kids seem to appear from every house peeking out at you like deer. After sniffing out if the area is safe the kids come running full speed from all angles. Children not like you know in the United States but kids no taller than my chest and sometimes hips, carrying their siblings with one arm just to come see the Americans.

Instantly all the stories that you heard and movies you seen and visions you imagined are gone. Inhale and look around and realize, this is for real. You ARE in Iraq. Kids start shouting and grabbing your uniform asking for chocolate and pens and pencils. Before you know it the heavy load of junk you had in your pockets vanished and kids are running around excited. They tackle each other to try to be the one with the most American goods. It is a prime example of survival of the fittest. Harsh, some may say savage way of life. The people here seem not to mind and drive on with their lives. These people do not know of all the bennefits freedom offers so why should they think they live bad? These are the people and this is the land im trying to capture in photos and allow people to see and feel as these people do every day of their lives.