Movin' on up

The blog is moving. Check out my first ever website and new blog.

Under his wing

Lance McElhiney has flown attack helicopters since Vietnam, fought in the first Gulf War and is on his third deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After 40 years of service, his greatest mission is teaching the next generation. Check out the multimedia piece.

One for the road

I'm back home in San Antonio and working on two more Iraq stories. Stay Tuned!

War Weary

Sgt. Julien Williams, 25, of New Iberia, La. is on her fourth deployment to Iraq. She's had to parent her kids, Jawan and Ja'lexis, on the phone and internet. Her mom, Judith, is raising them while she is away.

Check out the multimedia presentation. Krantzy Pants and I did the pics and audio. Anita and Billy made the whole thing come alive.

Snapshot Sunday

The Road Home

Back in San Antonio, I know I'm almost home when I pass two pinata shops. Superheroes, cartoon characters, and an occasional beer can dangle from metal awnings as I approach. They are my papier-mache welcome wagon.

In Iraq, the road home is rarely so familiar. Dusty dirt roads always seem to lead to indistinguishable villages. I have been here ten weeks, and the hours are starting to blend together. Some days, I'd give anything to see those pinatas.

My prayers were answered during a humanitarian mission this week, when Chaplain Bryan Smith, 49, of Cumming, Ga., brought along five pinatas donated by U.S. churches and charities.



"These kids are so bored. They have one or two sets of clothes, and they're both dirty. It's a really big day in their lives when they hit a pinata and get candy. It makes a difference," said Smith.

The Diyala province is as far as you can get from the Alamo City, but a giant red chili pepper made it feel a lot closer.

Snapshot Sunday

Snapshot Sunday

A Big Loss

Snapshot Sunday