Embedded journalism from the front lines of
Afghanistan & Iraq ~ by Mike & Carlos Boettcher

The sun had just set this evening when the alarm went off – “Condition Red”. Everyone, including us, ran to find our body armor and helmets. Mortars hit near Camp Bostick, where we are currently based, but three other locations were also attacked at the same time. Two of them were nearby small outposts. The last attack was against Camp Bostick’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF) shortly after it left the base to reinforce one of the smaller outposts that was …

In Ponca City, back in the days before cable, we had a television advantage over the rest of the state. The old black and white Magnavox could pick up stations in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Wichita. On the weekends that meant a broader selection of old movies to watch.

One of my favorites was “Fighting Seabees” with John Wayne. I loved every part of that movie except the competition for the nurse. From World War Two on, the Seabees always …

The attack on Bariali did a great deal to diminish its infrastructure; much of the outpost had been burned, broken, or simply collapsed in the chaos, leaving little for International Forces to work with in the following days. This proved to be a matter of critical importance for the future of Bariali, as the infrastructure of any Observation Post  is a hugely important matter for the soldiers who live and work within its walls.

Towers and watchposts provide valuable sightlines …