Chapter 9: The most dangerous place in the world, is my number 1 ranked chapter and chapter 10: Driver Expire was ranked number 2. I ranked chapter 9 above chapter 10 because it had a better lesson about photojournalism, chapter 10 was more about the realities of being over in a war torn country.
In chapter 9, "The Most Dangerous Place In The World", Lyndsey and her fellow photographer friend Elizabeth Rubin were on an embed with the US troops in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. They photographed a lot of injured Afghans who had been brought to the US base. Lyndsey had become close with a few of the troops and began learning about their personal lives and why they joined the army. Her and Elizabeth went out on multiple patrols with the men, which lasted 6 hours. They both witnessed multiple deaths of both Afghans and US troops. On one of their patrols they were ambushed by the Taliban with AK-47 bullets buzzing past them. Lyndsey was alone, trying to get the attention of anyone willing to save her. During that ambush is when Sergeant Rougle, who Lyndsey had gotten to know well, had been shot and killed. That is when Lyndsey knew she had to get out of the most dangerous place in the world. Lyndsey pleaded with Captain Kearney to get her out any chance he could. The next day she was flown out, leaving Elizabeth, who was more than dedicated to her story. Lynsey flew back to Turkey joining Paul at his place. She was overwhelmed with emotion by the sights she had seen in the Korengal Valley. Elizabeth and Lyndsey had discrepancies with the New York Times, on what story line they wanted to show.
"I couldn't believe Rougle-so vibrant and alive just an hour before-was now dead, in a thick, black, rubbery bag, being carried to the first of so many stops along the way home to his final resting place." This quote stuck with me because of how much we learned about him before, wanting to propose to his girlfriend, all the tours he has take since 9-11, just to have that fresh life with so many goals be taken.
My favorite photo is the blurry photo of the soldiers from the 173rd Airborne as they are being targeted by mortars the Korengal Valley. Even though it's blurry, it shows what she witnessed. That is why Lyndsey went, to document what she witnessed, and that is exactly what she did.
What I learned about being a photojournalist is that without even thinking, you put your career first. When Lyndsey was being shot at on a patrol, she just wanted to get out alive, and to photograph what was happening. Then when the troops dropped a bomb on Yaka China and there were civilian casualties, (Lyndsey and Elizabeth decided before to stay at base with Captain Kearny), she said, "And there I was, stuck with the overwatch team clear across an impassable valley, unable to document the human cost of war. I was there to bear witness but not witnessing anything at all." The fact she was willing to risk her life for the story of human cost of war, was something not everyone is willing to do.
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