My latest article appears in this month's issue of Leatherneck, the official magazine of the U.S. Marine Corps Association. You can view a preview of the article by clicking here. (Sorry, for now the full article is only accessible to Leatherneck subscribers.)
The article is about the Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation, Inc., an incredible organization. Their mission is as follows: "To provide traumatically injured U.S. servicemen and women from Iraq and Afghanistan with a high quality restorative program, utilizing the therapeutic experience of fly fishing on Montana waters."
Click here to view a photo gallery from the article.
The Women's Conference, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver, is an annual event that draws a huge crowd to the Long Beach Convention Center. At Big Life Films I had the privilege of working on a number of multimedia programs that were shown at the conference, including films that honored the recipients of the 2010 Minerva Awards.
Created by California First Lady Maria Shriver in 2004, The Minerva Awards have become the country’s most prestigious awards given to women “who serve on the front-lines of humanity,” celebrating their extraordinary legacies of service and contributions to California, the nation and the world.
Here's one of the films we produced. It's about Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude. From the very start of this country’s longest war, Carolyn Blashek has not gone a day without thinking about the men and women who put their lives on the line overseas for the freedoms we enjoy at home. Carolyn was so moved by the enormity of 9/11, that she tried to enlist in the military at age 46. She was sent home for being “too old,” and so began the odyssey that led to Operation Gratitude, the largest military support organization sending personalized care packages to deployed soldiers in US history.
We received the following photos last night from a bear claw who works
with this donut, Binky. We don't know Binky's last name. Today, Binky
quit his job with a (flash) bang by emailing her entire staff at Dunkin
Donuts, about 20 employees were told. Awesome didn't begin to describe
this office hero. Check back as we will be updating if we get more
details.
Enjoy my new article about Colonel George Zamka, a United States Marine who also happens to be one of our astronauts. The article appears in the July issue of LeatherneckMagazine, the official publication of the Marine Corps Association.
Zamka’s nearly three-decade Marine career is packed with diversity and tremendous achievements. He has served as a pilot, racking up more than 5,000 hours in some 30 aircraft types. Out of the cockpit, Zamka completed tours as a forward air controller, maintenance officer and, since his appointment in June 1998, as one of America’s 95 astronauts. To date Zamka has logged nearly 700 hours in space.
Many thanks to Dr. Elaine Showalter for reviewing History in Blue in the Washington Post last Sunday! Check out full the review by clicking here. Here's an excerpt:
In Washington, D.C., we have become quickly accustomed to seeing
Chief of Police Cathy Lanier and other women police officers report on
violent crimes on the nightly news, although only 13 percent of
municipal police officers nationally are women. And while women serve in
support roles in the armed forces, they are banned from combat. Many
argue that women should not put themselves in harm's way on the mean
streets and the fields of battle, facing injury, capture and death at
the hands of criminals or enemies, and that their presence undermines
crucial male camaraderie....
Police work and military service are complex
case studies for debate about women and work.
Both "History in Blue," by Allan T. Duffin, and "A Few Good Women," by
Evelyn M. Monahan and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee, document women's work
history and provide fascinating individual stories. There have been
women in police work since the beginning of the 20th century, initially
as mother-figures "with a badge," who would stop juveniles from smoking,
advise wayward girls and patrol saloons.... In
1943, the NYPD issued a "combination gun holster and makeup kit" to
female officers. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia told women cops to "use your
gun as you would your lipstick. . . . Don't overdo either one." But in
the 1970s, federal law, mass media and popular culture, including Angie
Dickinson's hit TV series "Police Woman" and the police procedural
novels of Dorothy Uhnak, made the female police officer a familiar and
respected figure.
Dr. Katherine Ramsland has published 37 books, 16 short stories, and
over 900 articles. She is professor of forensic psychology and criminal
justice at DeSales University, and her latest books are Inside the
Minds of Sexual Predators and The Forensic Psychology of Criminal
Minds.
Check out the review here. Dr. Ramsland includes great archival photos to illustrate what she's talking about. You can see her website at www.katherineramsland.com.
I had the privilege of writing the cover story for this month's issue of Leatherneck Magazine, the official publication of the Marine Corps Association. HBO's new 10-hour TV miniseries "The Pacific," which follows the wartime exploits of three World War II Marines, premieres this month.
Many thanks to the following folks who took time out of their busy schedules to do interviews for the article: Bruce McKenna, co-executive producer and writer; Captain Dale Dye, USMC (Ret.), senior military advisor; Penny Rose, costume designer; and actor Jon Seda, who portrays legendary Marine "Manila John" Basilone. HBO's media relations staff was equally giving of their time and assistance -- thank you so much!
You can take a look at this issue of Leatherneck by clicking here, but you'll need a subscription to read the entire article.
Thanks also to Colonel Walt Ford, USMC (Ret.), the editor of Leatherneck, who's a terrific boss. He loves his job, and it shows.
Gone are the days when a woman police officer was acting as a social worker with a badge, and they now fill as many roles as male police officers do. Many companies are adjusting what they manufacture and sell to specifically meet the needs of women police officers. This is after years of providing only unisex products and using a one size fits most business model.
History in Blue is an excellent social history of women in law enforcement that's full of powerful stories of the creativity, determination, and courage of women on the job.
Catch Harlan Glenn's new TV show "Battle Rats: Iwo Jima," a one-hour pilot for a proposed series, this month on the Military Channel. I've been fortunate to work with Harlan on a number of TV programs over the years, and it's thrilling to see his new show come together. Congratulations Harlan! Here's a trailer for the show:
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