Shanghai 1989

Here are a few images from my last deployment while stationed on the USS Blue Ridge. Shanghai was the last scheduled stop for the ship. This was an historic event, as it was the first mooring of a US Navy ship in mainland China since the end of World War II.

We were there for just 3 or 4 days, if memory serves. It was very exciting to be part of that history in the making. The day before we tied our ship to the pier, we were all briefed on the cultural subtleties of Shanghai, as we did with all ports of call. Also, we were to remain in uniform during our off duty hours, due to the significance of the trip.

One of my fellow photographer's (PH2 Hanson) and I went on a walk about one day, and he captured these images of me. The first one shows a sort of unwritten tradition. Or maybe it is written somewhere. Anyway, we happened upon our Chinese Sailor counterparts during our walk, and decided to have a photo opportunity. We traded military covers (or hats, for you civilians), and smiled for the camera. The second image was taken for the purpose of our ship's publication, however I am not sure if the image ended up being used. It shows me interacting with the locals. The booklet I am referring to is a cheat sheet of common phrases in English and Chinese.

I couldn't help but notice the warm welcome we received by the vast majority of the people in Shanghai at that time. Everyone seemed very excited to approach and attempt to converse with the American Sailor in the white uniform.

The story has an unfortunate, and historically significant ending.

When we left, we were to sail for 2 days back to Yokosuka, Japan, where the Blue Ridge is forward deployed. Between the time that we left Shanghai, and the time we moored in our home port of Yokosuka, the Tiananmen Square crack down had begun. It is my humble opinion the Chinese authorities were waiting for us to leave.

Lighthouse at Tybee Island - Savannah Georgia

Thought I would share an image with you all. I shot this while attending my nephew's wedding in Savannah Georgia. I missed out on the drama, the day before the wedding. If I have the story correct, the rehearsal was to happen on the island the day before the wedding. When the wedding party arrived, they were blocked from entry onto the island. Evidently Miley Cyrus was filming a movie on the island, and the city had blocked entrance to that area without their knowledge or consent. This whole thing got the attention of the local media outlets, and the bride and groom were suddenly on the news that night. Wow!!

Operation Daniel

I have wanted to share this image with you all for a long time. I shot this picture a few years back, when I was still working in the area. When I began working in Salina, still taking up residence in the Sunflower building in Abilene, I would pass this spot on the Interstate every day, on my way to and from work. In fact, the Lion's Den was seated on the north side of the very exit off the interstate I would take to head back to the apartment building.

I had visited with a few of the locals in Abilene about the store and the sign. They told a very interesting story, and it prompted me to look up the news stories.

Evidently, in 2004, a local man by the name of Phil Cosby, was the first to protest the opening of this store, which sits a mere two miles from Abilene city limits, along the interstate I-70.

He then spoke with his church friends, who spoke with their church friends, who spoke with other church friends in other churches, and on and on, until a protest was born. It was dubbed Operation Daniel. apparently the name was derived from the pioneer protester, Cosby, who explained to a reporter that, "The Daniel is someone who would stand and make a difference in society, where he's at."

Operation Daniel had a specific battle plan, which was to rally the troops to set up a 100 day stake out of the store, and report to their employers, the patrons who would frequent the establishment. They would turn in DOT numbers to their respective corporate headquarters.

Operation Daniel did have a fair amount of success in turning customers away, but their success was short lived. This was back in 2004. The Lion's Den is still open as I type this in 2009. In fact, I believe there is another action being taken against the store. I believe it has to do with the proximity of their sign to the Interstate. Hmm ... looking at this image makes you wonder if the Lion's Den should file a counter suit.

Woman at Market

This is another image taken from Pusan South Korea circa 1987.

Hiroshima & The Peace Park

These last two are photographs from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Photographing the Buddhist monk made me a nervous wreck, as I remember it. I felt I was in a place very different from my own, and in a sense, I was witnessing a man on a spiritual journey; though at the time, I was not consciously aware of it. My experience and knowledge of the Buddhist culture was very limited. My anxiety was enhanced as I took in the exhibits. It was a sobering experience. The building you see behind the monk is referred to as The A-Bomb Dome. It is so named because it withstood the blast and is still standing today. That fact alone does not seem so extraordinary until you consider how close it was to the center of the blast. It stood 160 meters northwest of the hypocenter.

Pusan South Korea

Just wanted to share with you all four photographs that I think are very special to me.

For as long as I live, I will never forget these two children. As I was positioning for just the right shot, they just followed the gaze of my camera through several different positions, until I had settled on just the right angle. Their expressions seemed so poignant.

Both photographs were from the same day. For the local citizens of Pusan, South Korea, it was just another day in the market place. For me, however, it was a brand new experience, as it was one of my first trips to this country. I was a young American sailor of the United States Navy, experiencing cultures which were far removed from the one I grew up in. I had made it my mission to document what I was experiencing at that time.