After spending months as embedded journalists in Afghanistan, Dan Morrison, a journalism professor at the University, and Cali Bagby, a graduate of the University’s School of Journalism and Communication, presented their stories of violent combat, soldier camaraderie and exhausting convoys.
The John E. Jaqua Academic Center for Student Athletes’ Harrington Room overflowed with students and community members eager to learn about Morrison’s and Bagby’s time in Afghanistan — not their views on the conflict there.
“We’re not here to tell you whether we’re winning or losing the war,” Morrison said.
Instead, their goal was to show the audience what life is like for troops on the front line.
The presentation included audio slide shows and videos of Marines being shot at, firing their weapons, and locating and retrieving improvised explosive devices.
There was also thorough video coverage explaining the significance behind some of the Marines’ tattoos, which were often symbolic of their wives and children at home.
As expected, the day-to-day life at a military camp was no easy feat.
“There are no toilets, let’s get that straight,” Morrison said. As far as bathing goes, his record was three weeks without a shower.
Morrison described weather that was unbearably scorching, reaching temperatures as high as 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Frequently, Morrison, Bagby and the troops would sleep outside to escape from the toasty tents.
“You feel like your brain is frying. It’s just so hot,” he said.
In Afghanistan, Morrison, a former Marine and experienced combat reporter, was like a mentor to Bagby, who had already spent time embedded in Afghanistan.
Bagby recalled one night when a rocket-propelled grenade flew by overhead and woke her up from her deep sleep. She had switched tents with Morrison, who was sleeping in the courtyard. Upon waking, Bagby’s thoughts were, “Dan’s dead. Where’s my camera?”
Luckily, Morrison survived this ambush, albeit after struggling with the tent zipper.
One of the memorable experiences documented in Bagby’s photo slide show was a situation after a “fire fight” when troops encountered the young men whom they suspected had just shot at them. The Marines took the men’s cell phones away to look for evidence of their involvement with the Taliban and came up empty-handed. Next, they searched and found hash on them.
The Marines proceeded to lecture the men about the dangers of drugs, though in the end they gave the men their hash back and sent them on their way.
Morrison explained that not just anyone can do what he and Bagby did. As a self-proclaimed risk taker, Morrison is attracted to thrilling missions like this one.
The process of becoming an embedded journalist is complicated, requiring first that a news organization, which was KVAL for Morrison and Bagby, gives one the credentials to go. Then one must be invited by a military commander.
Ayni Hailicka, a junior public relations major at the University, said the presentation was intriguing because, “Cali just seemed so fearless.” Hailicka was drawn to the event because she wanted to become more informed about the war, which she said she didn’t know very much about beforehand.
For 17-year-old Hope Landsem, a high school senior who is thinking about going to United States Military Academy next year, the most valuable aspect of Bagby’s and Morrison’s presentation was the female journalist’s perspective.
If the opportunity were to present itself again, both Bagby and Morrison said they would head back to Afghanistan in a heartbeat.
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