News-Record.com

Everyone has a story, that one moment that brought them within a few meters of rolling directly over a roadside bomb. They come back to the barracks, swap tales, laugh, even tease each other about their brushes with death. They told me their stories, let me in on their jokes. Some searched me out later in the day. Could I keep those stories to myself? They didn't want their moms reading about their close calls.

Those are the words of staff writer Allison Perkins, writing about her experience in Iraq. Her five-part series begins Sunday and you shouldn't miss it. Her audio reflections are already posted. Video should be up by Sunday.

Allison used to work for Stars and Stripes, and she's been to war zones before. Her reporting from Kuwait and Iraq brings a poignancy and intimacy to our war coverage the wire services don't often provide. Her focus is on Piedmont units: a Summerfield soldier in Kuwait, an A&T student on convoy in Falluja, Marines out of Greensboro in Al Asad, and others.

As always, it's the detail that brings it home. Tomorrow in the newspaper we're running a promotional ad for her series. In the ad is a photograph of Allison geared up, sitting in a Blackhawk helicopter. Hand-written in blue ink on the pouch that holds her identification is the notation "A Pos."

Personally, I'll be happy when she's back stateside. I don't know any editor who enjoys having reporters in danger, even when its for a noble cause. In any case, she was in safe company.

At most bases, I showed up in the middle of the night, exhausted and hungry. They gave me a bed, food and made me one of their own. They showed me pictures of their kids, looked at pictures of mine. When it was time to leave, I was disappointed to go. They had become my protectors and my friends.

Read it Sunday through Thursday.