Off to Iraq

[frenchy750]

Hello all,

Tonight, some time after RAW concludes, I, along with a planeload of WWE wrestlers and TV gear, am leaving for Baghdad. This year marks the sixth time the WWE has packed up a wrestling ring and taken our show overseas to entertain our fine men and women in uniform.

It's hard to believe December has rolled around so quickly, it seems like only an eyeblink ago we were sitting on the C-17, waiting to take off for the Fifth Annual Tribute to the Troops show. And now, we leave tonight for Tribute Number Six. Regardless of my personal feelings about the war, this show is probably the most meaningful to me, because we get to bring a little joy and happiness to soldiers in a place where there is a distinct lack of joy and happiness.

As usual, I'll be shooting tons of photos and writing on my blog (http://frenchysrant.blogspot.com/) about what it takes to fake our way through the production of a live TV event in a war zone. Last year's blog write up and pictures can be found here (http://frenchysrant.blogspot.com/2007/12/back-to-iraq-five-travel.html). As an added bonus (I think) I've been asked to write a blog on WWE.com. As soon as I know the URL for the WWE blog, I will post it.

Keep our men and women in uniform in your thoughts this holiday season.

[SoaringUSAEagle]

Wow that really looks like a lot of fun. Was looking at your blog of last year's event. Must be cool to work with some big name like that :)

[20droger]

I've an idea! How about we scrap the war and let the WWE settle the issue! Their wrestlers against ours!

[frenchy750]

We made it back from Iraq safe and sound yesterday. I'd say we got about ten hours of sleep in the three days we were there, which isn't too bad, actually. I plan to make up the sleep differential today, and so far am doing quite well.

Here's a few pictures from our little corporate retreat:

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/431860673_BFaMW-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/431860687_s7MFm-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/432035482_fkwFF-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/432035454_yRQAS-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/432049821_barfT-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/432049839_feH4x-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/432049757_fn4Hi-M.jpg

http://frenchy750.smugmug.com/photos/432049786_yTLwk-M.jpg


I'll probably start writing the blog (http://frenchysrant.blogspot.com/) tomorrow, if I can stay awake long enough! But for now, I'm off to the safety of my couch for a while.

[frenchy750]

This morning at 4 AM, I finally finished writing my blog about the WWE's recent trip to Iraq. I hoped to be back on Eastern Standard time by now, yet I'm still stuck in limbo of Military Daylight Wasting time. Anyway, the blog is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, and possibly want another Macallan. At least that's how I felt after finishing the damn thing!

Check it out here (http://frenchysrant.blogspot.com/2008/12/iraq-vi-back-to-baghdad-part-1.html), and as always, thanks for your kind words!

[runninmann]

Great stuff, Frenchy! I read both installments and found it very entertaining.

[Becca]

That was the most entertaining thing I've read in months! Fantastic! Glad you made it there and back successfully. And Thanks for all you do for our troops!

[frenchy750]

Thanks to all. The final installment will be posted tomorrow morning.

[FlyingPhotog]

From one Freelancer to another: Good Job!!

I'm guessing we know a lot of the same people
My Working World: http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/scenes_from_the_road

[NZDoug]

What would you do if you were them???:shock:

[frenchy750]

Hey FlyingPhotog,

There's certainly a lot of familiar faces in those pictures... drop me a private message if you get a chance.

[Mark]

Were you shooting for them, are half of them into photography.... Or are those all the press/phtographers?? I don't get it...

But good pics and story none the less :D

[frenchy750]

I was shooting setup for the WWE.com website, because the rest of the photogs were covering the Forward Operating bases. My main job with the WWE is sound mixing; photography is just something I enjoy.

[Mark]

Oh, so you're a techie with them, that's pretty cool, must be a lot of fun!

So were the rest of the guys with cameras in the shots other wwe crew guys or were they photogs?

[frenchy750]

There were three pros covering the important stuff; forward operating base visits, troop interaction, helicopter flights, ect. Our lighting director JRob and I just shoot for fun, but since there was no coverage of setup, WWE.com used some of my photos on the website.

Glad you enjoyed the story.