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I was stranded.
There was no money in my bank account, my credit cards were maxed, and I had no idea how I was going to pay the mortgage or my car payment.
I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get out of Iraq.
That was me, JD Johannes, in the early fall of 2005.
Out of money, running low on video tape, and thinking I was about to take up permanent residence in Camp Fallujah.
The previous spring I had quit my job here in the states to follow my old Marine Corps unit to Iraq.
All I had was a Canon XL-2 video camera and bullet proof vest that I doubt would stop an AK-47 round.
I was the second embedded blogger. I had not even heard of Michael Yon at that point.
Later, Bill Roggio would travel to Al Anbar. Then others, like Bill Ardolino, Bryan Preston & Michelle Malkin, Jeff Emmanuel, Caleb Chambers and Matt Sanchez would make the trek as independents.
Now, there are so many civilian bloggers in Iraq I do not know who they are.
But in 2005 I was under the radar.
Major Jeff Poole, then a Captain, helped me get into Iraq.
I had small contracts for syndicating TV news reports to local stations and through the grace of God, and some hard work from myself and David, was somehow able to get those reports back to the stations in time for the Neilson rating periods.
But even with TV contracts, in October of 2005, I was stuck in Iraq--out of money, out of tape and the unit I was with was going home.
Another miracle happened and I was able to fly back to the United States with them.
That summer became the original Outside The Wire.
It took me months to get my finances back in order. Working three jobs at a time and slowly editing the movie.
Finally, the debts of my trip to Iraq in 2005 were paid off.
The original movie was released and bloggers like Glenn Reynolds, who first linked to me back in the dark days of 2005, pushed the DVD. Glenn, thank you.
Michelle Malkin tracked me down and had me on Hotair in February of 2007.
Because of Glenn, Michelle, Greyhawk, BlackFive and many others, the story of Vengeance Platoon in Fallujah in the Summer of 2005 was told and seen by thousands of people.
It was during this time I was planning on going back.
But it was hard to put all the pieces together for a three-month trip.
During a business meeting on an un-related topic, my movie came up.
A man who is now a mentor of mine spent hours with me, discussing how to turn one man with a camera into something more.
Like many of you, he was fed up with the media's coverage of the war.
We decided together to take Outside The Wire to the next step--HD cameras, true TV production equipment. And I even came up with a kevlar vest that will I believe will stop an AK-47 round.
In all, I took more than $30,000 worth of equipment with me to Iraq. Each of my cameras costs $10,000 fully equipped.
I take two, because if one breaks, the only way to get a new one is get to Kuwait, fly to New York and buy a camera.
The 2007 trip went well.
I got shot at more times than I care to again--getting shot it is only fun the first few times, then it gets old.
My Arabic skills improved and I got to live side-by-side with some of this country's greatest young men.
Everything was going smooth. Too smooth.
Other than dodging two mortar rounds, EFPs and a lot of bullets, everything was in order.
Until I got back home and started to edit.
From there, everything fell apart.
It had been my goal to get back in Iraq in early September.
But everything that could go wrong did.
Every conceivable production delay happened. Everything that could increase the cost of production happened.
For two months, I woke up at 6 am to start editing and asked 'what is it going to be today?'
Two days ago, I saw 2005 all over again.
I felt like I did in October of 2005--trapped with no way out.
I saw a movie that would never be completed. I saw myself headed to Iraq, again, with no money and possibly trapped there because I could not afford airfare home.
That crushing feeling of being trapped in Al Anbar, with the foreclosure and repossesion notices stacking up started to take over.
Although I am not in that financial situation now, there was no way I could continue Outside The Wire.
Two days ago--I was on the cusp of pulling the plug, giving up and letting the TV media have Iraq to themselves.
But you have changed that.
I asked for $3,000 to finish the movie and you delivered.
To those of you who bought DVDs, thank you. And I hope you filled in an accurate email, because you will now get the first copies of this new documentary at what it costs us to make, package and ship them.
To those of you who contributed via Paypal or BlogPatron, I hope you gave us way to contact you, because the same offer is for you.
Thank you.
Thank you for propping me up.
I often feel alone in Iraq and in this endeavor but I know I am not alone.
I believe the Lord is with me and I know you are too.
Before I leave to resume the fine-tune editing of the Baghdad episode, here are a two clips.
The first is of my good friend Corporal John Hegland of Blackfoot Company, 1-501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Hegland and I should have died together on that roof in Kharmah on March 26th, 2007.
That was my first day embedded in Iraq in 2007.
Here is how the Washington Post reported that day in Kharmah:
"Also on Tuesday, the U.S. military said soldiers at an Anbar province military post foiled an attack Monday involving two suicide truck bombs and more than two dozen insurgents.
"The attack began about 2 p.m. when an explosives-rigged water truck barreled toward the compound in Karmah, near Fallujah, prompting a soldier to fire on the vehicle, setting it ablaze, the military said in a statement. About 30 armed men with rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and other weapons then began trading fire with soldiers. Minutes later, soldiers fired on and detonated a second truck that was approaching the post, the military said.
"Eight U.S. soldiers were wounded, and 15 insurgents were killed, the military said."
I was the only embedded reporter in Kharmah that day and I think the only embed in the Fallujah area.
If I had not been there, with my camera rolling, the Washington Post report would be all that is known of that day.
But as you saw in the clip above, there is so much more.
The stories of heroism and success of the young men and women serving our nation in Iraq are rarely ever told by the legacy media.
I requested Kharmah, the area has special meaning for me. If you watch the 2005 DVD, you will know why.
The paratroopers of Task Force Geronimo thought I was crazy to live with and go on missions with them at OP Omar.
But I know I am one of few embedded reporters crazy enough to go to Kharmah and live in a small outpost in what was Al Qaida's last strong hold in Al Anbar province.
The story would only be told if I went there.
That story now comprises two episodes in the upcoming DVD showing both sides of Kharmah--the north where the Paratroopers fought kinetic fights and the south where Able Company was building a tribal militia as part of the Anbar Awakening.
These two episodes are so close to being done it is maddening.
How close are they to being done?
The next clip is the opening credits sequence for the episodes.
As of yesterday, I believe I have two new Executive Producers. And I can always add more.
It may be a JD Johannes documentary, but it is made possible by everyone who buys a DVD or supports the endeavor.
Once again thank you, this will help me get through this production, your continued contributions will help me start on the next one.
Sincerely,
JD Johannes
You can continue to support JD on his next trip by contributing via Paypal, Blog Patron, Buying a DVD or making a tax deductible contribution.
We all know that freedom is not free--and neither is reporting from Iraq.
Each digital tape capturing the heroic efforts of Soldiers and Marines costs $7. JD uses almost 100 tapes on each trip. One DVD buys one tape that will permanently capture what the media refuses to cover.
As you know JD spends his time in Iraq with the Soldiers and Marines doing the work Outside The Wire. That means hundreds and thousands of dollars of equipment and gear gets damaged. Three dollars buys a new protective lens cover. Fifty dollars buys a pair of ballistic glasses. Just to get there, the airfare costs $1,500.
It all helps and it is all needed to tell the story that is not being told.
If you have the desire and means and would like to make a tax deductible contribution, or contribute at the Producer level, please contact JD via email.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and any support you can give.
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