Recommendation from a person I wrote a feature article about. Please contact me directly for more references from professors, editors, and sources.
To Whom It May Concern:
The recent death of photographer Tim Hetherington in Libya and the
assault of CBS reporter Lara Logan in Cairo remind us that the work of
investigators is inherently difficult and dangerous. I readily acknowledge
the sacrifice of these professionals on par with that of my own Marines.
The contributions of our journalists are as vital to the spread and
preservation of liberty as those of our service members. Amanda James is
one of those rare, courageous citizens whose work will shape our
individual perspective as well as our democratic process.
I have known Amanda for one year, and since meeting her I have
followed her work in earnest, cheering and applauding her at every turn.
Amanda sought me out for a profile related to an “immersion journalism”
course at Boston University. The result was a moving illustration of one
veteran’s successful reintegration into college life following his wartime
experience. Amanda used my life as a platform to champion awareness of
veterans’ potential for civic service back at home. Over the course of six
weeks she became my shadow, listening, observing and asking
remarkably perceptive questions. Amanda happily participated in physical
training sessions before sunrise, well before most students in Boston were
willing to set their alarms. She sat in for a discussion on military ethics,
delighting the instructor – a Navy submarine Captain – with her genuine
interest in the subject matter. She even assisted me with the design of a
field training exercise for ROTC students, demonstrating her sense of
adventure and curiosity while decidedly out of her element. Most
importantly, Amanda became my trusted confidante: I readily shared and
relived the details of my life before, during, and since my service in Iraq.
Many of these details I’d never spoken of – not with my friends,
roommates, or family.
And indeed, Amanda has an incredible eye for the details. It wasn’t until I
read the completed profile several weeks later that I realized the depth and
scope of her investigative work. She had noted everything from my coffee
preference to the exact placement of awards on my uniform. Directly under
my nose, Amanda had rounded out her storytelling by speaking to my
peers, my boss, my classmates, even my mother. She recounted the
compulsive cleaning my mom engaged in to cope with her fear when I was
deployed – and did so with extraordinary grace and sensitivity. Amanda
crafted a rich and painfully honest narrative of my life. She then set aside
her pride and embraced my critical feedback in the interest of developing
her skill as a journalist.
Amanda and I have remained friends in the past year, even as I’ve
resumed my military service and moved on from Boston. It humbles me to
know I was not merely a subject in a story, rather a living conduit to a
larger passion for veterans’ affairs. I am grateful to have maintained this
relationship, especially as Amanda has shared the details of her own
professional life and aspirations. Her body of work at Australian
Geographic is a fascinating testament to Amanda’s talents in research and
reporting. Her volunteer service at home and abroad are evidence of a
young woman willing to sacrifice her own comforts in support of a greater
good. Her blog constitutes the manifesto of a bright young activist,
confident, concerned, and self-aware. Her selflessness and insatiable
curiosity are Amanda’s keys to a brilliant career as a mixed-media
journalist. I am excited to see what doors she unlocks.
Sincerely,
2ndLt Joseph Forbes, USMC
[email protected]
The recent death of photographer Tim Hetherington in Libya and the
assault of CBS reporter Lara Logan in Cairo remind us that the work of
investigators is inherently difficult and dangerous. I readily acknowledge
the sacrifice of these professionals on par with that of my own Marines.
The contributions of our journalists are as vital to the spread and
preservation of liberty as those of our service members. Amanda James is
one of those rare, courageous citizens whose work will shape our
individual perspective as well as our democratic process.
I have known Amanda for one year, and since meeting her I have
followed her work in earnest, cheering and applauding her at every turn.
Amanda sought me out for a profile related to an “immersion journalism”
course at Boston University. The result was a moving illustration of one
veteran’s successful reintegration into college life following his wartime
experience. Amanda used my life as a platform to champion awareness of
veterans’ potential for civic service back at home. Over the course of six
weeks she became my shadow, listening, observing and asking
remarkably perceptive questions. Amanda happily participated in physical
training sessions before sunrise, well before most students in Boston were
willing to set their alarms. She sat in for a discussion on military ethics,
delighting the instructor – a Navy submarine Captain – with her genuine
interest in the subject matter. She even assisted me with the design of a
field training exercise for ROTC students, demonstrating her sense of
adventure and curiosity while decidedly out of her element. Most
importantly, Amanda became my trusted confidante: I readily shared and
relived the details of my life before, during, and since my service in Iraq.
Many of these details I’d never spoken of – not with my friends,
roommates, or family.
And indeed, Amanda has an incredible eye for the details. It wasn’t until I
read the completed profile several weeks later that I realized the depth and
scope of her investigative work. She had noted everything from my coffee
preference to the exact placement of awards on my uniform. Directly under
my nose, Amanda had rounded out her storytelling by speaking to my
peers, my boss, my classmates, even my mother. She recounted the
compulsive cleaning my mom engaged in to cope with her fear when I was
deployed – and did so with extraordinary grace and sensitivity. Amanda
crafted a rich and painfully honest narrative of my life. She then set aside
her pride and embraced my critical feedback in the interest of developing
her skill as a journalist.
Amanda and I have remained friends in the past year, even as I’ve
resumed my military service and moved on from Boston. It humbles me to
know I was not merely a subject in a story, rather a living conduit to a
larger passion for veterans’ affairs. I am grateful to have maintained this
relationship, especially as Amanda has shared the details of her own
professional life and aspirations. Her body of work at Australian
Geographic is a fascinating testament to Amanda’s talents in research and
reporting. Her volunteer service at home and abroad are evidence of a
young woman willing to sacrifice her own comforts in support of a greater
good. Her blog constitutes the manifesto of a bright young activist,
confident, concerned, and self-aware. Her selflessness and insatiable
curiosity are Amanda’s keys to a brilliant career as a mixed-media
journalist. I am excited to see what doors she unlocks.
Sincerely,
2ndLt Joseph Forbes, USMC
[email protected]
