I have loved every day and every assignment

The Gulf Breeze News runs a portrait of Fred Waters, a WWII serviceman who later became a war reporter. He worked for the International News Service, which morphed into United Press International, before starting a 34 year career as a foreign correspondent with the Associated Press. There are some interesting quotes in the piece I thought I’d highlight here for the younger generation of foreign correspondent that haunts these parts,

"I think I did more good as a war correspondent than I ever did as a serviceman," Waters said last week. "Besides all the things I covered, as a war correspondent I got the ear of the four-star general. I could openly question his methods and strategies, and that influenced the treatment and handling of troops."

"I was doing what I loved to do, what I was always proud to do,

"I have loved every day and every assignment… I have somehow realized all of my childhood dreams. Can’t beat that." link

The 81 year old is hoping to attend a World War II veterans day for the Emerald Coast Honor Flight in Washinton D.C. on April 29. Waters was wounded five times while photographing military operations. He was one of six photojournalists inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame in 2008.