In Iraq for 365

About my experiences in Iraq... the frustrations, the missions and this country... and the journey home

Monday, October 19, 2009

Camera Boy Book Tour

The first leg of the Camera Boy book tour.

November 5 -- CARMICHAEL'S BOOKSTORE, 7 p.m. @ 2720 Frankfort Avenue; Louisville, KY 40206

November 11 -- Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. @ 4100 Summit Plaza Drive, Louisville, KY 40241

November 16 -- Downtown Borders, Noon - 2 p.m. @ 11 S. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204

November 16 -- Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. @ 3111 South Veterans Pkwy; Springfield, IL 62704

November 17 -- Borders, 6:30 p.m. @ 3300 S Glenstone Ave; Springfield, MO 65804

November 18 -- Full Circle Books, 6:30 p.m. @ 50 Penn Place Oklahoma City

November 19 -- Barnes & Noble, 6:30 p.m. @ Woodland Plaza
8620 E 71 Street, Tulsa, OK 74133

December 2 -- Louisville VA Hospital, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.


Recent Stories Written About Camera Boy and Fred Minnick

My Iraq War Memoir, Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq, has yet to hit stores and the press has been fantastic. As a journalist, I always feel a little strange about being interviewed. But, I'm getting the hang of it.

OSU graduate, Army journalist tells his story

The Daily O'Collegian: OSU graduate Fred Minnick was a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who started in the 45th Infantry division. Minnick later transferred to the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. His stories from Iraq can be found in his book “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist’s War in Iraq.”

Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq

Stryker News: Many long time readers will recognize the name Fred Minnick. He has written a book about his experiences covering the war, including two Stryker Brigades in Northern Iraq, as an army photojournalist (view his story archives). The book, titled Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq, will come out in November, but is available for pre-order now..

OSU grad tells his story of war

Stillwater NewsPress: Fred Minnick was content to sit in the restaurant, sip coffee and talk about his book, “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist’s War in Iraq.”

Book recounts experiences of Norton Commons veteran

Louisville Courier-Journal: Fred Minnick penned “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq,” which chronicles his time serving in an Army public affairs unit — a time he spent with a Nikon camera slung over one arm, an M-16 over the other. The book is scheduled for release on Nov. 1 by Hellgate Press, which publishes military history books. Two book signings are scheduled: one at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 and another at Barnes and Noble at The Summit at 7 p.m. Nov. 11.

Author Penned Book in Upper Wis. Cabin

Sawyer County Record: Fred Minnick wrote Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War In Iraq in a small, remote lakeside cabin in Barnes, Wis. The peaceful place helped him to recover from PTSD, he says.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq


"Former Staff Sergeant Fred Minnick, a member of the best Public Affairs unit I have ever served with, has captured the essence of...what it was like to serve in northern Iraq in the critical year of 2004. Mostly, what shines through is an intense love of fellow soldiers and of the pride that comes from serving with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of American patriots."

General Carter F. Ham, U.S. Army Europe Commander

I can't believe my book is finally coming out. Pre orders are available at Hellgate Press.

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Friday, August 14, 2009

My Book is available for preorder

I am proud to announce Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq is available for pre order. Be one of the first people to own it and get it a month before bookstores.

http://hellgatepress.com/display_book.php?id=84

Saturday, January 26, 2008

I'm Back

I realize it's been some time since I posted and many loyal readers have emailed me requesting a comeback. But the truth is I could never blog like I once did in Iraq and that's partly why I stopped. I felt like a couch general and didn't think my writing was doing any good. So I stopped blogging about the military and my struggles altogether. Blogging about Iraq also made it difficult for me to move on, to readjust to my new life. It just brought back too many difficult memories to deal with.

But now, I know how to cope with those memories thanks to the counseling I've received at the VA. And I feel like it's time to come back and blog about the military again. This time, I plan to write analysis on military media coverage.

Since I've been gone from the blogsphere, I've become a national freelance journalist working for MSN, Investor's Business Daily and many other national media. You can view my work at FredWrite.com.

Friday, November 10, 2006

She said yes




I nearly threw up six times before I bought this ring. She loves hot dogs, so I stuck the thing on a dog and put it in the microwave. When she opened the microwave door, she laughed. I kind of figured she'd cry. But she and I are kind of goofballs. Oh, did I mention she said yes? We've decided to keep a blog about our journey to the altar. Read it.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Blog of War

It is so cool to be a part of something so special.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Poem from a fallen soldier's sister: The American Soldier

Dedicated to my brother, Ryan David Jopek, serving in Iraq.

He has a strong heart
and great amount of stubborn pride
He's a brave one
and he shows it with every stride
I know he won't let us down
as he serves our country over
in a dangerous land
For, even though he won't admit it,
he's holding God's hand
He'll fight for their freedom
while helping us hold on to ours
Even though he may come back
with some frightening scars
I love this man,
they call an American Soldier
I love him,
he
is my brother

Jessica Lynn Jopek
Copyright ©2006 Jessica Jopek