Reed has been in Iraq since November.  For the first month or so, they lived in tents while waiting for the unit they were replacing to leave country.  Unfortunately, the departing unit left the place a mess so Reed's battalion gutted it and started over.  They are in Camp Ramadi, about an hour east of Baghdad.

Reed builds a table for his room.  He said those old carpentry skills came in handy.  He's recently put in a request for some tools as some of his comrades misused the available equipment and ruined it.

Reed and fellow squad member Gutierrez [they never use first names, Reed says].  They take turns serving as gunner on convoy missions.

This is the inside of a HMMWV where Reed rides in the sling with his head sticking out the top of the vehicle.

Reed and Sergeant Nichols in what Reed calls "full battle rattle" and sporting home-made helmet liners donated by a lady in Illinois.