Photographer's Narrative

Seeing a loved one off to war is never easy. During my time as a photojournalist in the Air Force I’ve photographed several “goodbyes” and I’ve yet to see one that wasn’t charged with emotion. The sacrifices that families make so that their husband, father, mother or daughters are able to operate in the war zone are unreal. When I captured this image, Tech. Sgt. Grabowsky and his wife Edith had no idea that she was pregnant with their first child. Grabowsky found out a few weeks into his tour. Once I heard the news, I began writing a three part series on the couple. Grabowsky made it home just in time to see his first born but deployed again shortly after.