I grew up in Concord, Calif., and joined the Marine Corps in 1987. My career as a photojournalist was not planned. In 1990, while serving in Okinawa, Japan, the military downsizing was in full swing. There was no room for me to remain in the Corps as an engineer mechanic, so they asked me if I wanted to be a photojournalist. I said, “Sure." When I reported for duty at Camp Pendleton in 1991, I was thrust into the world of the Marine Corps combat correspondents. I began writing and taking pictures for Camp Pendleton’s base newspaper, The Scout. With no money to send me to formal schooling, the Marine Corps trained me in an OJT status with some of the best in the business ... seasoned Marine combat correspondents like Rene Reyna, Ernie Carter, Hartman Slate, Steve Nelson, Dave Marriott. As a Marine photojournalist, I’ve covered assignments such as: the Los Angeles Riots; sporting festivals in Micronesia; Thailand’s orphans; Kuwait/Iraq DMZ operations; Backyard Luau culture on the hills above Honolulu; and Sumo champions in Tokyo. In my personal life away from photojournalism, I enjoy bodysurfing, skateboarding, fishing, golfing and camping with my sons Mike and Nick. Sometimes they talk me into playing video games with them ... but I always get beat, so I don’t like that much. I am a strong advocate for photojournalism, not just in the Marine Corps, but for all who do the important work telling the most important stories in pictures. Our Corps and our world face many challenges. I believe to show these stories in pictures brings attention to them ... and with that hopefully intelligent debate, discussions and eventually solutions. My e-mail address is heavyz@aol.com