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In recent years, we’ve seen the relationship between the military and journalists get rather … adversarial. Some might even call an investigative reporter who becomes a soldier in Iraq and then returns to the newsroom after his tour of duty confused, if not schizo.

Carl Prine of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review prefers the word patriotic.

In the days after 9/11, Prine gained lot of attention and respect when he investigated the security status of chemical plants in Chicago, Houston and Pittsburgh – and found them very vulnerable. He remained committed to the security beat over the years until 2005, when the former Marine decided to re-enlist in the National Guard, take what he had learned about security issues, and apply them in Iraq.

In a conversation with Public Eye, Prine indicated putting back on the uniform was a simple decision. “The military called me and said they were having trouble reaching their recruitment goals. I felt I had to do my duty, so I joined up with the 1st Battalion of the 110th Infantry of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a unit that hadn’t seen combat since the Battle of the Bulge – and was sent over to Iraq."

Prine is one of a number of journalists out there who can talk of Iraq with the voice of a veteran, but the eye of a reporter. He talked about his fellow soldiers who complained about media coverage. “My unit was stationed between Ramadi and Fallujah – a very rough place. The war was going badly. I’d been blown up four times. And some of the soldiers would ask ‘Why are the reporters all doom and gloom?’ I’d have to tell them ‘If the reporters were here and saw what we go through, there’s not much good here.’

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