THE courage of those serving in our Armed Forces is frequently – and rightly – highlighted as they go about their selfless work in the danger spots of the world.
But it is easy to forget the bravery and dedication of the large number journalists who risk their lives to keep us informed about what is happening on the front lines of war zones.
The death of Sunday Mirror journalist Rupert Hamer, who was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan at the weekend, is a reminder of the everyday dangers faced by war correspondents.
Hamer, the father of three young children, died when his vehicle was hit by a bomb in Helmand. His colleague, photographer Philip Coburn, was last night in a serious condition.
Like all good war correspondents, they believed that the only way to accurately report the war was to experience life at the sharp end of the conflict.
They were, therefore, embedded with the US Marine Corps and accepted the same risks.
If we are to understand the reality of wars, if pressure is to be kept on governments to ensure that soldiers are given adequate support, and if the right questions are to be asked about the continuation of conflicts, the role of the war correspondent is a crucial one.
Just as we salute the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen, we salute the bravery of journalists working alongside them.
People like Rupert Hamer and Philip Coburn are a special breed of journalists, doing incredibly important jobs.
Our thoughts are with their families.
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