2002, Afghanistan

Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Monday March 27, 2006, Selmer, Tennessee, USA

Tennessee Pastor found murdered in his home

Matthew Winkler, Pastor at the 4th Street Church of Christ in Selmer, Tennessee, was found dead in a bedroom in his home on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. His wife and three daughters were missing until they were located in southern Alabama a day later. Winkler's former wife, Mary, confessed to killing her husband whom she met while attending a Bible college in the nearby town of Henderson in the early 1990's. The motive for the murder is still unknown although rumors have flown throughout the town ranging from adultry on the Pastor's behalf or some sort of sposal or child abuse. Many child abuse advocates appeared at a service held for Winkler on 3/27/2006. The Winkler's three young daughters, Patricia, 8, Mary-Alice, 6, and Breanna, 1, have been given over to their paternal grandparents for temporary custodial purposes. The family hound is being fostered by members of the Church.

Mary Winkler's defense attorney Steven Farese.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday June 6, 2007, Ashland City, Tennessee, USA

Iraq war veteran returns to his first love - building rare violin replicas

After completing a tour in Iraq as a medic stationed in Ramadi, Sergeant Geoffrey Allison, of the 1st Armored Division, is rekindling his passion for building 17th and 18th century Stradivarius and Guarneri del Gesł replica violins. While in Iraq, Allison build six Stradivarius replicas. Today, he's traded in the sands of Iraq for the poured concrete floor of his garage.

Geoffrey Allison works on replica violins in his garage workshop.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday August 15, 2007, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Elvis fans from across the globe gather at Graceland on death anniversary

Elvis Presley fans from all over the world gathered outside the walls of Graceland in order to take part in a candlelight ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of his 1977 death.

A priest stands beside a fan dressed as Elvis outside Graceland.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday February 5, 2003, Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA

Camp Lejeune

At the Sleeping Dragon tattoo parlor, US Marine Pvt. Whitewater gets a tattoo in memory of his brother before being deployed to the Middle East

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday April 2, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq

Al-Hawza newspaper

Members of the "Jaish a Mahdi" or the army of the 12th Imam demonstrate at the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters. Thousands of followers of radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gathered outside of the CPA Coalition Provisional Authority, headquarters for Friday prayers instead of mosques to protest the closure of weekly Al-Hawza newspaper. The U.S.-led coalition on Sunday shut down the newspaper, run by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr, saying its articles were increasing the threat of violence against the coalition.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday March 9, 2007, Bayji, Iraq

82nd Airborne combats oil smuggling in Iraq

Members of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne, in cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts in the Strategic Infrastructure Battalion moved to crackdown on widespread smuggling and corruption at the Bayji Oil Refinery. The nearby plant, which operates off crude oil pumped by the refinery, suffers from persistent oil shortages as smugglers and insurgents continue to attack the strategic pipeline that connects the two. A significant portion of the pipeline is still offline after an audacious attack by smugglers destroyed the pipe to sell its precious contents on the black market.

Sergeant Truesdale, of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne reacts to enemy gun fire while breaking up a black market that sells oil illegally from the Bayji Oil Refinery.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Thursday October 9, 2003, Saddam City, Baghdad, Iraq

Suicide bombing at Saddam City police station kills nine

Family members at a hospital in Saddam City comfort wounded Iraqi police officers after a suicide bomber attacked an Iraqi police station, killing nine and wounding 45 people.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday February 16, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq

Western journalists at work in Iraq

Iraq has become one of the most dangerous locales in which to work in recent years. Over 70 journalists have been killed since the start of the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003.

Getty photographer photographs Iraqi soldiers pointing a pistol at a man on Haifa Street.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday March 9, 2007, Bayji, Iraq

82nd Airborne combats oil smuggling in Iraq

Members of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne, in cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts in the Strategic Infrastructure Battalion moved to crackdown on widespread smuggling and corruption at the Bayji Oil Refinery. The nearby plant, which operates off crude oil pumped by the refinery, suffers from persistent oil shortages as smugglers and insurgents continue to attack the strategic pipeline that connects the two. A significant portion of the pipeline is still offline after an audacious attack by smugglers destroyed the pipe to sell its precious contents on the black market.

Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne detain an Iraqi man who works the pumps at the Bayji Oil Refinery. The Iraqi was taking bribes and over filling fuel tanker trucks.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday March 7, 2007, Takrit, Iraq

Multi-million dollar grain factory sits idle in Iraq

A multi-million dollar gain factory built by the US military Civil Affairs Team with US tax dollars by the US Military has sat idle since the day it was built. The refusal by the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government to operate the facility stem from internal fighting between the Provincial government and the Ministry of Agriculture. All most every project built by the Americans have not been well received by the Iraqi people for many reasons such as fear of retribution by the insurgents and the refusal from the newly elected Iraqi government to fund any project or operation built by the American military without the blessing of the Iraqi government.

Sgt. Wiseman of Bangor Main is with the Civil Affairs Team of the US Military and is speaking with the Iraqi people about their cities current security issues.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Monday March 5, 2007, Tikrit, Iraq

Provincial Reconstruction Teams tour future Justice Center in Tikrit

Lt. Colonel Foster, with the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) of the U.S. Military, Mr. Katan, his Iraqi counterpart, and director of this reconstruction project. Commonly referred to as the northern angle of the "Sunni Triangle," Tikrit has been a hotbed of insurgent activity that inhibits the existence of a basic judicial system.

Mr. Katan (L) leads a discussion with Lt. Colonel Foster in a hallway in the future Justice Center.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Thursday March 1, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq

U.S. soldiers conduct foot patrols in Baghdad

U.S. soldiers conduct a foot patrol near Baghdad's Adhamiya Shrine. As part of the Bush administration's Iraq troop surge plan, soldiers from the 1-325 AIR/82nd, were redeployed to Iraq after having returned home from previous operations there.

A U.S. soldier on patrol in Baghdad passes by an Iraqi women dressed in a hijab, seated beside a young child.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday September 12, 2003, Najaf, Iraq

Mehdi Army militia patrol the Imam Ali Mosque during Friday prayers

A Shiite Muslim father with his son touch the door of the Imam Ali Mosque and pay their respects to the top Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim who was killed on August 29, 2003 when a powerful car bomb exploded outside the mosque. The Mehdi Army militia conducted security during today's prayers.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Saturday September 6, 2003, Mosul, Iraq

101st Airborne on foot patrol

Members of the 101ST Airborne Division (Air Assault) conduct foot patrols in the market while looking for illegal weapons.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday May 7, 2003, Jackson, Tennessee, USA

Tornado in Tennessee

Members of the heavily damaged St. Luke's Episcopal Church pray after a tornado destroyed their place of worship. Southeastern states have been facing one of the worst outbreaks of tornadoes in fifty-three years of record keeping.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

2002, Russia

Daily life in North Eastern Russia

Russia

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Saturday September 27, 2003, Fullujah, Iraq

82 Airborne kills Iraqi couple

The funeral for Zamel Jamil and his wife Amel Abas who were killed after their car was riddled with bullets fired by US soldiers of the 82nd Airborne division.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Saturday September 27, 2003, Fullujah, Iraq

82 Airborne kills Iraqi couple

The funeral for Zamel Jamil and his wife Amel Abas who were killed after their car was riddled with bullets fired by US soldiers of the 82nd Airborne division.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday August 15, 2001, Lavrentia, Chukotka, Russia

Daily life in North Eastern Russia

A Gray Whale being slaughtered by the villagers of Lavrentia, Russia. The Chukotka Peninsula is separated from the Alaska Peninsula by a narrow (43 mile) Bering Strait. The Region is populated with Native Eskimo and Chukchi.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday September 3, 2003, Mosul, Iraq

101st Airborne patrol the streets

Members of the 1st Battalion 320 FB, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) patrols the city streets.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Wednesday April 18, 2007, Amarah, Iraq

Maysan province fourth of 18 to be handed over to Iraqis

Iraqi National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie and high ranking US military officials were joined by British, American and Iraqi soldiers at the ceremonial transfer of provincial control to the Iraqi military leadership. The Iraqis were given control of security in the Maysan province in the more stable Shi'ite south. The Maysan province is only the fourth to be handed over to the Iraqis, out of a total of 18.

Iraqi soldiers hold Iraqi flags during the ceremonial transfer of provincial control to the Iraqi military leadership.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Saturday September 6, 2003, Mosul, Iraq

101ST Airborne in Mosul

Members of the 101ST Airborne Division (Air Assault) conduct foot patrols in the market while looking for illegal weapons.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday March 9, 2007, Bayji, Iraq

82nd Airborne combats oil smuggling in Iraq

Members of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne, in cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts in the Strategic Infrastructure Battalion moved to crackdown on widespread smuggling and corruption at the Bayji Oil Refinery. The nearby plant, which operates off crude oil pumped by the refinery, suffers from persistent oil shortages as smugglers and insurgents continue to attack the strategic pipeline that connects the two. A significant portion of the pipeline is still offline after an audacious attack by smugglers destroyed the pipe to sell its precious contents on the black market.

Sergeant Truesdale, of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne questions Bayji Oil Refinery pump operators about their poor book keeping, and their dishonest business practices that sustain the black market sale of fuel.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

2002, Russia

Daily life in North Eastern Russia

Russia

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday March 9, 2007, Bayji, Iraq

82nd Airborne combats oil smuggling in Iraq

Members of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne, in cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts in the Strategic Infrastructure Battalion moved to crackdown on widespread smuggling and corruption at the Bayji Oil Refinery. The nearby plant, which operates off crude oil pumped by the refinery, suffers from persistent oil shortages as smugglers and insurgents continue to attack the strategic pipeline that connects the two. A significant portion of the pipeline is still offline after an audacious attack by smugglers destroyed the pipe to sell its precious contents on the black market.

An Iraqi who works in the black market and sales illegal oil.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday March 9, 2007, Bayji, Iraq

82nd Airborne combats oil smuggling in Iraq

Members of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne, in cooperation with their Iraqi counterparts in the Strategic Infrastructure Battalion moved to crackdown on widespread smuggling and corruption at the Bayji Oil Refinery. The nearby plant, which operates off crude oil pumped by the refinery, suffers from persistent oil shortages as smugglers and insurgents continue to attack the strategic pipeline that connects the two. A significant portion of the pipeline is still offline after an audacious attack by smugglers destroyed the pipe to sell its precious contents on the black market.

Sergeant Truesdale, of the 1st Battalion, 505 of the 82nd Airborne patrols the pumping stations of the Bayji Oil Refinery.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Saturday December 13, 2003, Bolivar, Tennessee, USA

Guns and the Economy

Consumers looking for cheap buys on guns, attend the going out of business auction held at Webster's Sporting Goods store. Like many small businesses, gun stores are felling the competition of large retail stores, such as Walmart and K-Mart.

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Friday October 27, 2006, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Tennessee native killed while training Iraqi soldiers

The West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery is where the grave marker of US Marine Captain Robert Shecher is located. Cpt. Robert M. Secher killed in action on October 8, 2006 in Hit, Iraq while helping train the Iraqi Army.

Military cemetery

Credit: Robert King / Polaris

Robert King

Robert King was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He has worked in New York, Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Northern Iraq, Chechnya, Albania, and across Russia.

Personal web site of Robert King