The Marlboro Marine

Author: Luis Sinco
Picture date: November 10, 2004

The picture shows a marine smoking a cigarette after the siege of Fallouja, and contemplating a sunrise. He is covered in a mix of blood, camouflage paint, and dirt. At the first meeting with Mr. Sinco, marine only said:

If you want to write something, tell Marlboro I’m down to four packs, and I’m here in Fallujah till who knows when. Maybe they can send some. And they can bring down the price a bit.

Photographer was not even sure he wants to send this photo to the newspaper, he thought the editors would prefer more pictures of previous battle and siege. On the following day, he found out that the picture was published on the covers of 150 newspapers around the world. Mr. Sinco described the photograph by saying:

His expression caught my eye. To me, it said: terrified, exhausted, and glad just to be alive. I recognized that look because that's how I felt too.

With time, the photo became a symbol of Iraq war, this hopelessness seen in marine's face was present in hearts of Americans. Photographer found his subject, his name is James Blake Miller who was not as successful as the photo of him. After the war, he started to struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, separated from his wife and family, and is unable to discuss certain things that happened in Fallujah.