CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – Noted Minnesota broadcaster Don Shelby hasn’t been sleeping much lately. Ever since he embedded with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, he has been rushing from one end of Contingency Operating Base Basra to another, braving sandstorms, interviewing Soldiers and sharing their stories.
Shelby’s cameraman, Tom Aviles, winner of 30 regional Emmys, slept even less – two hours in two days – but Shelby said that’s his own fault.
“He’s compulsive,” said Shelby, winner of two Peabody Awards. “He wants to get every photo and every shot.”
Although Shelby has served in the military and has been a war correspondent in Israel and Egypt, this was his first trip to Iraq. He said he felt privileged to cover the Red Bulls. “These men and women are professionals in our community,” said Shelby. “Not only are they on the front lines as Soldiers, but they also extend their skills and experiences with Iraqi communities. It is my honor to share their stories with the people back home.”
The trip, which was in the planning stages for months, got off to a rocky start when Shelby and Aviles were unable to leave their tents in Kuwait for three days because of raging sandstorms.
“The troops deserve a purple heart just for dealing with the horrible conditions in this part of the world,” blogged Aviles.
“Don is the ultimate outdoorsman, so for him tents are fun,” Aviles continued. “I do not share his enthusiasm.”
Once in COB Basra, Shelby and Aviles watched the Vikings-Packers football game, one half with Soldiers at the base coffee shop and one half with military policemen on duty at the gates.
“So far, it has been like taking a trip to Brainerd,” Shelby said, referring to the city in northern Minnesota. “The setting is different, but the people are the same, and it’s as if you were at the State Fair.”
Shelby and Aviles made sure to meet with Soldiers, many of whom, like Sgt. David Walkner, a Glenville, Minn., native and a human resources manager with the 34th Inf. Div., grew up watching Shelby on WCCO.
Walkner’s home was just outside the WCCO viewing area when he was growing up. So, every Sunday, the Walkner family would point their antenna toward the Twin Cities to watch Don Shelby. “It brought a sense of home,” said Walkner, “definitely a change of pace.”
“We can only imagine what it is like for these men and women to be in harm’s way constantly and to be so far away from the people and places they love,” blogged Shelby.
“In our conversations with them, we can tell that we represent a part of what they miss,” Shelby continued. ”They want to talk about the Twins and the Vikings and the Gophers. They want to talk about the weather and their favorite lakes to fish.
“We are more than happy to bring that small part of home to them.”
In addition, Shelby and Aviles traveled to a medical hospital in Basrah to cover a possible collaboration with the University of Minnesota. Col. Michael Rath, a Mankato, Minn., native and division surgeon, had hatched a plan to bring University of Minnesota doctors to Basrah to teach Iraqi medical students.
“That was one of the best stories that I have covered anywhere,” Shelby said, “because it beat my expectations going in.”
“It helped expand the breadth of my knowledge about the war,” Shelby said. “It’s not just infantry work, but it’s rebuilding, developing trust so they can stand up on their own when we pull out.”
“It’s simply people trying to help people,” Shelby said. “It’s a part of Iraq that is not understood by most people.”
“You think it is all about fighting,” said Shelby, formerly of the U.S. Air Force. “I know you fight for the peace.”
Shelby, a mainstay of Minnesota television since 1978, produced four broadcasts, which aired Monday to Wednesday.
