Afghanistan War Reports Air on Oregon's FOX-12 Saturday Night

The special on FOX-12 Oregon airs after the news, at 10:30 PM Saturday, February 24th.

Photo by: Tim King

(PORTLAND) - Tim King's war coverage from Afghanistan will air on a special half-hour program Saturday night on Oregon's FOX-12 following the 10:00 PM News.

Cold reporting at 11 below zero Tim King is in a Humvee traveling over Afghanistan's mountain roads

"Stories from the Front" has been an ongoing series of feature reports on FOX-12 from Salem-News.com's Tim King, who embedded with the Oregon Guard's 41st Brigade Combat Team in Kabul, Afghanistan last November.

The reports were shot throughout a number of locations in Afghanistan including Jalalabad and the Pesh Valley, in addition to the areas around Kabul. These are areas where Oregon Guard soldiers and other members of the U.S. military are stationed as part of their year-long deployment in the war theater.

Tim King spent just under two months in Afghanistan. Covering hundreds of miles in aircraft, Humvees and other vehicles, his stories ranged from combat operations to humanitarian missions. Tim says his intent was to show another side of the war. The disparity of the Afghan people is clearly depicted as are the triumphs of the Coalition mission.

Tim carried a large broadcast style TV camera throughout his journey and recorded more than 20 hours of video footage.

The former U.S. Marine who became a reporter says other journalists are few and far between in war torn Afghanistan. "There were photographers and reporters from media groups in the mid-east but I personally only met one other American." That other American is Oregonian Scott Kesterson who has been in-country since last June. Former Oregon legislator Jeff Kropf also made the journey to Afghanistan for an Oregon radio station during Christmas of '06, though he and Tim's paths did not cross.

In addition to Oregon Guard and other American troops, Tim worked with a number of soldiers from Afghanistan and other countries throughout one of the coldest times of the year there, with temperatures reaching as low as 11 degrees below zero

In summing it up, Tim says there is not nearly enough coverage of events in Afghanistan where our troops are experiencing a measurable degree of success. He says KPTV FOX-12 ia doing a great service for Oregon by being the exclusive Portland station to feature the reports.

The special on FOX-12 Oregon airs after the news, at 10:30 PM Saturday, February 24th.