Specialist Zachary Boyd, fighting the Taliban in his pink boxers

I’ve spent about eight weeks over the last few years embedded with the British military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although I’ve had some interesting experiences and been able to capture some good images I haven’t been lucky enough to witness a moment like the one in the photo above.

It shows US Army Specialist Zachary Boyd and two of his colleagues returning fire from Firebase Restrepo in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province. Boyd had just been sleeping when the base came under fire.

The picture was taken by David Guttenfelder of the Associated Press and made it onto the front page of the New York Times spurring US Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates to make this statement:

‘Sometimes the public recognition isn’t always expected — or necessarily welcomed. Specialist Zachary Boyd recently was enjoying a well-deserved sleep when his post in eastern Afghanistan came under enemy attack. He immediately grabbed his rifle and rushed into a defensive position clad in his helmet, body armor, and pink boxer shorts that said “I Love New York.”

Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on your perspective — an A.P. photographer was there for a candid shot, a photo which ran shortly thereafter on the front page of The New York Times. Boyd later told his parents that “I may not have a job anymore after the president has seen me out of uniform.”

Well, let me tell you, the next time I visit Afghanistan I want to meet Specialist Boyd and shake his hand. Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage. And I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that — a guy in pink boxers and flip-flops has you in his crosshairs — what an incredible innovation in psychological warfare. I can assure you that Specialist Boyd’s job is very safe indeed.‘