L. D. James began a career in journalism in 1969 after completing a tour of duty as an infantry combat platoon leader with the 4th Battalion 9th Infantry in Vietnam. He has reported from more than 50 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and has covered wars and civil wars in Liberia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Macedonia, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and the Iraq War. His work for The Associated Press has appeared in newspapers worldwide and in by-lined articles in The New York Times and The Washington Post. His radio reports have been heard on NPR and the Voice of America.