Being a war correspondent is a calling not a job.
Being a war correspondent is a calling not a job.
That's the way Mike Tharp summed up his report to the Club last week. In a very way of fact manner he summerised his work for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, U. S. New & World Report, among others, covering wars in the Persian Gulf, Samalia (where he faced guns in his face), Bosnia, Croatia, Sarajevo, Kosovo and the riots in LA, among others. "It's a calling -- not a job," he said. He prepared stories for the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and U.S. News and World Report, among others.
While in Viet Nam as a soldier and reporter he earned the Bronze Star medal while covering the stories.
He is a Rotary Foundation Scholar, been in 61 countries, and covered seven different wars. He was particularly complimentary of military units that were dealing with the early stages of members's PTSD.
As Chairman of the Day, Liz Oliphant noted he introduced American basketball to the British Isles and his team won the championship. His Rotary year "was the best year of my life."
His media likes include the AP, Business Week and LA Times.