MASH IRAQ

"If it weren't for the war, we'd all be having a great time." - taken fromthe series "M*A*S*H", 1970. First seen in the early 1970's at the heightof anti-Vietnam feeling in America, the original series "M*A*S*H" followeda hapless US medical corps stationed out in the preceding Korean war. Hereunderlay a dark commentary throughout its comedy. As the US Militarycontinue to fight onwards in Iraq, doctors, nurses and medics are workingon the front lines to keep their casualties down. Magnum Photographer,Thomas Dworzak was with them, embedded with the 44th Medcoms 50th and1150th Medical Companies in Iraq over several periods in 2005. From messtents to surgical tables, the story of everyday life behind the scenes ofthese medical corps shows at times a pathos and comradeship alongside theexpected blood and suffering. The accompanying stills and subtitled imagesfrom "M*A*S*H" bring Dworzak's photographs out of the realm of the purelyphotojournalistic, and instead poignantly provide a black humour for adisenchanted audience of the modern world.