Portraits: Abandoned on the Home Front

MARINA DEL RAY, CALIFORNIA. Chris Sipe lives in a beach front apartment and spends as much time as he can with his girlfriend Julie Passino. Sipe deployed to Iraq three times with the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment, including the battle for Fallujah in November 2004. After his third deployment Sipe risked having his relationship with Julie fall apart. Sipe decided to leave the Marines and picked up a job with a Los Angles personal security company that provides security to Hollywood stars. Sipe joined the Marines after attending college and has found a life for himself after the Marines with the help of Julie and his job. Not a day goes by that Sipe does not think about the war, and he often thinks of returning to active duty. “I've been getting the itch on more than one occasion to maybe get back in the game. I feel like I've taken a 6-month break, and it is time to deploy again. Some days are better than others, you know? I'm enjoying civilian life as much as one can. But I still have Marine blood running through my veins,” says Sipe.
Abandoned on the Home Front

MARINA DEL RAY, CALIFORNIA. Chris Sipe lives in a beach front apartment and spends as much time as he can with his girlfriend Julie Passino. Sipe deployed to Iraq three times with the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment, including the battle for Fallujah in November 2004. After his third deployment Sipe risked having his relationship with Julie fall apart. Sipe decided to leave the Marines and picked up a job with a Los Angles personal security company that provides security to Hollywood stars. Sipe joined the Marines after attending college and has found a life for himself after the Marines with the help of Julie and his job. Not a day goes by that Sipe does not think about the war, and he often thinks of returning to active duty. “I've been getting the itch on more than one occasion to maybe get back in the game. I feel like I've taken a 6-month break, and it is time to deploy again. Some days are better than others, you know? I'm enjoying civilian life as much as one can. But I still have Marine blood running through my veins,” says Sipe.