Lucky Penny in a War Zone
We all have them, and for whatever reasons you try not to break them, just in case it brings bad luck. Friends often are amazed as to what superstitions I have when in a war zone — and I do have a few — so in no particular order, here are some of the things that I believe bring me luck.
I never shave when covering combat. I can trim my beard under my chin, as it gets too itchy otherwise, and if it goes on for too long I may even trim my beard … but I never shave it completely. The exception is in the event that I have to wear a gas mask against a chemical attack, as was the case in the Iraq War, when a beard is more likely to kill me than save me, as the gas mask will not fit.
I always return home with one piece of clothing that I have not worn, nothing in particular, but one piece. On this trip it will be a black T-shirt. I always carry a red handkerchief, have done for years, and tucked away somewhere is the last thing someone gave me before I leave for assignment. This time it is a coin that the London Producer Tadek Markowski, picked up from the bureau floor and said, “Here you are mate, a lucky penny.” (Well a 2p coin is close to a penny.)
We head out in an hour or so back to Gori, 40 miles away and the front line. With my coin, handkerchief and a stubble of a beard … and most importantly photos of my two daughters, Louise and Brittany in my wallet.
Mal James is a FOX News Channel international cameraman, based out of London. He most recently reported on the Russia-Georgia conflict with FNC reporter Steve Harrigan. In the past, Mal has traveled across the globe to cover the war in Iraq; to North Korea to visit the N.Y. Philharmonic during its historic trip; and Jerusalem to visit the purported King Herod's tomb. 
It has been 36 years since I was in a War. That was Vietnam. I suppose many people latch on to some type of lucky penny or rabit’s foot. For me it was a small “airline bottle of burbon, which went down the hatch as soom as I was in the air going back to the world.
Come Home Safely, Good Luck and God Bless! glen
Interesting read. Best of luck and be careful!!
Your routine for traveling in dangerous places seems to have served you well. But we viewers are the lucky ones for having you filming for us what we cannot see for ourselves. and doing it so well. I contribute my good luck to always putting my left shoe on first and keeping the TV tuned to Fox News. You guys are the greatest no matter how peculiar you might be. Thanks for the insight. Found your superstitions interesting and oh so human. You really are a normal person after all. Your daughters may have to share you with the world but I know they must be so proud of their dad. You’re a good man, Mal James. We all need a little luck…don’t we.
WITH YOUR SCARF,PENNEY AND BEARD I WILL SAY A PRAYER THAT YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL WORKS OVERTIME, FOR ALL OF YOU!
TAKE CARE,
WE DEPEND ON YOU
I went to school with BJ at ais
Well, first of all, I thank those who have to be in harm’s way to fulfill their obligations, whatever those obligations may be. And secondly, I pray for their safety, including the safety of all civilians and troops on both sides of every conflict. I’m not a hippie peace and love person, but the medicine of war is usually worse for both sides than the disease it is meant to heal. And thirdly, if your mind is so weak that you think a penny or any other charm, including a cross or a Bible, can save you from harm, enjoy your ignorance as much as you can, but don’t talk to the family of the guy whose faith in his idol was to no avail, because it might cause you to lose your faith. Only God decides when your life begins and ends, and if it is His will you could walk through a rainstorm of shrapnel and bullets and never get wet. Finally, those who live and work in high risk environments should put on their boots (or high heels) everyday ready to meet their Maker. Having your soul ready to die and finding yourself alive is much preferable to not having your soul ready and finding yourself before the Judge. No good luck charm will help you there; what you’ll need is an Attorney who is a close relative of the Judge.
I hope you all stay safe and be very careful.Good Luck and God Bless. I hope you all can try to get the story without going too much into harms way
I really enjoyed reading about Mal James superstitions, I have a few of my own, as I feel most people do. I aslo enjoyed the responses that were posted. Except for one left by David, I do not know what he was reading, but it was the same one I read. I must have missed the part where Mal James said that his superstitions saved his life or anyboby life. Superstitions are past from generation to generation. I am 42 yrs. old, David, you are the only person I have hear say that a person is, as you put it “weak of mind” because they understand the true meaning and symbolism that a cross stands for. I recommend that David might think about reading the Bible, so he might be able to understand that people who has faith in God and the word of God i.e. THE BIBLE , DO NOT PUT THEIR FAITH, as David put it, in IDOLS. David you might want to make sure you have your soul ready to die and everyday be ready to meet you maker ( what ever idol you have your faith in). I read the beginning your response David, and I get the impression that you don’t care for our President George W. Bush., I thank God everyday that we have a man like him during these times when the world is a state of unrest and moral decay. May God bless you David and all that are weak minded as you seem to be.
mavbe it’s God, not a penny?
It’s been 39 years for me since I’ve been to war ( Viet Nam ) and I was only 18 years old as many of us were at that time. I was probably one of the very few that wanted to go as I enlisted into the Marines while I was still in High School. I too had a lucky charm in the form of a Friendship ring that I bought two of, one for my mother and one for me. You see my mother was so upset that her son was going to war that she cried constantly so I knew that I had to do something to ease her pain, so I made her a promise that if we both wore the rings I would come back home to her in one piece, it worked! There were several times though that I thought that it wasn’t going to though, but by the grace of God he protected me and brought me back home. I only wished that he could have done that for the 58,000 + that didn’t make it. Let us pray for our men and women that are in Harms way now that they all make it back home to their loved ones.