melanie ham — BLOG — HAMMR Productions

SSG Ham's Army Films - '14-'17 (Part 3 of 3)

Welcome back to my blog and thanks for your continued support. For this post I’d like to round out this series about the films I made during my military service and share my time transitioning out of Active Duty to the Reserve and starting Film School at the University of Southern California. If you haven’t read my first two posts check them out here Part 1 Years ‘07-’10 and Part 2 Years ‘11-’14. This time of my life I was also struggling a lot personally in many different ways. I’m thankful that I made it through that dark time of my life and have come out the other side stronger, more resilient, more purpose-driven and full of gratitude and there are alot of people that helped me along the way.

SSG Ham's Army Films - '11-'13 (Part 2 of 3)

Welcome back to my blog and here’s my part two of three of my military service and the films I created during that time, read part one HERE. Once I came back from Afghanistan the next few years I was able to travel all over the world continuing to tell the Soldiers’ story and I subsequently earned two more Military Videographer of the Year awards (MILVID), and my first two Emmy wins. This was an exciting time for me not only because I was feeling like my career in the Army was going really well but also we ended up moving from Alaska to Hawaii where my daughter was born. These ended up being some great years of our small families life.

SSG Ham's Army Films - ’07-’10 (Part 1 of 3)

Welcome back to my blog and thanks for your continued support. For this next post I would like to share with you the stories behind the films I made while I was in the Army as a combat videographer, public affairs specialist. I had never thought about joining the military until September 11th, 2001 happened. That horrible morning changed the trajectory of all of our lives and set in me the desire to serve my country. However at that time I had turned 18 and had started my undergraduate degree in film, was starting to date my late-wife Melanie and was not ready. Fast forward 2007 our country is at the height of violence in Iraq as our forces start a new surge and I decided to join the military in order to “tell the soldiers’ story from the front lines.” Subsequently I have become the most award winning military combat videographer in the post 9/11 era.

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