Dan's Papers - December 7, 2007 - Bob Drury

"It is such a beautiful area. It offers the most relaxing atmosphere, and after ten years of living here, I'm still charmed by the ambiance and scenery," exclaimed Bob Drury, who established his East Hampton residence in 1997. And yes, a restful setting is essential to his profession as a foreign correspondent currently contracted by Men's Health. He is a journalist, writer and adventurer, and his career includes tenure with major New York metropolitan and Long Island daily newspapers. Mr. Drury, a tall, blond, all-American man, has foreign corresponded for several national magazines including GQ. His journalistic coverage involves adventurous and at times dangerous missions. In October he traveled to Iraq where he collaborated with a group of U.S. Navy Seals to observe and study how a person's physiology is affected by traumatic and frightening events. For example, he wrote about the impacts of stressful confrontations with a war enemy, the loss of a battalion member, and a soldier's constant fear of an ambush. According to Mr. Drury, the medical community has determined that, "fear, besides severe psychological results, is also harmful to the body."

"Talk about a hell hole," he said. "It's hard to imagine what goes on when a night bombing raid begins." And indeed it is difficult to comprehend the horrific activities of such an event, but Mr. Drury pursues these perilous assignments as if he were headed to a regular day at the office. Over the course of his 27-year career, editors have dispatched him to parts of the globe plagued with unrest and hostilities - Darfur, Afghanistan, Liberia, Haiti and Iraq. He even resided in Alaska for a six-month period, cohabiting with a squadron of U.S. Air Force Paratrooper Rescue Jumpers, known as PJs, who are the Navy Seals and Air Force counterparts. He flew on patrol missions and rescue deployments with this group, whose primary function is to search for and rescue missing pilots, explorers, scientists and anyone lost or in distress. Mr. Drury's six-month daily integration with the PJs afforded him the personal experience of the magnitude and intensity these duties require and resulted in information and facts for a book written to illustrate the great abilities of this elite military division. When he completed the book, titled The Rescue Season, it was adapted to a documentary film by The History Channel.

Mr. Drury's professional life, however, doesn't revolve exclusively within the whirlwinds of hazardous adventures. In between the swells and ebbs of his journalistic endeavors, he has authored and co-authored eight books. The most recent, Halsey's Typhoon, published in January (co-written by Tom Clavin) has achieved the coveted ranking of the New York Times Best Seller List. Mr. Drury and his co-author have also reunited and launched a new literary project, a book titled Fox Hill, scheduled for release in January 2009.

Mr. Drury has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and awarded numerous accolades for his spirited on-location involvement and journalistic reporting. At times while on assignment, the opportunity to perform a humanitarian act presented itself. Wounded or sick women and children in areas of conflict are a regularity. In the course of a mission, Mr. Drury always stocks his utility vehicle with an adequate supply of medical provisions, ready and able to succor the unfortunate he encounters on his travels. Reflecting upon these magnanimous deeds, his eyes went to the ceiling, he pondered a few seconds, and explained, "We administer first-aid to the wounded and stabilize the sick, and somehow either get them to a doctor or bring a doctor to them. But mind you, I didn't do anything that any other decent human being wouldn't do."

Born in northern New Jersey to an Irish family, his father was a homicide detective whose unwavering and honorable principles have been passed on to him. Mr. Drury fondly recalled, "I lived in a tough neighborhood, but all the kids stuck together. We looked out for one another like a family." Mr. Drury is an outdoors type who has loved sports all his life. But now his knees and bones have succumbed to the wear and tear of all those physically active years, confining him to the more gentle sport of golf. A writer, a literary chap, journalist and sportsman - they are an impressive ensemble of traits.

"I've met a lot of wonderful guys on my assignments over the years, including many military people I've befriended from all over the world. They've helped me get through some very difficult situations. Some made sure I got back to the States in one piece," he said. "Now I enjoy paying host to them out here in East Hampton. And you know what? They love to come out and spend time here. They marvel at the fresh aspect of the Hamptons. I love to entertain them and show off this wonderful area we live in."