A COMBAT photographer captured the final moment of her life on film, snapping the mortar blast that killed her.
Spc. Hilda Clayton, a visual information specialist was attached to the 4th Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division on maneouvres in Afghanistan in July 2013. The 22-year-old was documenting a live-fire training exercise in Qaraghahi to as US troops worked to certify Afghan soldiers on mortar operations. She was also training up a local combat photographer who was also snapping the scene. As the pair clicked away behind their cameras a mortar exploded while still inside its launcher.