At age 17, Klika joined the U.S. Marine Corps and eventually became a combat photographer, serving 12 years. Staff Sgt. Klika served three tours of duty in Iraq, the latest in 2006.
Russell left the Marine Corps and became head photographer at The Vista Press, a now-closed daily newspaper in Vista, California, where he covered the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, California.
In 2004, he joined the 278th Regimental Combat Team Tennessee Army National guard as a noncommissioned officer as head of public affairs, deploying with the unit for a tour in Iraq. After he returned, he became an operation warrior trainer for the first army and a combat photography trainer.
Russell Lee Klika
The Best of Photography 