US army releases picture of photographer who captured her own death

The US army recently released a photo taken by a female combat photographer who captured her own death on camera during a live-fire training exercise.

Hilda Clayton, 22, and four Afghan soldiers including one she was training died in the blast in July 2013, according to Huffington Post.

The photos was published by the army in the latest issue of Military Review Journals as a tribute to woman who worked as visual information specialist.

“Not only did Clayton help document activities aimed at shaping and strengthening the partnership but she also shared in the risk by participating in the effort,” the tribute reads.  

“There has been discussion about Military Review’s decision to publish the photographs taken by Spc. Hilda I. Clayton and her Afghan National Army counterpart.

“This edition of the Military Review is focused on promoting the concepts of gender equality and these photographs illustrate the dangers our military men and women face both in training and in combat.”

The tribute further adds: “Clayton’s death symbolises how female soldiers are increasingly exposed to hazardous situations in training and in combat on par with their male counterparts.”

According to the Huffington Post Clayton was a member of the Fort Meade, Maryland-based 55th Signal Company, a combat camera unit with a long history of photographing the front lines. She was also the first Army combat filmmaker killed in Afghanistan.