Appearances deceive

"Walt's a savage!," reporter Robert S. Hong declares after spending a day careening around No Man's Land. It's a label of respect from Robert after seeing the gadget-dripping man in action.

That characterization would strike the many who've met veteran Star-News photographer Walt Mancini as unlikely, however. Good-hearted, generous and kind are the labels usually with the easy-going Pasadenan.

But don't be fooled. He's a fearless, steel-nerved photojournalist and if you try to tell him not to take a picture ... well ... I don't recommend it.