The Warrior's Path to Healing Brad GenereuxKat called me to ask a favor. She worked with me in Africa some years ago. We became friends, despite my sending her to a remote location in Africa for several months.“I’d like you to walk the Camino with a friend of mine.”“Sure thing, tell me about your friend.”Kat paused, “Our families have been close as long as I … [Read more...]
Ashley’s War
After serving multiple combat deployments as an Army Ranger in my twenties and going on to write for a living in my thirties, I’ve found many books in the recent military history genre miss the mark. Palpable overtones of ego and exaggeration can stain otherwise brilliant pages. Furthermore, when a civilian writer steps in and tries to capture the fraternity of the military … [Read more...]
A Vietnam Veteran Honors the Lives of the Fallen
A Vietnam Veteran Honors the Lives of the Fallen by Michael ReaganOn April 9, more than fifty years ago, I was on my way home from Vietnam. A Chinook picked me off the ground at the DMZ, under fire. My guys shot back to keep the helicopter in the air. Ten of us got on that Chinook. The pilot couldn't land so he hovered. He told me to number the ten getting on, five for … [Read more...]
“Aftermath:” The End of War is Just the Beginning
“Aftermath,” a collection of poetry by brothers J.E. and Andrew McCollough, gives an uncensored and unapologetic look at life in and after the war in Iraq. What makes this anthology different from the other collections of war poetry out there is its unique perspective: the contrasting points of view of J.E., a former Marine, and his brother Andrew, a civilian.In the … [Read more...]
For Veterans, “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” Misses the Mark
For Veterans, "Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk" Misses the Mark by Sean RussellI’ve been writing a book, and sometimes when people ask me what it’s about I say “a young black single mother navigating corporate America.” There’s a gawk, then a slow smile, then a good laugh. I’m a 32-year-old, childless white guy.So when Ben Fountain, who never served in the military, … [Read more...]
NEW BOOK RELEASE: In Love… & War: The Anthology of Poet Warriors
Order Here! This collection is the experience-the knowledge of those who have trained for, and more often than not engaged in war to bring it back to us so that we may indulge ourselves vicariously in war’s brutal consequence. We should not diminish their valued contributions by referring to them simply as, warrior poets. Sure, they are that rare and ambiguous blend of … [Read more...]
Veteran Author Interview: Terron Wharton
Major Terron Wharton is the author of the raw and powerful non-fiction book, High Risk Soldier. He spoke with The Havok Journal on February 16, 2017. The book review is here.The Havok Journal: First, Major Wharton, thank you for agreeing to the interview. Can you tell our readers about yourself?Terron Wharton: I’m from Indiana and I graduated from West Point in 2005, … [Read more...]
“No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor” Part 1: Into the Fray Once Again
"No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor" Part 1: Into the Fray Once Again by Gunnery Sergeant (retired) L. Christian BusslerEditor's Note: These excerpts are from the multi-award winning book “No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor” and were provided by the book's author, Gunnery Sergeant (retired) L. Christian Bussler, who retains the copyrights. This an exclusive look into the … [Read more...]
Can You Be… That Stupid?
Editor's Note: Havok Journal writer Geoffrey Robinson is also a published author. We checked out his book "Can You Be... That Stupid" and liked it, so we asked if we could run an excerpt of it here. The premise is similar to Jeff Foxworthy's "...you might be a redneck" shtick, except this one is all about wondering "can you be that stupid?" This is something we can all … [Read more...]
The 22: Mandatory Reading From A Father’s Guide To Manhood
Mandatory Reading: A Father's Guide on Manhood to His 3 SonsReading was always a huge part of my life. It still is, but on a less grand scale. I used to devour books. I would even be reading 2 at a time. Books were an escape for me. In High school, I would sometimes skip lunch with my friends, to go read in the library. Some of these books shaped me in ways I never could … [Read more...]