The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

When Life Crosses the Shadow of Death

When Life Crosses the Shadow of Death by Scoti Domeij Ten sailors missing . . . darkness approached in Asia as helicopters searched the watery abyss of the Strait of Malacca. I hoped against hope every parent’s child is rescued alive—but doom about their fate overshadows my heart just hearing those words “rescue and recovery efforts.” Ten sailors missing . . . another … [Read more...]

Gold-Star Mom Jumps from Plane…with Team of Veterans into Normandy To Commemorate D-Day, Her Late Son’s Memory

Gold-Star Mom Jumps from Plane…with Team of Veterans into Normandy To Commemorate D-Day, Her Late Son’s Memory This article is republished with permission by Kate Ketschek [Seattle, WA, May 2, 2019]—An elite team of veteran Army Rangers and Green Berets will jump into Normandy from a WWII C-47 aircraft to recognize the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. This historic special … [Read more...]

The Far-Reaching Effects of Marketing Fear in the Digital Age

The Far-Reaching Effects of Marketing Fear in the Digital Age by Kevin Wilson Fear is not a choice. In the face of danger, nearly everyone with an ounce of sanity is afraid. This reaction is hardwired into us by millions of years of natural selection. The instinct to avoid danger, the fight or flight response, all of these were and are valuable tools, even in the modern, … [Read more...]

Meditations of an Army Ranger: We Should Not Look at Death as a Reward

Meditations of an Army Ranger: We should not look at death as a reward – But our thought of death should remind us of our lives. “Only the dead have seen the end of war” Attributed to both Plato and Santayana – made famous in Blackhawk Down.   The quote, a favorite among Soldiers and stoics alike, illustrates the hopelessness of the human condition in … [Read more...]

#SayTheirNames: A Gold Star Daughter’s Final Project for 5th Grade

On July 10, 2017, a KC-130T Hercules aircraft of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) crashed in Leflore County, Mississippi, killing all 16 people on board. Aleah's father, William (Billy) Kundrat, was killed alongside his brothers in this tragic crash. Her 5th grade class was asked to do individual final projects this year. Aleah decided that she wanted to #saytheirnames and … [Read more...]

“Telling The Trauma:” What Happens in War

This article was originally published in May of 2018. The trauma of war and our ability to talk about it is a constant battle. Not all experiences are the same, and consideration of each has equal importance. 13 years ago, one of my non-commissioned officers died in an ambush (improvised explosive device) in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. Not unlike other somber … [Read more...]

I Love You Still

I love you still. by BRITTA REQUE-DRAGICEVIC The words do not pour forth; they catch in my breasts, clutch at my throat, refuse to be told. I can’t write of finding your body, your warm blood melting the cold snow, the fixed gaze of your eyes forever staring into darkness. That same darkness I was not able to save you from. I can’t write of how my being tore in … [Read more...]

From Ritual to Reality: Because He Lives

Originally published March 27, 2016 by Scoti Domeij My annual nostalgia of Easter now blossoms in reverse. My firstborn was killed in Afghanistan in the fall of 2011, the wild season of skeletal trees surrendering their fiery leaves to swirl and spiral into oblivion. Winter’s crushing mourning forged ahead—unstoppable, bringing life as I knew it to an abrupt halt. … [Read more...]

Hope In Hell: Letters from Inside Auschwitz

"Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future." — Auschwitz survivor and author Elie Wiesel Do you ever come across a historic story that just enthralls your mind? A story that sends you into a tailspin of research, and you end up reading countless articles about some of the most silently, powerful human beings … [Read more...]