by Charlie Moose In late January of 2005, the Lava Dawgs had just left the city of Fallujah after 75 days of some of the most intense, offensive Continue Reading
mourning
“Life Goes On”: In Memory of Air Force Veteran Nate Barnes
by Charlie Faint and Mike Warnock(this section by Charlie Faint)This story begins where few stories do: on a school bus, in 8th Grade, in Continue Reading
The Grief We Carry
This segment or installment is a departure from the story that I’m here to tell. It’s a story about something I’ve been carrying with me and that I’ve Continue Reading
All I Want for Christmas
by Chris Mattingly Dear B, I was told not to write this, I was told you would resent me even more than you do. I have decided not to come visit you Continue Reading
In the Shadow of JSOC
My Dad was a good man, but for me, his goodness has nothing to do with his work at the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). In fact, my regard for Continue Reading
War Cuts Deep with an Invisible Blade
by Will Aker War cuts with an invisible blade. A blade you’re blind to, blind to how it cuts you. War slices everyone differently and the wounds heal Continue Reading
Raw Words from a Gold Star Sibling’s Heart: “But, My Soldier was a Hero Too”
by Mary Elizabeth Morgan, who remembers her only sibling, Sgt. Curtis F. Greene, who honorably served our country and died by suicide. _____ My Continue Reading
Grandpa’s Gone, Now I take His Place in the Scheme of Things
by Frank Pauc This first appeared in Frank’s blog on August 17, 2022, as "Taking Another's Place." It is republished here with the author’s Continue Reading
Before You Kill Yourself, Read This
by Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta's blog, "Life After War" and is republished with the author's Continue Reading
From Ritual to Reality: Because He Lives
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on March 27, 2016 My annual nostalgia of Easter now blossoms in reverse. My firstborn was killed in Continue Reading
I Love You Still
by Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta's blog, "Life After War" on October 30, 2018, and is republished with the author's Continue Reading
Lessons from a Grieving Mother Whale
by Jenny Albers Losing a child is a club you never want to join. Whether you lose a child in war, in the womb or, late in life, the loss of a child Continue Reading