Family • The Havok Journal

“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...]

7 Life Lessons from a F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot

Seven life lessons from CU alumnus and Combat Fighter Pilot, Mike Maloney, co-founder of KOTA Longboards Written by Oksana Schuppan and shared from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mike Maloney (MechEngr’85) completed his undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at CU Boulder. He spent eight years as an F-14 Tomcat pilot in the United States Navy, four years … [Read more...]

A Ranger’s Faith: Afghanistan Knocked Me Down. Faith Brought Me Back Up.

A Ranger's Faith: Afghanistan Knocked Me Down. Faith Brought Me Back Up. by Major Mike Kelvington On the 25th of April, 2012, I experienced a rare, but significant tactical defeat in Afghanistan. Since then, my career and outlook stems from the events of that day. I was the Battle Company commander in the 1-508 Parachute Infantry Regiment, leading my Soldiers through a … [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...]

PTSD, TBI, Sex and Relationships

Written by BRITTA REQUE-DRAGICEVIC You came back different. Changed. You can’t really describe it, but you’re not yourself. Not who you used to be. You’re angry. Blow up at stupid shit. Lack other emotions. Feel numb. Tired. Disinterested in stuff that used to be interesting. Tense. Sleepless. Have nightmares that scare the hell out of you. Forget shit. Can’t focus. You … [Read more...]

Letters From War: A Timeless Form of Communication

April is "Military Family Month" here at The Havok Journal. Letters are a timeless yet oft-forgotten form of communication between Soldiers and their families. We challenge our readers to put pen to paper, and write a long hand letter to a friend, loved one, family member, or deployed servicemember. _____ I wrote over 100 letters to my wife during my last deployment. I got … [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...]

Girls for Gunslingers: An Online Tribe for America’s Patriots

When her husband embarked on his fourth combat deployment, his tiny little Irish girl answered his frustration at the lack of available news, humor, and hot chicks on the Army internet by founding the Girls for Gunslingers Facebook page. It became evident very quickly that the Girls behind Girls for Gunslingers had something that resonated with the online military community, … [Read more...]

How Do You Manage Your Kids’ Digital Devices?

"How do you monitor your child’s phone?" I get asked this question a lot. It's easy to get scared as a parent these days with the amount of data and access that a mobile device provides your teenager. Many parents are understandably concerned about the access to the Internet, messaging, mobile apps, information and people that we didn’t have as kids. Let’s face it, if … [Read more...]