The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn

For Veterans, Parents, And More: The Personal Benefits of Group Therapy

For Veterans, Parents, And More: The Personal Benefits Of Group Therapy by Lori Butierries As a female veteran as well as being the mother to two children with special needs, I find it hard to connect with the world around me. I can't relate to that many people anymore. To bridge the gap, I started attending a talk-therapy support group once a week to socialize with other … [Read more...]

“Toxic Masculinity” and Other Ignorant Labels

"Toxic Masculinity" And Other Ignorant Labels by J.C. Glick “You throw like a girl.”  “You are acting gay.”  “Stop being a sissy.”  “Don’t mansplain to me.” Each one of the above statements is equally offensive.  They are offensive because they stereotype a behavior to a gender, or type of person.  However, we have rightly condemned the former statements, but have done so … [Read more...]

I Died Inside Years Ago, So Now I’m waiting for My Moronic Outside to Catch Up

I Died Inside Years Ago, So Now I’m waiting for My Moronic Outside to Catch Up by Dave Chamberlin    A few days ago I posted this on a buddies FB page in response to an article about how much time kids are spending on smart devices and that they mostly only had online friends and not face-to-face ones. “Of course I have no friends other than the ones I don’t want, so my … [Read more...]

I Wish You Could See Your Suicide

I Wish You Could See Your Suicide by Thomas Knight You didn’t mean to hurt anyone. That’s what the priest told us during the funeral Mass. It sounds good, at least. I’d love to ask what you were thinking, but, well, y’know. That ship has sailed. None of us outside that casket are going to know what was going through your mind right before the bullet. We never got to see the … [Read more...]

Calm Down, Sparky. No One’s Trying to Draft Your Dumb Ass.

Calm Down, Sparky. No One's Trying to Draft Your Dumb Ass. by Scott Faith Everyone, just calm down. Right now Colin Kaepernick has a far better chance of getting drafted for the NFL than you do for WWIII. So what's the fuss all about? Well, after the news broke that President Trump ordered the "droning" of Iranian terror mastermind General Qasem Soleimani last week, the … [Read more...]

Fact vs. Fiction: 3 Myths Surrounding Emotional Support Animals 

Fact vs. Fiction: 3 Myths Surrounding Emotional Support Animals by Emily Cline There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding emotional support animals.  While many people have heard the term “emotional support animal” or “ESA” they may not know exactly what it does.  ESAs are often confused with service animals, even by those who have an ESA.  Many crazy stories about … [Read more...]

“Quick Win” New Year’s Resolution: Estate Planning

“Quick Win” New Year’s Resolution: Estate Planning by Tyler Mac New Year’s Resolution remain popular for goal setting and life renewal. Joining the gym, losing weight, spending more time we family; it is a chance to turn over new leaf. Thankfully, a resolution doesn’t have to be a year-long endeavor. It can be a “quick win;” something rapidly and economically achievable … [Read more...]

Military Veterans and “Fresh Air Poisoning”

Military Veterans and "Fresh Air Poisoning" by Dave Hartmann Originally published by Dave Hartmann on his blog, "Davestories."  This first appeared in The Havok Journal January 15, 2019. _____ “I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself.” --D.H. Lawrence “Fresh air poisoning” is … [Read more...]

The Gifts of Brokenness

The Gifts of Brokenness by Scoti Domeij Brokenness was not on the top of my Christmas list. The ornaments defining our family tree lay shattered. The ragged edges of devastation replaced the joyful, annual pandemonium of Christmas’ past. My first Christmas alone wasn’t the first time sadness and depression capsized my heart. My dad’s death flat-lined the joy of the … [Read more...]

There Will Be Blood: A Ranger Dad Teaches His Kids to Fish

There Will Be Blood: A Ranger Dad Teaches His Kids to Fish by Shane Snell Those few of you that follow my writing, know that I'm a proud Ranger dad and I love writing about my 3 boys. It’s a never ending stream of material. They are boys, and mine at that, so they constantly do what one would call “dumb shit.” Its great, frustrating, aggravating, and most of all … [Read more...]