Not a drop. Not an ounce. Not a molecule. Not a bit ... of comfort. The war didn't make me feel that way but I felt that way after the war. The hospital and the two years of Starship Reed purgatory didn't help, then the zombie dope follow-up finished me. Dead man walking.Dead but not dead-enough to stop the pain, the insomnia or the anger. Suicide was my … [Read more...]
Violent Ends: “You Are Only A Victim If You Let Them Make You One”
Violent Ends: "You Are Only A Victim If You Let Them Make You One" by Leonard BentonWhen you need it badly enough, when you want it badly enough, anything can be a weapon as long as you use enough force and violence.One man kills several, one man kills several, one man…. I do not for a moment doubt the fear in the room. I don’t question the panic that went through the … [Read more...]
Friendship and Loss: “Let’s Never Let it Go This Long Again”
It was about 4AM. I was up early getting ready for work when I heard a knock on the door. It was the Sheriff and his Deputy. I recognized the Sheriff immediately, because I had met him before at the scene of a big car accident. He worked all the worst ones in our area. That night, he looked at me like he was staring at a ghost...He regretfully informed me that my best … [Read more...]
Facebook Banned Me For This Image. You Can Probably Guess Why.
Facebook Banned Me For This Image. You Can Probably Guess Why. by Scott Faith This happened in 2016, but is typical of the discrimination that conservatives and veterans face on Facebook. If you have similar stories about running afoul of social justice warriors on social media, we'd love to hear them. _____ About a week ago, a friend of mine named Paul J. O’Leary posted … [Read more...]
10 Things Every Person Should Do in Their Life: An Army Ranger’s Bucket List
1) Learn to play a musical instrument There is something magic in music. Regardless if it is jazz or rock or country or blues or mariachi. It doesn’t matter if it’s the flute, the drums, guitar, or xylophone. Music unites people. Music is a language in and of itself. Learning an instrument is also frustrating as all hell! Great musicians make it look easy but it takes a great … [Read more...]
“The Road Less Traveled:” Letting Yourself Grow By Letting Go
Many things contribute to the growth of the individual. Experiences and travel. The highs and lows of relationships. The perspectives of others. This last bit, the perspectives of others is where we as a society are starting to lose it.Some people label it "the pussification of America." That's a rather off-putting manner of stating a very real problem. So what is it really? … [Read more...]
“It Is Only Just:” The Powerful Self-Obituary Of A War Hero
“It Is Only Just:” The Powerful Self-Obituary Of A War Hero by Scott FaithJohn Alexander Hottell III finished 10th in the Class of 1964 at West Point, part of a graduating class that knew they would almost certainly all serve in the Vietnam War. His first duty station was with the 101st Airborne Division, followed by a stop in the United Kingdom for a stint as a Rhodes … [Read more...]
Perhaps “Profiling” Has Its Advantages After All
Perhaps “Profiling” Has Its Advantages After All by Jill WraggIn June 1999, President Clinton issued an executive memorandum requiring all federal law enforcement agencies to collect information on race, ethnicity, and gender of every person who was subjected to a search. He called it “Fairness in Law Enforcement: Interior Collection of Data”.It was drafted in response … [Read more...]
How To Study Abroad As A Veteran
How to Study Abroad as a Veteran By Aaron FerencikIn 2012 I left the Marine Corps and enrolled in the University of Colorado’s Denver campus. At first, I had no idea what to study, so I leaned toward teaching. After a semester or two I decided on an International Studies degree.I’ve always loved learning foreign languages. In high school I took three years of … [Read more...]
Fried Bread, A Reuben and the Cleveland Cavs: A Ranger Reflects
Fried Bread, A Reuben and the Cleveland Cavs by Mark McHaleSeriously Though? What is it about fried bread, a Reuben, and the Cleveland Cavaliers that make this country what it is?So there I was… standing in the middle of downtown Cleveland moments after concluding my first VA hearing that would re-determine my disability rating after seven years of retirement. That … [Read more...]