The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn

9/11, a Survivor’s Story

9/11, a Survivor's Story by Dan Geraghty On 9/11/2001 I stared into the gates of Hell … survived… and for that I am thankful. I probably should not be here writing to you, but I am. And when I go to that day, traveling through time, through all the moments of the past decade, I see myself there, questioning, wondering why I had survived … 9/11/2001 started much the … [Read more...]

Sword and Shield Revised

Sword and Shield Revised by Trey Tull We begin our lives all the same at birth and from there the years that follow we define our destinies and chart our impact on this world. For some, that is entering the workforce and providing a valuable service for the population. For others, that is dawning the helmet and bearing a shield and sword. While in modern days the shield … [Read more...]

Six Rules Anyone Can Follow to Rise to the Occasion

Six Rules Anyone Can Follow to Rise to the Occasion by E.M. Burlingame “Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.”  ― Suzanne Weyn, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium Last night was movie night with my nine-year-old daughter. Quite by accident we chose to watch Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. It’s a nice feel-good family movie I, of course, didn’t pay much attention to having my … [Read more...]

Deployed to America: The Final Battlefield

Deployed to America: The Final Battlefield by Cleo DeLoner When I left Somalia in April of 1993, I didn’t realize I was deploying to America. That’s right, I deployed to America, to fight a war. It was a war that has raged on every day for the past 22 plus years. A war I didn’t know how to fight. A war that I didn’t know would last the rest of my life. I engaged … [Read more...]

Running Before and After Weights

Running Before and After Weights by Helen Rogers Today, most of us realize that to work out more effectively, we have to choose such training programs that consist of running and weight sessions. And it doesn't matter whether you're a professional athlete or just a person who leads a healthy lifestyle you can combine these two completely different types of exercise. As you … [Read more...]

Hate Nazis, Not Free Speech

Hate Nazis, Not Free Speech By Kevin Wilson I have a confession to make: I despise Nazis. I’m not talking about Nazi as defined by Antifa. I’m talking the actual National Socialists, the bastards that shot my grandpappy in the head in the Battle of the Bulge. Throughout the course of history, it’s harder to find a group of people that can more easily be defined as evil, … [Read more...]

The Things I Keep

The Things I Keep by Andrew D. Fisher Some of the most valuable objects I own are worth pennies. A U.S. flag patch that is worn on the edges, a sign of allegiance to the country that sent patriots to war. An old BDU name tape from a time long past, how we identify those we don't know, yet we stand shoulder to shoulder and will immediately die for them in battle. A … [Read more...]

Your Backstory Is Your Freedom

Your Backstory Is Your Freedom by Scott Faith Sharing our backstory through written or spoken word not only entrusts you to tell others more, but it gives those reading or listening permission to share the hard parts of their lives too. One of our greatest fears is that if we show our true selves, the world will say, “Oh, it’s just you.” But being just you is actually … [Read more...]

Citizenship As a Practice, Not a Status

Citizenship As a Practice, Not a Status by Matt James As a young man, I was fortunate enough to be involved with youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America. In the ‘Boy Scouts’, I learned various tasks the public has come to know: camping skills, marksmanship, and community service (those tin bins of popcorn won’t sell themselves!). Specifically, I recall … [Read more...]