By Jake Walsh This first appeared in the author's personal blog, Veteran Mettle, and is republished here with permission. _________________ I Continue Reading
Military
Northbound Into the Dark
Nearly twenty years ago to the day, I boarded a commercial airplane with a machine gun slung on my back, along with 150 of my closest friends. Tray Continue Reading
The Night Before
By Chris Fitzmaurice The following is part of a collection of short stories titled Insha’Allah: Short Stories of the Long War in Afghanistan." Continue Reading
Afghanistan and the Sound of Silence
For many, silence is peace, and the sound of breaking waves off the coast of Carmel California is the most relaxing sound. It brings the inner peace Continue Reading
Burdens and Blessings
I had a phone conversation with Matt recently. He was in my son’s squad in the Mountain Phase of Ranger school. He shared with me his story about that Continue Reading
Beware of All Enterprises That Require New Clothes… Or Uniforms
Before Walden became a staple of American literature, Henry David Thoreau offered a simple warning that has aged remarkably well: “I say, beware Continue Reading
Ranger Regiment Ruined My Life
Rarely do I write with the intent to post. Most of my words are written so I might make some sense of my life. They are then shared in a fit of liquid Continue Reading
The Beer Wasn’t the Point
What the Air Force Lost When We Stopped Knowing Our Troops At the end of a particularly miserable day on the flightline, sometimes your supervisor Continue Reading
The Hard Choices
When your husband decides, in his forties, that he’s going back into the Army, you’re supportive. It doesn’t occur to you to argue or tell him the Continue Reading
Even in the Military, Self-Interest Is a Legitimate Motivator
One of the most persistent myths about military service is that it requires the complete abandonment of self-interest. We celebrate selfless service. Continue Reading
The Navigator and the Aviator
My friend lent me a book to read. It's called The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World, by Wade Davis (House of Anansi Press). Continue Reading
The Measure of a Man: Ramadi, Iraq
By a Combat Veteran Ramadi, Iraq, 2011 Just relieved from shift rotation, I was finally able to lay down and get back to my daily routine Continue Reading