Collective Action: What Veterans Can Learn from the Baltimore Protests by Kerry Patton This first appeared in The Havok Journal May 2, 2015. What happened in Baltimore last year? One man died. There is no need to get into his background or even how he died, let alone pointing blame on law enforcement officials or anyone else. What is needed for appreciation? The … [Read more...]
“Sacrifice A Minute for Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives”: A Civilian’s Perspective On Military Service
"Sacrifice A Minute for Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives": A Civilian's Perspective On Military Service by Ben Buehler-Garcia Editor's Note: Ben Buehler-Garcia is a friend of mine, and more importantly, he is a friend of the U.S. military. Through his show, American Warrior Radio, he promotes veterans' issues and gives voice to the celebrations and concerns of veterans and … [Read more...]
First Train Out of Denver: A Ranger’s Story
First Train Out of Denver: A Ranger's Story This is an excerpt of Leo Jenkins' book, First Train Out of Denver, which includes the adventures of two former Army Rangers who go on an amazing international journey with just a few dollars in their pockets and the packs on the backs in order to raise awareness for veterans' issues and to support the charity Gallant Few. … [Read more...]
Lone Survivor and The Truth
Lone Survivor and The Truth by Leo Jenkins This first appeared in The Havok Journal March 23, 2014. "Lone Survivor," the story of SEAL heroism in the mountains of Afghanistan, resurfaced in May 2016 after an article in which Mohammed Gulab, the man who saved lone SEAL survivor Marcus Luttrell, disputed some of the most important aspects of Luttrell's story. Lone Survivor … [Read more...]
Flag Desecration, Fear, and the Fools
Flag Desecration, Fear, and the Fools by Leo Jenkins Cloth. Not entirely different from the assembly of the shirt you wear while reading this. Fifty white stars, a splash of blue, and thirteen alternating red and white stripes. When I return to the U.S. for the first time in months and see a social media challenge encouraging people to desecrate this cloth, it’s not anger … [Read more...]
A Warrior, Re-Defined
A Warrior, Re-Defined by Leo Jenkins The last time that I had my nose broken was in an MMA bout in Alabama. After securing a very deep triangle hold on my competitor he stacked me up and released one final effort to get me to release his neck from between my legs. The back of my head was the only part of my body in contact with the mat as he came down on the center of my … [Read more...]
“100% and Then Some”: Live, for the Warriors on Your Left and Right
"100% and Then Some": Live, for the Warriors on Your Left and Right by Vince "Rocco" Vargas Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong, and morally straight, and I will shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. -3rd Stanza of The Ranger Creed ___________ This might not … [Read more...]
Ashley’s War
Ashley’s War by Leo Jenkins After serving multiple combat deployments as an Army Ranger in my twenties and going on to write for a living in my thirties, I’ve found many books in the recent military history genre miss the mark. Palpable overtones of ego and exaggeration can stain otherwise brilliant pages. Furthermore, when a civilian writer steps in and tries to capture … [Read more...]
Being a Veteran… After Being a Ranger
Being a Veteran... After Being a Ranger by Leo Jenkins It doesn’t seem that long ago. The memory of pulling away from the brown fence that surrounded 3rd Ranger Battalion for the final time is still as vivid in my memory as the taste of the burnt black coffee that I had for breakfast this morning. Despite it being 7 years and 2 weeks since I was honorably discharged I … [Read more...]
The Lion
The Lion by Leo Jenkins To state it simply, there are few lions. There are many sheep, fewer wolves and even fewer sheep dogs yet the lion has become an endangered species. The value of the once revered hunter in the times of ancient Greece has corroded and dissipated under the guise of our so-called civilized nature. The lion does not guard the sheep and should not be … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 5
- Next Page »
