Canceled: How the Eastern Honor-Shame Mentality Traveled West By Abdu Murray Canceled. In the first weeks of the coronavirus lockdown, that word was almost as ubiquitous as the word unprecedented. Movie premieres, concerts, even entire sporting seasons—all have been canceled as we work out a strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19. But that word—canceled—has carried … [Read more...]
One Hell of a Ride Back to the FOB
One Hell of a Ride Back to the FOB by Carlos Techera There I was laying on my back in a ditch. Everything flashing before my eyes, in an empty silence. "What just happened, no way did that just happened. Shit, we crashed... we crashed," my inner voice yelling at me open your eyes. There the silence subsided, my senses restarted I gasped for air, "I am alive." … [Read more...]
The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: Rangers Lead the Way
The Boys of Pointe du Hoc: Rangers Lead the Way by Mike Kelvington "These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war." -President Reagan, address at Pointe du Hoc, 4oth anniversary of D-Day, 1984 While Rangers of the 75th Ranger … [Read more...]
Battle of the Bridge: A Company, 1-505th at La Fiere Bridge
Battle of the Bridge: A Company, 1-505th at La Fiere Bridge by Mike Kelvington 75 years ago, units of the American Paratroopers had already landed behind German lines in France. One such unit was the 505thParachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), a seasoned element of the 82ndAirborne Division. Some of its elements had already completed their third combat jump in about a year. … [Read more...]
Building a Winning Culture: Easy Company, Unit Cohesion & Grit
Building a Winning Culture: Easy Company, Unit Cohesion & Grit by Mike Kelvington A group of individuals who came together to become one of the tightest fighting forces in World War II was the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, specifically Easy Company. These young men, glamorized in the Stephen E. Ambrose book and HBO Series, Band of Brothers, epitomized the … [Read more...]
“Regime Change in Iran: We Can & We Must”
“Regime Change in Iran: We Can & We Must” by Lily Stewart This first appeared in The Havok Journal June 13, 2015. In one sense, Iran is a country—a geographic place—with a border and a government and its own economy. But in another sense, Iran is community of people that transcends borders and reaches to every corner of the world. Iran is a culture, a birthplace, a … [Read more...]
Jihadi Novels: Same Story, Different Medium, Wave of the Future?
Jihadi Novels: Same Story, Different Medium, Wave of the Future? by Mike Kelvington This first appeared in The Havok Journal June 21, 2017. In reading “A Guest on This Earth: Humam al-Balawi and the Birth of Jihadist Fiction” by Nadav Samin, the content struck me as both contemporary and historical. On one hand, the subject of the story, doctor and author turned … [Read more...]
The Radicalization Trap: “If you ain’t a Muslim you deserve to die”
The Radicalization Trap: “If you ain’t a Muslim you deserve to die” by Ayman Kafel It was a cold night in early 2000 as I sat inside a mosque after Friday prayer. I was waiting for a couple of friends, and decided to hang out in the common area. Several chairs and tables were scattered across the room. It was noisy from the various conversations going on. There were all … [Read more...]
The Ranger Way – A “Peer Eval” on Benghazi Survivor Kris Paronto’s Book
The Ranger Way - A "Peer Eval" on Benghazi Survivor Kris Paronto's Book by an Army Ranger It is fitting with the upcoming, week-long celebration at Fort Benning, Georgia known as “Ranger Rendezvous” to highlight a book published in May 2017. The Ranger Way, written by Kris “Tanto” Paronto, underscores both the value and unique lifestyle of a Ranger. Having both earned the … [Read more...]
Filthy Thirteen: Symbol of American Fighting Spirit
Filthy Thirteen: Symbol of American Fighting Spirit by Mike Kelvington Units in the Airborne Divisions portrayed characteristics and a culture symbolic and unique to paratroopers. A demolition section attached to the 1stBattalion, 506thParachute Regiment, 101stAirborne Division, nicknamed the “Filthy Thirteen,” provides a great example. They were not the “Dirty Dozen” like … [Read more...]
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