I don't always know what will trigger a flashback of my deployment to Afghanistan, but today, it happened to be the song at the end of the 2020 Mulan Continue Reading
Middle East
Playing Hopscotch in a Minefield Along the Iran-Iraq Border
by Justin “Jud” Haywood This originally appeared in vocal media as "Mines Abound" and is republished here with the author's permission. Justin Continue Reading
Afghanistan Memories: I’m a Warrior Through and Through
Heart turned hard, emotionally scarred. I tried to get past this but it’s so fucking hard.My pain is evident yet so blissfully hidden. From events Continue Reading
A UK Soldier Goes to War
by Justin “Jud” Haywood This originally appeared in Vocal.Media as "Desert Meanderings" in May 2021. It is republished here with the author's Continue Reading
A UK Soldier, Before and After Iraq
by Justin “Jud” Haywood This originally appeared in Vocal.Media as "In Merlin We Trust" in June 2021. It is republished here with the author's 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
Afghanistan: A Woman, Just Like Me
by Kaitlyn Trevathan This first appeared in The Havok Journal on September 29, 2021. On Saturday, September 11, 2021, my dad shared a post Continue Reading
Coming Home from Afghanistan
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
The Drums of War
The 'drums of war' resound inside of me. The drum is my heart, and it signals the direction I take- Like assemble, advance or Continue Reading
Our War
Editor's Note: This first appeared in The Havok Journal on August 23, 2022. If you're a veteran of Afghanistan, send your thoughts on the war to Continue Reading
Why the Fall of Iraq Bothers Me
by Britta Reque-Dragicevic This first appeared in Britta's blog, "Life After War" on June 16, 2014, and is republished with the author's Continue Reading
One Hell of a Ride Back to the FOB
by Carlos Techera There I was laying on my back in a ditch. Everything flashed before my eyes, in an empty silence. "What just happened, no way did Continue Reading