A Fake Raid, A Fake Village, and a Sinking Track
“We’re piled on top of each other at 15, sometimes 20 at a time, in a vehicle built for 12.” A Marine reflects on a narrow escape at sea.
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DonateNate Eckman is the author of After Thought. Before writing, Nate served as a Marine infantryman with Third Battalion, Second Marine Regiment from 2011-2015. During his service, he toured on the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and deployed to Southeast Asia. He now lives in Austin, Texas and writes speculative fiction at Speculatively.
“We’re piled on top of each other at 15, sometimes 20 at a time, in a vehicle built for 12.” A Marine reflects on a narrow escape at sea.
After two men from the same unit killed themselves, maddening questions about life take their place for those who remain.
Nathan and his unit traveled to Oman in 2013 to train with its military. Quickly, training evolved into an experience the Corps had not prepared them for.
Nathan Eckman wonders what a recall to service would mean for the life he’s built since exiting active duty, and if he’d answer that call.
Nathan Eckman wrote off the idea of having a relationship while he was in the Marine Corps. When he met Emily, the Corps helped forge their relationship.
Nearly two years after separating from the Marine Corps, Nathan Eckman struggles to define “service” and understand how to serve as a civilian.
William Gehrung was a veteran who’d written for The War Horse. In late August 2017, he killed himself. Fellow War Horse writer Nate Eckman remembers his friend.
Nate Eckman believed he remembered the events of 9/11 correctly. He was wrong. A teacher from his past helped him realize the flaws in his own memories.
How do some veterans feel about killing? Do they want to kill? Nathan Eckman shares his story on what it means to be a veteran without the experiences of combat.