My father has been running longer than I’ve been alive. As his son, without understanding or explanation, he expected me to run with him. He was a Marine, but he’d been running long before he enlisted. He escaped from an abusive, alcoholic home in North Carolina at age 16. He eventually found safety and structure […]
Best Reflections of 2025
Posted inReflections
A Look Back At Some of Our Favorite Reflections of 2025
Ten essays written by contributing writers for The War Horse’s Reflection section to summarize 2025.
Posted inReflections
A Marine Fights a New War. This Time With Her Own Body
Marine perseveres through health problems after service
Posted inReflections
Fear and Uncertainty Followed the Sept. 11 Attacks. What Was Real and What Was a Good Headline?
After the Twin Towers came down in the 9/11 terrorist attack, military families lived with fear and anxiety.
Posted inReflections
100-year-old Veteran Kept Jewish Prayer Book Over His Heart as He Confronted the Holocaust
A 100-year-old Jewish Army veteran deals with anti-Semitism in his unit during his World War II service as he meets victims of the Holocaust.
Posted inReflections
He Lived Three Doors Down in the Alaskan Army Barracks. Now, I Carry His Ghost in My Pocket
A Fort Wainwright Army soldier’s friend was one of 30 who committed suicide while stationed in Alaska.
Posted inReflections
My Job Was Army Cook. But Ranger School Didn’t Care, and I Wasn’t Going Home Without a Tab
Army cook endures the pain and hardship of Ranger school to join the special operations unit.
Posted inReflections
‘I Came Home Different’: What They Don’t Tell You About Life After Service
Marine turned California police officer searches for community and purpose for himself and other veterans after retiring.
Posted inReflections
Four Siblings Joined the Military. Almost 30 Years Later, Only Two Remain
Army veteran vows to keep living after one brother was killed in the Iraq War and another committed suicide after returning with PTSD and injuries.
Posted inReflections
Norman Mailer Was Looking for a Fight. I Just Wanted Someone to Understand My Service in Vietnam.
Army veteran almost got in a fight with Norman Mailer when the American writerasked him to describe his service in the Vietnam War.
Posted inBest Reflections of 2025, Reflections
My Black Roommate Opened My Eyes to an Air Force I Didn’t Know Existed
Air Force veteran witnessed the military discriminate against Black service members in the 1970s and the changes that followed the Travis Air Force Base race riot.
Posted inReflections
Fort Moore Was Named After My Parents. A Letter Mom Wrote Shows Why It Shouldn’t Go Back to Benning
Son of Fort Moore’s namesakes argues why the Army post’s name should not be changed back to Benning, includes letter from his mother
