In a time of crisis, initiative trumps authority when authority fails to lead.
Afghanistan
Posted inReflections
From One Battle to Another. “A New Fight I Never Expected.”
A gunnery sergeant grapples with his love of deployments during a time when his family needs him at home.
Posted inReflections
“Wars Are Real, Bullets Can Kill.”—Recalling the Death of My Invincibility
A Marine officer reflects on his youthful fearlessness—and its end.
Posted inReflections
When the Stress of Combat Hits You in a High School Classroom
A former infantry officer realized the impact of war lingers longer than he’d thought.
Posted inReflections
Hold My Housing Until I’m Ok—”I Don’t Trust Myself”
David Chrisinger learned to treat a writer’s words with the proper care before publication after a student veteran was pushed to the brink of suicide.
Posted inReflections
“Like Iron-Filled Tears”—My First Time Seeing a Dead Body in a Combat Zone
He bore his son’s body to the Americans’ base and let the blood drip and congeal on the wooden deck. And then he left, and left the blood behind.
Posted inNewsroom
Echoes Project: The Replacement
After Javier’s funeral at Arlington Cemetery, the Marines who were still in Afghanistan tried their best to stay positive for the rest of their deployment.
Posted inNewsroom
Echoes Project: A World and a Lifetime Ago
The explosion woke Second Lt. Jason Blydell, and he jumped off his cot as his patrol base shook violently. The radio crackled: “Stand by, casualty report… We have one urgent surgical.” Then silence.
Posted inNewsroom
Echoes Project: When The Years Pass
Anthony was three when his father died, and he hasn’t stopped missing being tickled since. There isn’t much that he says he remembers about his father, but there is one thing he hopes he never forgets.
Posted inReflections
Learning the Power of Connection and Companionship
David Chrisinger grapples with his guilt about not having served and draws on his own experience of feeling powerless to connect with a friend who did.
Posted inReflections
Thinking Brainlessly With Their Spinal Cords
Tim Patterson was attending the Naval Academy when the 9/11 attacks happened. He deployed on submarines and to Afghanistan. Now he wonders if it was all for naught.
Posted inReflections
My Afghan Friend Could Be Murdered Soon
Tim Patterson is contacted by his Afghan friend, Zabi, who is in danger of being executed by the Taliban. Will Zabi and his family ever find safety?
