When Flight 77 hit the Pentagon, the Marine Corps and Defense Department prepared for war. Two decades later, this is that story of service and sacrifice.
Marine Corps
Posted inReflections
“Lost Trust and Confidence” — How the Military Covers Up Officer Misconduct and Why That’s Harmful to Democracy
A revered infantry officer was fired after a “credible” investigation of domestic violence. Marine generals forced a military spokesman to cover it up.
Posted inReflections
“They Didn’t Make It?”—When Your Brother’s Homecoming Starts in a Burn Ward
After an IED exploded in Iraq, a badly burned Marine asks his brother if his teammates survived. “He knows I won’t lie to him. We are both warriors.”
Posted inReflections
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.
Posted inReflections
Leaders Are Forged as a Rocket Falls
In a time of crisis, initiative trumps authority when authority fails to lead.
Posted inReflections
The Circus Is Coming to Town
As the United States grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, a former corpsman trained in infectious disease epidemiology understands what’s at stake.
Posted inReflections
Finding My Calling While Treating a Casualty Inside Friendly Lines
He saw gore and death, but he also saved lives. There are certain things a former corpsman will never forget or take for granted.
Posted inReflections
“This Is What Closure Feels Like”—the Aftermath of Miscarriage While Your Spouse Is Deployed
A Marine reservist recounts an unexplained loss while her husband is deployed.
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
Me, Also. A Cobra Pilot’s Story of Military Sexual Assault
After years of silence, a Cobra pilot opens up about her fight to bring her accused rapist to justice.
