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The War Horse
I Had the Best Squad Leader in the Marine Corps. He Showed Us Kindness Is Not Weakness.
I served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps for 25 years, reaching the rank of master gunnery sergeant. I deployed seven times, including three tours in Iraq, and served five years overseas. I received numerous awards and decorations,…
‘Among the Most Significant Professional Development Experiences I Have Ever Had’–Impact of the…
This fall, The War Horse hosted our Writing Seminar for Military Spouses at Carey Institute for Global Good in Rensselaerville, New York, thanks to generous support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems,…
Resilient Is a Label for Military Kids That Absolves a Nation of Further Reflection
Our family motto was, “Don’t look back.” Eyes forward. It’s just easier that way.The call came as we settled into sleep. She’d taken a bottle of pills but said she hadn’t wanted to. I told her to go to the emergency room. She said she was…
A Presumption of Guilt: The Uncomfortable Identity of a ‘Disabled’ Veteran Who Feels Like an…
On an ordinary day in 2008, my wrists started hurting. Like every other evening of that tour, I woke up, ate chow, strapped on headphones, and started translating to kick off the night shift. My work streamed in and out of antennas mounted…
The Hardest Thing I Did in the Army Wasn’t Getting Shot At. It Was Asking for Help.
A few nights ago, I did something I rarely do. I met up with a buddy from my soldiering days. We had a good time, drank a few too many beers, and did what soldiers do best. We told stories. We laughed about the stupid things our Joes did in…
‘Faster Than Starlight’—How Troops Track Santa’s Trek Across the Globe
“He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. . . . There would be no…
The Time Machine–Nothing Prepared Me for the Distortion of Time and Space on a Submarine
I spent 18 months in training before reporting to my first submarine. I learned a lot about damage control, sonar, electronics, and how to distinguish a sperm whale from a humpback whale. But nothing prepared me for the disconnection from…
Banana Meringue Pie, Smokey Robinson, and the Christmas Bombings of 1972
I woke up early on the morning of Dec. 6, 1972, to pack and say tearful goodbyes to my wife, Martie, and our one-year-old daughter, Amy. We’d decided ahead of time that my father-in-law “Pop” Lowry would drive me from Temple, Texas, to Love…
‘Murphy’s Law of Deployment:’ What Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong. But I Am Brave Enough.
Before opening the door to my husband’s brand-new squadron, I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. I was 23 years old, and I didn’t know a soul there besides my new husband. Tonight was the first social event we attended, and I felt…
He Used a Position of Power, In a Time of War, to Get What He Wanted.
I am the worst person ever. I am THE WORST person ever. I AM the worst person EVER. I AM THE WORST PERSON EVER. i am the worst person ever.I lived with these thoughts for a long time, and my family lived with me living with these thoughts.…
Play Hard. Get Dirty. Use Good Saop.