Category Military
The Ghosts They See
For months they shared the same routine. A quiet reveille followed by the groans of sore muscles and the pop of tired joints. In so many ways, they were all the same, in very few were they different. It was true, for these men, that misery loved company. But when that company would fade… the […]
The Warriors Ethos in Review
I wrote this as a budding Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps Infantry. Coming out of the School of Infantry West, I was enthralled with the idea of being a “modern day Spartan.” The bond of service members and the dedication to duty by warriors across the globe is explained perfectly by Steven […]
From Home to the Gates of Hell
In the internet age of social media, we imagine a struggle as being without our phones or computers. We think hard and we imagine not being able to use Google to write a paper. We call it first world problems, a spin-off from our less fortunate counterparts in places like Nigeria or Ecuador. For the […]
Veterans Day – It Is An Honor
I’ve always struggled with how to respond when someone thanks me for my service. It’s an awkward encounter. In some ways, “you’re welcome” sounds short and insincere. But why? Over time I began to adopt the Chick-fil-A response and would reply with a simple “my pleasure.” It seemed a little odd at first, but after […]
The American Warrior
Some have given all and all have given some. It is a brotherhood – a bond forged in fire, tested in blood, and defined not by ones love for self, but ones love for others. Someone once said, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” While the […]
Carrying The Load – I Need Your Help
To die for ones country is to live for freedom. At some point we moved from memorials to parties. Somewhere along the way we got distracted by cookouts and beer, friends and vacation, and lake houses and boats. Somehow a day meant to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom […]
Hell Hath No Fury
“Why are you here? You’re here to kill him. You know why he’s here? He’s here to kill you. He’s here to kill you. He’s here to rip your throat out, put a bullet in your… I’m trying to teach you something. Are you here to get me killed? Are you going to get me […]
Homeless: Forgotten and Ignored
The first time I saw him I hesitated, maybe it was the unshaven face that stopped me, it might have been the tattered clothes. I didn’t pay much attention to the sign, I was more concerned with the eyes. What story did he have to tell? His eyes were narrowed, yet pleading, his stance was […]
13 Years Later
I was 9 years old on September 11th, 2001. I will never forget my mom quickly rushing me out of my piano lesson and taking me home. I couldn’t comprehend what exactly had happened, but I knew it wasn’t good. When we got home my dad was in front of the TV, sitting on the […]
Jesse Carr 