I read the observations of veterans from different countries, of different wars, of different generations. There is a common sentiment, often with equal elements. Some of us would love to be engaged in a war in which we could be entirely invested. Some of us envy a righteous cause. Most of us know and accept… Continue reading SERVICE
Category: Combat
RUSS
I’ve lost a friend of many years. In truth, Russell passed on December 20th but I only received certainty today. I’ve been trying to call him for weeks and had premonitions but shrugged them off. Despite his many ailments, Russell was incredibly hardy…and stubborn. His phone would ring and ring; he’d never had an answering… Continue reading RUSS
TUCKER 2.0
MAGNITUDE OF MIRACLES. 9/14/69 was without question the single most impactful day of my life…because it was my Resurrection Day. Brought back from death. Some of you may cherish a single day in your own life; a day head and shoulders above ANY other. If so, please share those memories with me, with us. So… Continue reading TUCKER 2.0
RECOGNITION
I’m smiling as I think about and remember my counterpart, T.U. Dai. Nguyen Van Dai… Americans will intuitively pronounce it correctly. Those literate in Vietnamese will miss a diacritical mark that makes this a hard D…rather than a soft Yieee. I’m about to purchase a t-shirt from a company that creates and sells to sentimental… Continue reading RECOGNITION
PRINCE
So here we go. 😉 Erik Prince of Blackwater fame and sibling of Betsy DeVos is floating the idea of the ultimate outsource – turning over the prosecution of our longstanding war in Afghanistan to he and his merry contractor cabal. Says we’re spending $40 billion a year and he can do it for $10… Continue reading PRINCE
TRUNG UY DAI
I’m smiling as I think about and remember my counterpart, T.U. Dai. Nguyen Van Dai… Americans will intuitively pronounce it correctly. Those literate in Vietnamese will miss a diacritical mark that makes this a hard D…rather than a soft Yieee. I’m about to purchase a t-shirt from a company that creates and sells to sentimental… Continue reading TRUNG UY DAI
SHOCK AND AWE
On the evening of March 22, 2003, I exited a theater in Westwood, having just watched THE PIANIST. I soon learned that Shock & Awe had commenced in Iraq. Today I exited The Encino Laemmle, having watched LITTLE WOMEN, to discover that our newest global misstep had commenced. To my sisters and brothers in arms… Continue reading SHOCK AND AWE