I was returning home from Iwakuni, Japan, where I had been working as an aviation maintenance supervisor. My six-month deployment had been mentally taxing and endlessly tedious. I’d like to say that after returning from this six-month deployment, I was feeling like I was coming back to where I belonged, and that my family, friends, … Read more
A warm breeze, the smell of the ocean, soft flakey sand, orange-red skies at sunset, the power to make this world my home. The freedom to choose where I would live, what things I would do, and with whom I would spend time. This is what I call homecoming. It is coming back to what … Read more
I was coming home from a four-month deployment aboard the USS Enterprise. Despite the cold steel, ever present funky smells of jet fuel and human bodies, I felt comfortable and at home with my people aboard the ship. I was flying directly off the ship, from the coast of Virginia and back to Florida, where … Read more
It was the last day of the crucible, a three-day challenge that every Marine must complete in boot camp in order to join the ranks of the Corps. We were at Camp Pendleton. The day began at zero dark thirty. My hands shivered from the cold, my desert “cammies” smelled like a wrestler’s locker, and … Read more
Am I being punked right now? Why are we waiting around for hours on end? Why isn’t the armory opened? How is it possible that the crew that stayed here enjoying banker hours and a lax schedule isn’t prepared for our homecoming? You have got to be kidding me! Duly noted! I remember those thoughts … Read more
This piece has been written by the author from the perspective of an Afghan interpreter with whom he worked. It was approximately 4 PM and Jasper had just finished the confidential portion of the briefing for the following day’s operation. He met with me in front of the Operations Center, and told me to be … Read more
Note: the author wrote this piece from the point of view of a drug runner that his ship was pursuing. Am I crazy?!! Is my life really this bad?!!! Is being cold, miserable and seasick really the best way for me to make a living? How did I get to this point where I am … Read more
“Would you like us to cut down this grass over here?” she asked. “Uhhh what?” I replied. “Would you like us to cut down this grass?” She must have overheard my squad leader talking; it was the whole point of this patrol. There was some overgrown grass near our compound and the leadership was concerned … Read more
In kindergarten I found a stuffed bunny rabbit that I named Snowball. He’s been with me for so long now that I don’t remember a time without him. He traveled everywhere with me, so it was no surprise that when I left for basic, he came too. He spent nine weeks in my bag, locked … Read more
Working as a medical technician during my stateside deployment in 2005 meant eight- to sixteen-hour shifts, when I took care of wounded soldiers at the Contingency Air Staging Facility, or CASF. Some of them would be there for a day or two, while others might stay longer, depending on their condition. As a medical professional, … Read more