marine patrol base

Alamo Part 2

This is the second part to my “Alamo” story. I have tried to recreate this event, locales and conversations from my memories of them. Writing this post has been a challenge. In order to maintain their anonymity, in some instances I have changed the names and home towns of individuals Read more…

afghan buildings

Alamo

    Rules of War: Young warriors die You cannot change Rule #1 Someone must walk point I’m writing this post about a day I lived and should have died, in August 2010. It was nearing the end of my seven month deployment. “Alamo” is the code-word used over the Read more…

marine corps helicopter

Ground Sensor Lifer

History is full of examples of successful military surprises.  Examples of effective early warning strategies are more difficult to find, but they range from the simple to the sublime. Animals such as dogs, horses, and even guinea hens have been used to warn of the enemy’s approach. According to the Read more…

marines in iraq

Iraq 2008

Fallujah, Al Anbar Province “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes; If you fuck with me I will kill you all.” – General “Mad Dog” Mattis USMC (Spoken to Iraqi tribal leaders)  Leading up to 2007, the overall situation Read more…

afghan village

Afghanistan 2010

Musa Qala, Helmand Province “The British were chickens, but these men… the American Marines…They fight like animals, like they’re not even human.” -Intercepted radio transmission from a Taliban commander after losing Karamanda to 1st Battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment. May 2010. Afghanistan is notoriously nicknamed “the graveyard of empires“. Empire Read more…