Belleau Wood and the making of the modern Marine Corps
A Marine I worked with years ago kept a small black and white photo taped inside his wall locker during […]
Military History
Family and Adjustment
PTSD and deer hunting: what worked for me
A few years after I got out, a buddy from my old unit invited me on a deer hunt in
VA Navigation
Appealing a denied claim without losing your mind
There was a morning not long after I left active duty when I opened a brown envelope from the VA
Veteran Benefits
Vocational rehab benefits I didn’t know existed
A few years after I separated, I was sitting in the break room at my logistics job in Maryland when
Post-Service Careers
Why your security clearance is worth more than you think
A few years after I left active duty, I was sitting in an office in Maryland going over hiring paperwork
Military History
The Battle of the Bulge through the eyes of a tank crewman
A few winters ago, I spent an afternoon talking with an elderly Korean War veteran at a small military museum
Veteran Benefits
VA home loans: the part nobody explains
A few years after I left the Army, I was standing in a home in Maryland that I probably would
Family and Adjustment
Talking to your kids about your deployments
A few years after I got out, my son asked me a question while we were cleaning the garage together.
Post-Service Careers
From E-5 to project manager: my civilian transition
A few years after I left the Army, I was standing in a warehouse office in Maryland trying to explain
VA Navigation
VA healthcare enrollment, step by step
A few years after I separated, I found myself sitting in my truck outside a VA clinic in Maryland longer
Veteran Benefits
Free college isn’t free: GI Bill realities
A few years after I left the Army, I was sitting in a break room at my logistics job in
Honoring Service
Reconnecting with my unit 10 years after separation
I sat in the hotel parking lot for a good ten minutes before walking inside. The reunion had already started.
Honoring Service
Memorial Day vs Veterans Day: the difference matters
A few years after I left the Army, somebody at work shook my hand during a Memorial Day cookout and
Military History
Why the 10th Mountain Division mattered
I still remember arriving at Fort Drum for the first time and realizing almost immediately that the place had its
Family and Adjustment
Why my wife stopped attending unit functions
I remember one battalion cookout where my wife spent most of the afternoon sitting beside another spouse she barely knew
Post-Service Careers
Translating military experience for a civilian resume
There was a stretch after I separated where I kept opening a blank document on my laptop, typing a few
VA Navigation
Filing my first VA disability claim: what I wish I’d known
The first time I sat down to file a VA disability claim, I was still carrying the habit of showing
Honoring Service
Why I started writing about veteran issues
A few years after I left the Army, I was standing in the break room at work talking with another