The U.S. Naval Academy’s Class of 2002 was just beginning its senior year on September 11, 2001. Thirty-three of its 965 members this week will be publishing In the Shadow of Greatness: Voices of Leadership, Sacrifice, and …
Military History
Honoring Intrepidity
There was a special eight-page “advertising supplement” tucked into the rear of Sunday’s Washington Post. “Section R” was crammed with the details and history of those who have displayed enough “conspicuous gallantry and …
Same Old Story for Women in Uniform
The Army’s Women’s Health Task Force has just issued a paper dealing with the concerns of female soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
As usual, it contains both bad news and good news.
In terms of bad news, the themes are …
“When it comes to sensitive special operations missions, such as the operation that took down Osama bin Laden, it is important that those who are involved in such operations take care to protect sensitive and classified information…the author in this case elected not to abide by his legal obligations. And that's disheartening and frankly is something that we're taking a very close look at.”
“Rest Easy, Granddaddy…”
Wars? What Wars?
Wednesday night was supposed to be “foreign policy night” at the Republican convention in Tampa, and it was: the speeches were conventional.
Neither GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney nor his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan …
“I make no apologies for being on the ground in the Anbar province. We settled right in next door to our allies; more specifically, the United States Army. (Laughter.) And we fought there pretty hard. [Army chief of staff and General] Ray [Odierno], I didn't mean it to come out that way.”
Navy SEAL Reportedly Set To Tell All About bin Laden Raid In New Book
We’ve been hearing rumbles for months that a SEAL involved in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden was working on a book. The New York Times is now reporting it’s coming out September 11 and will be called No Easy Day: The …
Really Old Ironsides
“When I showed up for airborne school, they made me the stick leader. Now, stick leaders are always the first one out the airplane. And I thought, `Wow, a stick leader, a promotion already -- this Army stuff is all right’…Later I found out the truth: the black hats thought if the woman was the first one to jump out of the airplane, none of the men would chicken out.”
Stop Complaining About How Long It’s Taking to Get Your VA Benefits
Nearly a century after her late husband served in the World War I U.S. cavalry, Alda Collins is finally getting the VA benefits his service entitled her to receive. Her son, 73, tells the local Daily American: “I’ve been trying …
Female Generals: The Pentagon’s First Pair of Four-Star Women
Things certainly have changed since Janet Wolfenbarger walked up the long ramp at the Air Force Academy in 1976, under a sign declaring in two-foot high brushed aluminum letters: BRING …
“Don't Ask Don't Tell: Gay soldier and fellow (straight) soldier who served together in Iraq or Afghanistan (ideally the straight soldier was helped by the gay soldier, i.e., medic, in fire fight).”