Tag: Veterans

Homeless Veterans Replaced by Illegal Immigrants at Hotel in NY Suburb

To make room for illegal immigrants transported from New York City, 15 homeless military veterans were moved from their housing at a hotel in New York state’s Hudson River Valley region. The veterans, who were staying at The Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, a city in Orange County about 70 miles north of New York, were…


Lost Without a Tribe: A Military Veteran Reflects

Commentary By the end of 2003, I knew I was getting out of the Air Force (AF). I had been stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska since November of 2001, working as an Operating Room (OR) nurse in a busy, understaffed OR. While we toiled away banging out cases, I saw our immediate leadership…


EXCLUSIVE: Marine Veteran Injured Fighting ISIS in Syria Now Fights to Reverse ‘Unjust’ Separation

In part one of this series, to make his wrongs right, Sergeant Javier E. Ortiz reported the use of cannabis to his healthcare providers. Because a “cocktail” of prescription medications was not working, and worsening his quality of life and health, Ortiz made the regrettable decision to self-medicate with cannabis to fight the demons inside…


EXCLUSIVE: Marine Veteran Injured Fighting ISIS in Syria Says He Was ‘Betrayed’ by the Service: Part 2

In part one of this series, to make his wrongs right, Sergeant Javier E. Ortiz reported the use of cannabis to his healthcare providers. Because a “cocktail” of prescription medications was not working, and worsening his quality of life and health, Ortiz made the regrettable decision to self-medicate with cannabis to fight the demons inside…


War Poetry: Friendly Fire

Friendly Fire Do you really think Anyone cares That the fire that burns … is friendly? Hearts and body parts Pieces of promises Are all being blown away I need you to see The power you have over me I know you didn’t mean to But the outcome’s just the same You lean over me…


Yale University and the Loneliness of the Military Professional

Commentary Many years ago, I began working on a project that eventually became this article. It started when a friend of mine, a fellow veteran, sent me Victor Hanson’s 2007 piece “Why Study War.”  One of the many things that stood out to me about that article was a line from Margaret Atwood’s poem “The…


Military Leader or Business Manager?, Part 1: Good Leaders or Place Holders

Commentary I’m a little bit of a history nut. Well okay, a lot of a history nut, especially military history. I also have a keen interest in observing people and how they behave. Military leadership has been a subset of those two items that have caused considerable deliberation and consternation on my part. Add to…


I’m a Veteran, Ask Me Anything (Again)

Commentary A few years back there was an article called “‘Did You Ever Kill Anyone?’ 5 Things Not To Say To A Veteran” that made its way through various social media sites popular with military veterans.  The story identifies five specific topic areas, such as PTSD and killing in combat, as off-limits to ask veterans…


Carry On, Wayward Veteran

Commentary During my time in the Army, I had the great fortune to “unplug” from the operational Army and be a graduate student at Princeton University. During that time, I must admit I was chasing ghosts. I toiled and mulled over thoughts and feelings wondering: “Is there something wrong with me?” Sadly, veterans and the…


The Doric Idiom: Hesma Phobou; ‘Purging’ or ‘Fear Shedding’

Commentary I am not a combat veteran. The closest I’ve come to facing the enemy is holding a rifle or sidearm at high ready when approaching a panga full of uncut cocaine and a handful of exhausted smugglers. They were never armed with anything more dangerous than a fishing knife. If they had guns, they…