The Havok Journal

15/11/2025

On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush delivered a speech to a joint session of Congress in response to the September 11 attacks. In this address, he emphasized national unity, resilience, and the need for a strong response to terrorism. Bush referred to the attackers as “enemies of freedom” and declared that the United States would “make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.”

He outlined his administration’s commitment to combating terrorism globally, stating, “We will bring to justice those who seek to harm us.” Bush also expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, asserting that the nation would not be intimidated by acts of terror.

He urged the American people to unite and support the nation’s efforts to rebuild and recover. He emphasized the importance of defending democracy and liberty: “This will not be an easy task. But America will persevere.”

On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush delivered a speech to a joint session of Congress in response to the September 11 attacks. In this

15/11/2025

I just spoke to a friend, another veteran, and my heart bleeds for the guy. He is a Vietnam era vet. He put almost 30 years in the Marine corps starting in 1966. He went on to work for three lettered government agencies. His story is impressive, but not uncommon. His life is the stuff of movies. He is a great guy, and I wish I could do something for him… but he won’t let me.

The problem is that he makes the same mistake that most veterans make. His definitions of the things that contribute to happiness are not allowed to include himself.

Now this is not a religiously affiliated blog and I am not trying to push it in that direction, but the man’s faith is relevant to the discussion. He is Christian and tried to use the Bible to justify why bad things happen to us. He is right, God does allow us suffering — that is the subject for another post — but for the sake of this one, he then went on to tell me “there is no such thing as forgiveness.”

I did mention the obvious: that if you are supporting your position with the tenets of your faith and one of those tenets is forgiveness then you either do not believe your own faith or you do not understand it. There is a third option which is that he does not apply his beliefs about these things to himself. This is where I am going today.

by Joe DeCree This first appeared in Britta Reque-Dragicevic's blog, "Life After War" and is republished with permission. I just spoke to a friend, Work toward forgiving yourself. The weight will just melt off your chest.

14/11/2025

14/11/2025

There is a growing catalogue of military systems that have been fitted into intermodal shipping containers, or onto street legal flatbed trailers. Everything from point defense guns and SAM sites, to command and control “bunkers”. Whatever deck space that isn’t being utilized for flight decks can be made to accommodate these containerized systems. If push comes to shove truck mounted weapons can be tied down on deck and networked to targeting radars bolted on the ship’s mast. In the early 2000s Marines mounted the AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, a stinger equipped HMMWV truck, on the deck of their MPS vessel. While it didn’t have targeting radar integrated with the ships CIC (Combat Information Center), it did have a communication line for verbal instructions.

Editor's Note: "Roll-On/Roll-Off” transportation, or RO/RO transportation, stands for a method of cargo transportation. This is primarily used for The U.S. Maritime Administration and or Navy Sealift Command, should investigate arming and deploying slightly modified civilian roll on roll off trans...

14/11/2025

As the war continued, Walker decided to wear comfortable clothes that allowed her the flexibility of movement as she operated on patients. Specifically, she wore mixed clothes consisting of a dress and trouser combination that was known as a “bloomer costume.” She eventually began to wear men’s clothes. Her wearing men’s clothes resulted in her being periodically arrested for publicly portraying herself as a man. As such, she explained to her arresting official that the government had granted her permission to wear such clothes.

by Chuck Yarling  Let me introduce you to Dr. Mary Walker, who was known historically as an “American abolitionist, prohibitionist, prisoner of war, Did You Know a Woman Received the Medal of Honor?

13/11/2025

As I threw back the sheets of the single bed and jumped to the floor, muscle memory was momentarily restored. Despite the blaring fire truck parked in my tiny sleep room, I managed to slip on my boots, zip up my former PJs which strangely look like a Nomex flight suit, one each, olive drab. I stood, grabbing the k**b and pulled open the door to the outside world. I could see into the 12×12 common area as “Tootie” our enlisted site technician met me head on. Like the amazing Technical Sergeant he was, everything was ready and waiting. He briefed me on the weather as I zipped up my G suit and listened carefully. He’d been up all night knowing somehow, we’d get the call. Next to him was my wingman “Potsy” already zipping up his G suit. He let out a low, unintelligible growl much like a bear who had been awakened too early from hibernation.

by Robert G. Ray Jr., Lt Col (Retired), ALANG The realization of consciousness was suddenly and abruptly severed by sound. Overwhelming, invasive noise at F-16

13/11/2025

A gift given that I never wanted back–a gift that should have been passed on to my son’s son-but was not to be. Yet hope is not lost. My daughter or a stepson will inherit it one day and maybe pass it on to their children. But until then, I will carry it into the woods with me and fondly remember the times Quint and I spent together afield, watching the last glow of dusk light pass beneath the treetops. It will never be my rifle again, it will always be his, and I will be borrowing it and its collection of memories for the remainder of my life.

by Tab Taber   It is interesting how we attach value to certain things. I’m not necessarily talking about financial value but generational A gift given that I never wanted back--a gift that should have been passed on to my son’s son-but was not to be.

12/11/2025

I heard a voice close to my back say, “That is one ugly person”.

I turned and got a glimpse of the speaker.

Trying to determine their point of reference, I quickly surmised I was the object.

How could I respond to such cruelty?

Quickly I thought, “May I share a secret with you“?

I was sculpted by the most famous artist known to mankind.

Every part was lovingly carved and placed in perfect alignment to meet my needs.

He let me know that I’m so unique, there has never been, nor will ever be, another just like me.

Then within my chest, He placed a heart of gold…

to forgive those who don’t recognize the Master’s work.

I heard a voice close to my back say, “That is one ugly person”. I turned and got a glimpse of the speaker. Trying to determine their point of reference, He let me know that I’m so unique, there has never been, nor will ever be, another just like me.

12/11/2025

Of all Snoopy’s many disguises, none has captured the imagination quite like the World War I Flying Ace. Balancing on top of his doghouse—transformed into a “Sopwith Camel” fighter plane (Charles Schulz once chuckled, “Can you think of a funnier name for an airplane?”)—Snoopy takes to the skies to duel with his sworn enemy, the Red Baron, better known to history as Manfred von Richthofen. The Flying Ace first appeared in the Peanuts strip in October 1965, and ever since, readers have delighted in Snoopy’s daring missions, even though the Red Baron almost always managed to come out on top. The defeats usually ended with Snoopy shaking his fist at the sky and shouting his famous refrain: “Curse you, Red Baron!”

by Cristóbal S. Berry-Cabán The Peanuts gang are lounging together beneath the shade of a large tree, enjoying the crisp November air. Linus, clutching Explore Snoopy’s Veterans Day tribute and Charles Schulz’s heartfelt connection to honoring America’s veterans through Peanuts.

11/11/2025

No one prepares you for the quiet after the storm.

We call it PTSD, but for many of us, it’s something deeper — a loss of connection. A loss of mission. The Japanese had a word for it — ronin: a warrior without a master.

When the mission fades, you start to drift. You look around and wonder, “Now what? Who am I without the fight?”

That’s why so many veterans and first responders struggle — not because they’re weak, but because they were built for purpose. And when you take that away, everything feels wrong.

But the truth is — the mission isn’t gone. It just changed. Now the fight isn’t out there… it’s in here.

I was born into chaos. My earliest memories aren’t of playgrounds or cartoons — they’re of explosions, shouting, and fear. My family escaped civil wars A veteran’s path from war to service and back to purpose: tribe, mastery, and staying calm in chaos. How warriors rebuild meaning after the ...

10/11/2025

In an era of increasing polarization and populist rhetoric, the idea that love of country can coexist with criticism of government is both timely and vital. Citizens must be empowered to ask difficult questions, to challenge injustice, and to demand better from those in power—not in spite of their patriotism, but because of it.

The quote, "True patriotism is loving your country all the time and your government when it deserves it," is often attributed to Mark Twain, the Mark Twain’s famous quote, ‘True patriotism is loving your country all the time and your government when it deserves it,’ highlights the difference b...

09/11/2025

With nowhere else to turn, I tried therapy. Erin, my talk therapist, was the first person in years to make me feel seen. I told her how I was always getting in my own way, how I wanted to take ownership of my life. After a few sessions, she suggested I see a psychiatrist for medication. I was already taking Vyvanse for ADHD, but under my psychiatrist’s guidance, they added Lexapro to the mix. This was the start of a series of medications, each layered on top of the last.

by Chris Sparks In July 2018, I was medically retired from the Army after bouncing off of the earth as a result of a parachute malfunction. I came back to For it is not perfection that makes us human but the act of forgiving, the act of seeing each other anew, and the decision to stand together desp...