Of history, warfare, leadership, and alcohol
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything on here. And for that, I blame command, which sucks away all the years of your life. It’s basically “The Machine” from Princess Bride, just with more soldiers with DUIs. Basically what one month of command feels like. However, the topic of command is fascinating in and of …
Continue reading "The Perils of Command"
A gentle breeze slipped past the gravestones near me, rustling the slim folds of the American flag overhead, tapping the fasteners against the pole in a metallic rhythm. Aside from our low voices, the soft sounds of insects and birds, and the occasional passing car, it was the only sound to be heard. We were …
Continue reading "In an American Cemetery in France: Thoughts on Memorial Day"
Two days before the beginning of the Meuse-Argonne Campaign – the largest and bloodiest battle in American history – the New York Times ran a letter from an Army infantry officer who was then serving in France: The troops that took Vaux An advertising agency is a good thing at times, but when the …
Continue reading "We Were There Too: the US Army at Belleau Wood"
I don't remember much about the day we went to war with Iraq for the second time. A senior in high school, I recall feeling excited about the idea of war although I only knew of war from books. I was too young to remember much of the Persian Gulf War beyond some blurry images …
Continue reading "The Iraq War, 15 Years On"
It was Ben Franklin who wrote, "He who neglects his hair neglects his country." Well, all right, he never did say that but he would've had he thought of it, because Ben understood the importance of a well put together coiffe of hair. The military has undergone some variations on its way of thinking about …
Continue reading "Army Hair Throughout the Ages"
With racial tensions growing since the events in Charlottesville, the debate of the U.S. military's continued use of Confederate names has been brought back in the limelight. The Chief of Staff of the Army General Mark Milley tweeted out “ The Army doesn’t tolerate racism, extremism, or hatred in our ranks.” https://twitter.com/ArmyChiefStaff/status/897742317897093121 However, there still …
Continue reading "Guest Post: Celebrating the Army’s Positive Past"
There are many iconic images in U.S. military history: Washington crossing the Delaware, the surrender at Appomattox, troops landing on Omaha Beach, to name a few. But few paintings or photographs have managed to capture one of the most significant weapons in the U.S. arsenal: the knife hand. Able to cleave the air with a …
Continue reading "The History of the Military Knife Hand"
One hundred years ago this week, the United States entered World War I. “Too late to make a difference!” say some, often British or Commonwealth. “Should never have joined it at all,” say others, usually non-interventionist Americans. “World war what?” say many, usually all other Americans. “Thank you,” say a great many, almost always French. No …
Continue reading "” Look! Here are the Americans!” The U.S. in World War I and Popular Memory"
France. What a silly place, am I right? They eat frogs, they're on their, like, millionth government since the Revolution, and they keep needing us 'Muricans to save them during world wars. Well, that is one way of viewing the Franco-American narrative, I suppose, if one were to overlook the incredibly vital French aid during …
Continue reading "When the United States Army Went to War Armed with French Weapons"
Today’s guest post comes from Barefoot Boomer. Boomer is a career Army officer and strategist. He is also a historian with an emphasis in American and German military history. The content and opinions of this article are the author’s only and do not reflect the opinions of the United States Army or the Department of Defense. …
Continue reading "Winning the Civil War, Finally"
The Angry Staff Officer 
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