Military Medley

The Gunner and the Grunt: by Michael Kelley and Peter Burbank

Military Book Reviews, Vietnam War, World War II

“The Gunner and the Grunt” is a unique Vietnam War memoir because it’s actually two memoirs. Two men from Massachusetts join the Army to do very different jobs, train for those jobs, and both go to Vietnam to serve their country. The book is written in two distinct voices, both members of the same reconnaissance unit, the 1st Cavalry Division, providing two very different perspectives of the war. One flies an armed helicopter above, while the other pounds the ground through the jungles below.

MAJ Pete Hegseth, U.S. Army National Guard (2003-2006, 2010-2014, 2019-2021)

Celebrities Who Served, Global War on Terror, Uncategorized

Pete Hegseth's military career is a testament to the dedication and service of America's citizen-soldiers. From his early days as a Princeton graduate to his current role as the 29th United States Secretary of Defense, Hegseth's journey exemplifies the spirit of the National Guard and the impact of military service on public leadership. His experiences in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan have shaped his perspective on national security and military readiness, bringing a unique blend of frontline experience to the Pentagon's highest office. Let’s take a closer look at Pete Hegseth’s education, military service, and journey to his nomination for Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth’s Early Years and Education Peter Brian Hegseth was born on June 6, 1980, in Minnesota. He was the first child of Brian and Penelope "Penny" Hegseth. Brian was a basketball coach for high schools across Minnesota before retiring in 2019, while Penny is an executive business coach who has taught with the...

Explaining U.S. Coast Guard Operations

Useful Military Information

While being one of the smaller branches of the United States Armed Forces, the U.S. Coast Guard is vital to the United States defense and broader protection. Coast Guard operations range from air and sea rescues to drug trafficking interceptions. The U.S. Coast Guard were also a vital force in the support of D-Day, Vietnam War brown water operations and protection services in the Persian Gulf. Missions of the United States Coast Guard Broadly, the Coast Guard is responsible for three things: Maritime safetyMaritime securityMaritime stewardship Breaking down these categories further, maritime safety entails search and rescue, an inspection of commercial vessels, licensing and investigating merchant mariners, managing waterways (including ice patrol), assisting in and advocating for recreational boating safety, and responding to pollution. The Coast Guard also manages the DGPS radio navigation system, buoys, daymarks, and other navigational aids. Maritime security involves...

To Hear Silence by Ronald W. Hoffman

Military Book Reviews, Vietnam War

Five years ago, the author returned to Vietnam on a battlefield tour with his wife, Nancy. In a conversation with the guide, Bill Stilwagen, he mentioned how his unit had accomplished a lot in its first 13 months in-country, yet when he looked on the internet, he couldn’t find anything. Stilwagen challenged him by saying, “Why don’t you write a book about it?” Hoffman took the challenge seriously.

Teenage Sisters Persuaded German Soldiers

Cpl William (Bill) Ralph Blass, U.S. Army (1943-1945)

Celebrities Who Served, World War II

William (or Bill) Ralph Blass who served in the US Army between 1943 and 1945 is better known for his contributions to the fashion industry. However, his efforts during World War II are as remarkable as they are unusual. William Ralph Blass was born on June 22 1922, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His father was a traveling salesman, his mother a dressmaker. Sadly, Blass’ father committed suicide when Bill was 5. Bill took after his mother, sketching Hollywood-inspired fashions in the margins of his schoolbooks. At the young age of fifteen, he sewed and sold evening gowns to a New York manufacturer for $25 a pop. At seventeen, he had enough money to move to Manhattan and study fashion at Parson’s School of Design. One year later, he was the first man to win Mademoiselle’s Design for Living award. In 1942, he enlisted in the US Army. Bill Blass and the Art of War Deception Bill Blass’s talents were recognized by the Army and he was assigned to the 603rd Camouflage Division, a top-secret...

Bullets in My Bottom Drawer: The Lighter Side of Combat by John Montalbano

Cold War, Military Book Reviews, Vietnam War

For some, finding humor in war and combat might seem to make light of a very heavy situation. Some might even find it offensive. But those of us who have served in combat know that humor, even dark humor, is sometimes the only way to break the tension, ease the pain, and build the camaraderie that comes with fighting in a war. John Montalbano, a retired Vietnam veteran who was drafted into the Army in 1967, would not only agree that humor is important, even in war, but he literally wrote a book about it. Montalbano would spend some thirty years after the war writing and rewriting the manuscript for his book, "Bullets in My Bottom Drawer: The Lighter Side of Combat," which he finally published to great fanfare in 2024. Montalbano served in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division and later during an extended tour of duty as a courier for the 93rd Military Police Battalion Headquarters. Today, he writes about his unit’s experiences in-country and has been featured in Vietnam...

SSG Leonard Nimoy, U.S. Army Reserve (1953-1955)

Celebrities Who Served, Cold War

Leonard Nimoy, best known for his iconic role as Mr. Spock in the Star Trek franchise, had a fascinating journey that included service in the United States Army before he became a household name. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant in the Special Services, an entertainment branch of the military. Who would have imagined that a young man entertaining troops would one day entertain millions across the galaxy, armed not with a rifle, but with a raised eyebrow and the immortal phrase, "Live long and prosper"? His life was proof that true exploration isn't just about traveling through space, but about pushing the boundaries of human imagination. Leonard Nimoy’s Early Life and Enlistment Born on March 26, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts, Leonard Simon Nimoy was the son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants Max and Dora Nimoy. Max was a barber in Mattapan, and Dora a housewife, but the family grew up in a tenement on Boston’s West End. As a child, Leonard...

Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest by Brian Dickinson

Global War on Terror, Military Book Reviews, Vietnam War

Brian Dickinson is a former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer who specialized in combat search and rescue. His military experience is not the most difficult situation he's ever faced. For six years, he served as a rescue swimmer, but in his post-military career, he has climbed some of the most challenging mountains in the world, including Denali, Kilimanjaro, and even the Sentinel Range in Antarctica. In 2011, Dickinson climbed Mount Everest by himself, which was a difficult challenge in itself, but on his way down, he became snowblind and had to make his way down the world's highest and most dangerous peak solo and without eyesight. In a sojourn that should have taken three hours, he climbed hand-over-hand for seven hours. In that time he fell and lost his oxygen too. With what he calls a "determined faith and focus," he arrived safely back to the campsite and survived. "Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest" is the story of his powerful and bold decision...

CPL Patrick Daniel Tillman, U.S. Army (2002-2004)

Celebrities Who Served, Global War on Terror

Patrick Daniel Tillman was born on November 6, 1976, in California. The oldest of three sons, with Kevin and Richard as the other two, Tillman played competitive football. In high school he was a star who led his high school team to a Central Coast Division I Football Championship – after he was told he was too small to ever play football. He earned a scholarship to Arizona State University, where he became a standout linebacker. As a college junior, Tillman started every game as ASU went unbeaten through the regular season, won the Pacific-10 Conference championship and made its second appearance in the Rose Bowl in 1996. The following year, Tillman was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and was a Second-Team All-American while also receiving numerous academic honors as he helped lead the Sun Devils to a 9-3 season and a Sun Bowl victory over Iowa. He was named Sun Bowl MVP in his senior season and has since been inducted into...

VA Guidance: Answer to Five FAQs from Veterans

VA Guidance Articles

In the weeks just before Veterans Day, I talked to several companies' Veteran groups about their benefits. Across the groups, I noticed five common questions. I am sharing these, with answers, below. Question 1 – I am not happy with the results of my claim for disability compensation. What can I do? The short answer is: Appeal the decision. I described this process in detail in this article. When I asked each Veteran who posed this question, I learned that they filed the claim without help. That is, they completed the form and provided the supporting documentation. Most were unaware they could get no-cost assistance from a Veteran Service Officer (VSO). I describe more about that in this column. The key point is that a VSO is trained in VA processes and may have helped dozens of Veterans with similar issues. Their learning and experience can help a Veteran filing for the first time avoid mistakes and ensure their application is complete. In addition, they may be able to enhance it,...

Colder Than Hell by Joseph Owen

Korean War, Military Book Reviews

Joe Owen enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. He deployed shortly afterward with a forward observer squad during World War II. If you talked to the man, however, you would quickly learn it was the Korean War that defined his service to the country. In 1997, he would literally write a book about his experiences in Korea, an experience that culminated with the infamous Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. By the time North Korean tanks rolled into South Korea in June 1950, Owen was a Lieutenant, and he would be leading a company of hastily assembled reservists into a trial by fire. Joe Owen and His Harrowing Experience in "Colder Than Hell" "Colder Than Hell: A Marine Rifle Company at Chosin Reservoir" is the story of Owen and his fellow Marines in Korea. To write the book, he painstakingly gathered all the historical information he could and spoke at length with his fellow veterans about their own experiences. The result is an exhaustive first-person narrative that is both engrossing...

MENU