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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Col John Russell, U.S. Air Force (1975-2005)

Col John Russell, U.S. Air Force (1975-2005)

What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:

Originally sent in an E-mail on September 24, 2003 at 10:23 AM to a friend. Two months ago, I made a special trip to San Antonio with my First Sergeant to welcome home a team of my 307th RED HORSE troops coming back from Baghdad. They had been in southwestern Asia supporting the war effort for 5 months. Just as they were about to be rotated home, another mission was tasked. The Senior Officer of the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group asked them if they would volunteer to extend. These guys, after spending 5 months in the sand, were asked if they would volunteer to go to Baghdad International Airport and repair all the runway and taxiway craters we had blown in our bombing campaign. These repairs were necessary so that medicine, food and other civilian aid could begin to be air lifted directly to Baghdad International Airport.

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LTC Leslie S. Lee, U.S. Army (1986-2009)

LTC Leslie S. Lee, U.S. Army (1986-2009)

What Was Your Most Proud Moment From Your Military Service? What Made This Especially Memorable For You?:

When I was a freshly minted 1LT in the JAG Corps in 1986, we were taken to the range to familiarize on the M-16. I had never fired a weapon in my life, so I listened closely to the instructions. I hit the target every time. When I later went to actually qualify with my first unit (1st Infantry Division – Ft. Riley garrison company), I shot expert. I remember being in the foxhole and hearing people asking who was in lane 4 as all the farthest targets were being hit. (That was me and I think, but can’t swear, the farthest targets were 300 meters). After everyone finished, it was announced that the new female JAG had the top score. I remember the gasps from the other officers in the room. I will never forget how proud I felt. I later won an Excellence in Competition badge for the 45 pistol in 1991, but nothing compared to seeing the shock on the faces of my fellow officers (some of whom were infantry) on that first expert qualification. How I wish I still had a picture of that scorecard!

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WW2 – The Battle of Iwo Jima

WW2 – The Battle of Iwo Jima

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The year 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most storied contests in American military history. Many are familiar with the myriad stories surrounding the battle, from the two flag raisings over Mount Suribachi to any of the 27 men who received the Medal of Honor for their actions on the island. What fails to get a mention in history books is the sheer scale of the battle itself and the defensive planning of the enemy's commander. The...

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

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

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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...

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5 Legendary Heroes of the U.S. Air Force

5 Legendary Heroes of the U.S. Air Force

We all know the Marine Corps celebrates its birthday in a big way, but that doesn't mean the other branches aren't worth celebrating. The United States Air Force was created after President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. On September 18, 1947, W. Stuart Symington became Secretary of the Air Force, making September 18 the service's official birthday. In honor of its 77th birthday, let's take a look at some of the airmen who shaped the history and development of the...

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SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly, U.S. Marine Corps (1899–1929)

SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly, U.S. Marine Corps (1899–1929)

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Only two Marines have received the Medal of Honor for two separate actions: Maj. Gen Smedley Butler and SgtMaj. Daniel J. Daly. And you know it has to mean something when Butler called Daly "the fightingest Marine I ever knew." SgtMaj Daniel J. Daly and the Boxer Rebellion Daly served in the Marine Corps for 30 years, seeing every major Marine Corps campaign between 1899 and 1929. Growing up in New York City as a slender youth, he had to be tough; he even became a semi-pro boxer before joining...

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Service Reflections of CWO2 Donald Stine, U.S. Coast Guard (1974-1997)

Service Reflections of CWO2 Donald Stine, U.S. Coast Guard (1974-1997)

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I was in high school at the time of Pearl Harbor. I had never heard of Pearl Harbor and didn’t know where it was. That was true for many of my friends, but we sure found out quickly. We all became Gung Ho and were ready to enlist; however, we had a couple of months left before graduation, so I opted to finish school. Many of my friends did enlist, going into the US Army Air Corps to become pilots. That was my desire also, but my father said “NO.” He was in the First World War, captured by the Germans, and gassed. He was shot, and he lost three fingers on his left hand.

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MAJ Terrance (TP) Pitts, U.S. Army (1998-2025)

MAJ Terrance (TP) Pitts, U.S. Army (1998-2025)

Do You Have A Favorite Photo From Your Military Service? What Memories Does This Photo Bring Back For You?:

In a world often divided by political turmoil and cultural differences, moments of human connection transcend barriers and remind us of our shared humanity. This image captures a poignant scene as I was engaging with a group of Syrian children. What might seem like a simple interaction reveals profound lessons about freedom, servant leadership, and humility values that shape the ethos of military service and resonate deeply in contexts of conflict and need.

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SGT Zach Pierce, U.S. Army (2002-2008)

SGT Zach Pierce, U.S. Army (2002-2008)

Do You Have A Favorite Photo From Your Military Service? What Memories Does This Photo Bring Back For You?:

This was taken some time in the summer of 2004, FAAAR FAR outside Bagram, Afghanistan. We were on some sort of multi-day mission to explore distant villages from our very remote outpost in the Tarin Kowt region. My unit, A Co (QUICKSTRIKE!) sent our platoon with minimal supervision, to a village that, it was said, had never seen American forces during the entire Afghanistan war, to that point. In this photo, we had just been dropped off and had wandered a few clicks when we came across this village. There were a few camels and me, being a touchy-feely kind of specialist, just had to see the camels. My squad leader and I both got camel rides thanks to my charisma!

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The Chivalry of Medieval Knights

The Chivalry of Medieval Knights

While today's definition of chivalry places a moral emphasis on social virtues, the medieval sense of chivalry guided knights both in and out of combat, especially in their interactions with women. There was a good reason for orders of knights to introduce such a code of conduct: their heavily armored mounted troops needed to be reined in the unrestrained violence they inflicted on civilian populations.  The Chivalry of Medieval Knights: Myths and Mercenaries In the modern day, we tend to...

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

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

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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...

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