Don't Ever Call Me A Hero

Go ahead. Put it on, faker.

U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn has ruled the Stolen Valor Law unconstitutional. Wait, what? In an unprecedented display of “Freedom of Speech”, the Judge dismissed Rick Strandlof’s charges under the stolen valor law on July 17th. This is insulting.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the case, Mr. Strandlof was a US Marine. Annapolis graduate. Survivor of the September 11th attack on the Pentagon. Three tours in Iraq. Purple Heart. Silver Star. Or so he claimed… continue reading…

Poppies in Afghanistan

Up to a third of Afghanistan’s poppy harvest this spring? Dead. Killed by a mysterious disease wreaking havoc on the country’s primary source of income. The Taliban’s public relations strategy will say that the U.S. has introduced this disease to destroy the farmer’s crops, even though US forces have significantly decreased efforts against the poppy harvest. The Taliban PR machine is fast and efficient, and while the US and NATO investigate the cause of the blight, Afghan farmers are quick to lay blame.

This doesn’t bode well for public image. continue reading…

Peter Bollinger | Popular Science Magazine

Former Marine Colonel Roosevelt Lafontant first pushed the idea of a Marine space plane in 2002. Long a sci-fi fantasy, it’s becoming a reality, sooner than you think. With the Air Force launching a space plane this week, the Marine Corps has issued a ConOps, or Concept of Operations regarding a space-bound aerial drop platform for the Marine Corps.

It seems I got out of the Corps too early. That’s uber-badass. continue reading…

I know it’s been about a month or so since I have posted. I’ve been working hard on the book, and here is the official status update. As you can see here, I’ve finished the cover design. I designed it all myself with the input of a few authors I get together with every month. continue reading…

Over at The Unconscious Warrior Project my wife and I are calling out to veterans, their spouses, loved ones, and significant others to tell us your stories. War takes its toll on so many different levels, and we want to hear what changes it has had in you, and what you have done in your life to live with these changes, work to approach them, and incorporate and work with them in your daily life.

Our goal with this project is to become a non-profit company, receive donations, and run veterans support and outreach programs from our home in Black Hawk, Colorado. We will have an open dialogue between veterans, discussing how we have changed and what we can do to not let some of the negative affectations of war take over our lives. We expect to begin groups this summer.

The stories we ask for now may be incorporated into a book that Sara and I are writing, that will hopefully help other veterans work in their relationships like we have learned to work in ours. It has been a long, arduous road, but one that is more than worth it.

So, if you are a veteran, a spouse of a veteran, active duty military, or a family member or significant other, we want to hear from you. How have you changed? How has your life changed? How has your relationship changed? What have you had to change to incorporate what has happened during war into your daily life? How has it affected you, for better or for worse?

Please visit The Unconscious Warrior Project to read more, or email us: Sara Perna or Mark Perna

Hannah (left) and Freyja, our beautiful girls

Monday night, our two dogs were on the deck playing. Hannah pawed the door to come in, and she came running. Freyja did not. I turned the light on to see her laying there, still, not responding to my voice. I ran out into the snow in my bare feet, wearing nothing more than a t-shirt. I knelt by her, and I knew she was in trouble. There was something stuck in her mouth, I thought she might be choking, so I grabbed it. It was cold. It was her tongue. I looked into her eyes and I knew she was already dead. The sound of anguish I made drove Sara to my side. I was horrified. I was perplexed. She was a year and a half, had no health problems, but there she was, just lying there, and she was gone.

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Soldiers inside a cave complex captured by a Pakistani offensive

After a long offensive in the federally administered tribal areas of Pakistan, Paki forces declared that they had seized a large network of caves in the Bajaur tribal area—a final militant holdout. This network of caves is just four miles from Asadabad, where I was stationed in 2005. While there are strongholds remaining along the border, at a press conference Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan stressed the tactical importance of this victory.

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I finally watched The Hurt Locker last night. I was sorely disappointed. For a movie that has been receiving awards left and right, I expected more. A lot more.

Let’s start with the portrayal of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal tech, Sergeant James. He’s a cavalier, reckless, careless, adrenaline junkie. He disregards all safety, tactics, techniques, and procedures, to just walk up on IEDs, brazenly clear buildings, and save the day. Bullshit. continue reading…

Starkey / AP

Marines are now encountering stiff resistance in the northern part of Marjah, reports say. Three more coalition troops have lost their lives in the battle, bringing the tally to 11. While more casualties are mounting than previously, it’s still significantly less than what coalition officers had prepared for. The Taliban have also deployed new tactics. Snipers.

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Patrick Baz / AFP / Getty Images

First off, sorry for the delay in postings, everyone. I recently bought a house with my wife up in the mountains of Colorado, and we’ve been moving in and getting settled. Let’s get down to business.

The Marine Corps, NATO, Afghan, and other US Forces stormed Marjah this last week. My cousin is amongst the Marines serving with battalion 3/6. Semper Fi, Ryan. After using the “Shredders”, the Assault Breacher Vehicles, to clear the lane to the city, they encountered little resistance. Just before they shipped out, I told my cousin I predicted that the Taliban would run. But what comes next? continue reading…