Tag: military life

  • What Do You Call Someone Who’s Been a Lot of People?

    When I was a kid, almost nobody called me by my first name.It wasn’t personal—it was practical. Common name. Too many of us in every class. So the name always came with a qualifier. Mike G. Blonde Mike. White Mike. The name alone wasn’t enough to point to a person.As a teenager, the names changed.…

  • A Different Assignment – A Different Fate

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    Today marks a day I can never forget. Twenty three years ago, the squad I was in before we deployed, hit an AT mine. I was moved to weapons squad as soon as I got in country. I’ve carried the weight of that randomness, the loss of my team, and the disillusionment that followed. I…