Military Wire

  “How do you kill 11 million people?” That was the question posed by New York Times best-selling author of The Noticer and The Traveler’s Gift, Andy Andrews. It’s also the title of one of his books. As one who has studied war history and had to endure reading the Psychological Operations manual more than…

Privilege is a good thing. Everybody wants it and many work hard to achieve it. And then there are some who want it handed to them. But that’s not how privilege works. You must work for it. In boot camp, my company commander was clear: to serve in his military was a privilege. He reminded…

A symbol of power and strength for over half a century, Air Force One — the aircraft assigned to transport the president and his team — has continued to modernize over the decades. For the first time, National Geographic follows the classified mission to create the president’s new aircraft, providing an inside look at the…

American Traitor…are we in fact on the verge of another world war? In a nation built on law and order and protocols, both internal threats and external threats seem to be mounting. New York Times best-selling author Brad Taylor’s latest book, American Traitor, seems more fact than fiction as protagonist Pike Logan, a highly-trained elite…

It took guts for Dominique to reach out. A post 9-11 Army veteran, highly trained, served honorably, made a successful transition into the corporate world, and was furloughed due to the pandemic. Not once, but twice. A father of a family of seven, he could not wait for the government stimulus checks, so he started…

We often hear that the optimist is the one who will succeed regardless of the circumstances. Could this in fact be wrong? The renowned researcher and bestselling author of Good to Great and Built to Last, Jim Collins, shared an interview he had with Admiral Jim Stockdale and his experience in Vietnam. Admiral Jim Stockdale…

“How do we not repeat 2020 in 2021?” That was a question posed to me in an online speaking event several weeks ago (think about that for a moment – an “online speaking event”). My response was likely a bit unexpected, as I shared a very creative exchange between God and Gabriel that a friend…

Our country was not founded through the means of peaceful times and negotiations. Disease, battles, wars and fundamental disagreements are the foundation from which this nation started. Yet from it, we grew into a civil nation. As those founding years turned into more than two centuries, our nation is once again experiencing a tension that…

The coronavirus pandemic is a crisis unlike any other in recent times. It is the greatest challenge that the United States has faced since World War II. It combines the economic impact of the Great Depression of the 1930’s with social turmoil of the 1960’s. Even before the pandemic, uncertainty was pervasive: We faced rapid…

To some, Michael Reagan is considered an Edmonds local legend. An international artist who has drawn the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Sen. John Glenn, Gregory Peck and many others, Mike — between portraits — is often seen walking around Edmonds carrying an American Flag in honor of those who have served and didn’t…

For those who know me, I am a true believer in the principle that we all can overcome. It takes work, and at times it is really ugly — like, brutally ugly. When I sit with combat veterans, I can feel it. And when I sit with the families, I can feel it. And while…

“The ultimate sacrifice deserves the highest honor.” In today’s divided America, it is often difficult to see the good in others if they don’t align with our way of thinking. Yet, in the military, regardless of one’s political bent or preferences, there is still a strong dedication to the principle of “one team, one fight”…

The Vietnam War is often viewed and remembered as a boondoggle for America. When U.S. Marines first landed in Danang, March 1965, politicians thought it would be a simple win. But to the contrary. When the last troops left Vietnam in March of 1973, more than 55,000 Americans died in that conflict and the returning…

When the general public hears the word veteran, studies show they rarely identify women as being veterans despite women having served in the United States military for generations. Women – aka -moms, daughters, sisters, wives have served in such capacities as the Women’s Army Corps, Women Accepted for Volunteer Services and Women Airforce Service Pilots…

How can one learn from one of the most notorious dictators in history? Saddam Hussein, known as the “Butcher of Baghdad,” his government and military forces responsible for killing more than 250,000 of his own people, ruled Iraq with an iron fist. His mother wanted nothing to do with him when he was born, so…

Most don’t wear their struggles on the outside. We keep them buried. But we all struggle with something. Unfortunately, some allow those struggles and the difficult experiences to shape and define who they are — and that becomes a heavy weight to carry. Imagine if you were most likely responsible for the death of a…

Unemployment fell to a 49-year low as the U.S. created 263,000 new jobs in April. Those increases in hiring were concentrated mainly at white-collar businesses, construction and health care. And while this is great news for those individuals and industries, America is becoming more at risk as military recruiters are competing against higher wages and…

This interview with country music legend Charlie Daniels was a true highlight in my career. I remember as a young boy watching “Hee  Haw” and “The Barbara Mandrell Show,” and seeing Johnny Cash, Alabama and other country stars and groups on TV. But there was one band and one song that I just loved seeing…