COMMENTARY by Susan Katz Keating What happened this weekend when a man was arrested outside a Donald Trump rally in California? Claims vary. The local sheriff says his officers thwarted an assassination attempt against Trump. The man who was arrested says he meant no harm, and was a member of the …
Read More »‘The Mother’: A Soldier’s Haunting Encounter in Iraq
by Cliff Wade Iraq, 2006 We found ourselves in the home of an Iraqi family during a massive clearing operation in an area characterized by terrain varying between urban landscape, farmland, palm groves, and small villages. We had been clearing routes of improvised explosive devices all morning. We had been …
Read More »Plants You Can Eat in the Wild
If you run out of food and game while roaming the wilds, fear not. You’ll still be able to make soup, salad, or something akin to coffee. A British Army bushcraft expert walks us through how to spot and eat these five edible wild plants, commonly found in Western and …
Read More »They Called Us Mercenaries, Gunslingers, and Worse: A Contractor’s Story
by Mikial The author tells Soldier of Fortune: “All of my work was with Department of Defense contractors. We never considered ourselves mercenaries although we were called mercenaries, gunslingers, and worse at times. It was difficult and dangerous work and also sometimes boring. We often lived rough in camps and …
Read More »Alone Against the Taliban: Mad Dog Platoon and the Battle of OP Nevada
by Susan Katz Keating The Soviets called it Chernaya Gora: Black Mountain. That is where a unit of elite Spetsnaz forces met their deaths in Afghanistan, atop a remote observation post overlooking Kunar. I learned about the treacherous place in 2015, while researching an article for the Army National Guard. …
Read More »Trapped Inside a Tank, This Soldier Cut Off His Own Leg to Save the Injured Crew
Specialist Ezra Maes and his two armor crew teammates were jolted awake by their M1A2 Abrams tank as it rolled downhill at nearly 90 mph with them inside. The sheer force of the vehicle hitting an embankment threw Maes from his position, and his right leg was immediately pinned down …
Read More »A Gruesome Execution, and a Prisoner’s Last Meal: Ancient Brutality On the Modern Battlefield
by Susan Katz Keating The man in the video cowers on the floor of a dingy room, in the spot where two brick walls converge. Filthy and nearly naked, this unidentified captive faces the camera while shielding his head with his hand. Unlike other conflict-atrocity videos currently making the rounds, …
Read More »‘Good God!’ Milton Shakes Up the Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane Riders from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have a bumpy ride inside Hurricane #Milton. This crew (and their cast iron stomachs) rode aboard the NOAA WP-3D Orion “Miss Piggy” to collect data to improve forecasts and support hurricane research. Safe travels, Rough Riders. Visit noaa.gov/milton for info …
Read More »‘Send Reinforcements!’ An IDF Soldier Amid the Chaos and Carnage of October 7
by SGT May, Israel Defense Forces The terrorists just keep coming, and you are alone… in the most dangerous place in Israel. – An IDF soldier remembers being present for the attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. 6:30 in the morning – a massive boom. I thought it was …
Read More »The Tunnels of Terrorism: Hamas Used an Old Bedouin Smuggling Route During Attack on Israel
by Susan Katz Keating The Hamas terror group used an old Bedouin tunnel network to smuggle weapons and fighters from Gaza for the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a defense officer told Soldier of Fortune. “It is one of many ways they launched their attacks,” said the officer, who is …
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