They Were Warriors First

by Matthew Davison

Prose


Somewhere a Woman Is Building an Ark

by Louise Eisenbrandt

Poem


A 1984 Exception

by Katherine Iwatiw

Prose


Jamie and Roxy

by Richard Wangard

Prose


The Promise

by Nila Bartley

Poem


Stones River

by StevenMiller Miller

Prose


INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL CRISIS

By Charles Hazell, Army

Writing Type: Poem

The jungles of Vietnam, jungles of Africa,
The mountains of Afghanistan or the desert of Saddam,
The playing field you played on or are playing on
Makes no difference.
Death is an equal opportunist who does not discriminate.
How dare the political Chess Masters of Foreign Affairs
Continue to use youth,
Future leaders of' democracy an d f'r ee do m as pawns'.l
Who thought of this idea?
Enough is enough.
Now the Chess Masters have decreed
If our combat brothers have not served six months,
Full benefits will not be.
Is this rea11y fair?
Life expectancy on the combat line is not guaranteed.
And if you do return no matter how much time was spent,
Welcome to the world of trauma, PTSD.

Notes: Susanne Brunner

Sergeant Mackey

by Dwight Jenkins

Poem


Our Lonely Death

by George Nolta

Poem


Combat Nursing

by Louise Eisenbrandt

Prose


Courage

by Jason Bartley

Poem


Thunderstorms

by Lawrence Langman

Poem


An Affinity With Acronyms (OTUS and OTY)

by CJ Reeves

Poem