For 15 years, Shannon Kent's job was to gather intelligence against the United States' deadliest enemies. The U.S. Navy Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician worked alongside the National Security Agency (NSA) in some of the world's most dangerous areas. The information she acquired would often lead to surgical strikes from American special operations forces around the world – and she was among the best at her job.
Tragically, her years-long career in gathering intelligence is not the only legacy she leaves behind. Kent would become the first female service member killed in Syria when an ISIS suicide bomber attacked a restaurant in the northern Syrian city of Manbij in 2019. The 35-year-old left behind a husband and two children.
Shannon Kent was a native of upstate New York and was an outstanding student-athlete and scholar as a youth. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2003, became a Cryptologic Technician, and was assigned to support the Navy's special warfare operations. Not only did she excel at her cryptological work, but she was also fluent in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and four dialects of Arabic, working her way up to a role as the NCO in charge of the NSA's operations directorate. By 2007, she was deployed to Iraq in support of Navy SEAL operations there, a role she repeated in Afghanistan in 2012.
In 2018, Kent's career was slated to go even higher, with a slot to attend a clinical psychology doctoral program at the Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences. She told her husband she wanted to help alleviate the suffering of returning troops with post-traumatic stress disorder. A previous thyroid cancer diagnosis led the Navy to rescind her clearance to attend the school, and a waiver request was denied, as the Navy considered a cancer diagnosis to be a disqualifying factor in receiving a commission.
In lieu of attending the doctoral program, she deployed to Syria in November 2018 to continue her secretive intelligence-gathering work with the Navy's Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66. Their mission was to track the remnants of ISIS still operating in the country despite being systematically dismantled and destroyed in the years preceding her deployment. It would be her fifth combat tour.
On Jan. 16, 2019, an ISIS suicide bomber detonated himself at a popular restaurant in Manbij, a known hangout for American troops and other anti-ISIS fighters. The blast killed four Americans, including Shannon Kent. Her husband, Joe Kent, is a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier to raise their two sons, who were then one and three years old.
In the months and years that followed, Shannon Kent was posthumously promoted. Her husband wrote the incredible story of Kent's life and service, "Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War," with journalist Marty Skovlund, Jr. The Navy also began to reevaluate its commissioning and training acceptance practices to emphasize the contributions of sailors who have deployed overseas and reconsider medical waivers for cases like Kent's.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to her service when her remains arrived at Dover Air Force Base, and New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the state flags to be flown at half-staff in her memory before Shannon Kent was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
When we think of the Spanish-American War's Battle of San Juan Hill, most of us likely think of future president Theodore Roosevelt and his band of Rough Riders gallantly charging a well-defended Spanish fortification. While that memory of the battle is certainly true, it doesn't give Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, or the other 8,000 U.S. troops there – including Black troops – the credit they so richly deserve.
The Spanish-American War was declared in April 1898, sparked by the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor due to an explosion that was, at the time, believed to be caused by a Spanish mine (it was later ruled an accident). Spurred on by the sensational American press, the United States blockaded Cuba in retaliation, and Spain declared war in return. Guam had already fallen to U.S. forces, and Americans had already landed in the Philippines by the time U.S. Marines landed at Guantánamo Bay on June 10, 1898.
On June 22, the U.S. Fifth Army Corps landed at Daiquirí and Siboney, east of Santiago, and determined to push toward the city. Some 15,000 American troops, including Roosevelt's Rough Riders and the Army's Buffalo Soldiers, were among those who began a march toward Santiago. On July 1, 1898, they crossed the San Juan River, facing a heavily entrenched Spanish enemy atop two hills: San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill.
The United States inflicted a wholesale beating on Spain during the Spanish-American War that was so complete that people tend to forget the stakes of these individual battles. When U.S. troops crossed the San Juan River, they were facing a series of fortified hilltop positions defended by hundreds of Spanish troops, along with another 10,000 reserve soldiers in the city of Santiago de Cuba.
At the outset of the war, Spanish troops in Cuba were largely inexperienced but had very experienced officers who had been fighting insurgents for years. They were carrying new breech-loaded, bolt-action repeating rifles with smokeless cartridges, and Spanish artillery were also more than capable of supporting their infantry.
In contrast, the Americans – who had not fought a major conflict since the Civil War – were using outdated artillery with limited effective range, though U.S. forces were largely carrying Krag rifles with similar capabilities, while Roosevelt had provided his men with lever-action Winchester rifles but the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry (Buffalo Soldiers) were still using single-action black powder rifles.
After crossing the river, the Americans were pinned down by fire from those new, accurate Spanish rifles. As more and more troops crossed the river and waited at the base of San Juan Hill for orders, they became sitting ducks as the Spanish picked them off one by one with rifles as artillery zeroed in.
A Spanish blockhouse dominated San Juan Hill, the higher of the two hills that dominated the San Juan Heights. As casualties began to mount, 1st Lt. Jules Garesche Ord led the 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers), the 24th (Colored) Infantry Regiment and the 6th, 9th and 13th Infantry Regiments up San Juan Hill, supported by the Army's first-ever Gatling Gun detachments providing cover fire for their advance. At 150 yards from the crest of the hill, the advance turned into a charge.
At nearby Kettle Hill, Col. Theodore Roosevelt and the 1st Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders) launched a near-simultaneous attack on the Spanish positions there. The regulars of the all-Black 9th and 10th Cavalry and the Rough Riders were supported by three Gatling Guns. The Spanish fire was intense before the Gatlings opened on the defenders.
Colonel Roosevelt would receive a posthumous Medal of Honor in 2001 for his daring charge up the hill. In the face of enemy fire, he spurred his men across the open terrain and, accompanied by five men of his own, was the first to reach the Spanish trenches. Roosevelt's quick action against the enemy trench allowed the assault to continue.
Meanwhile, the Gatling Guns were having a devastating effect. Some 18,000 rounds were fired in less than nine minutes, eviscerating the Spanish and causing them to flee their positions at the top of Kettle Hill. The Black regiments were the first to arrive at its crest, and the rest soon followed, intermingling in their success. A lieutenant in command of the 10th Cavalry at the Battle of San Juan Hill, the future General of the Armies of the United States, John J. Pershing, would later remark:
"...the entire command moved forward as coolly as though the buzzing of bullets was the humming of bees. White regiments, black regiments, regulars, and Rough Riders [i.e., volunteers], representing the young manhood of the North and the South, fought shoulder to shoulder, unmindful of race or color, unmindful of whether commanded by ex-Confederates or not, and mindful of only their common duty as Americans."
Before 2 p.m. that day, the Americans controlled the heights overlooking Santiago. On July 2, they began the siege of the city. The next day, the U.S. Navy destroyed the Spanish fleet in Cuba. The siege and subsequent capture of Santiago led to a Spanish capitulation on the island, ending 400 years of Spanish rule.
Together We Served helped link me to some of my buddies that I left behind in Vietnam, and some as I still remember as they were, if you know what I mean. TWS has helped me find memories. Thank you.
SP 4 Joseph Gioia, Jr. US Army Veteran
Served 1966-1968
While today's definition of chivalry places a moral emphasis on social virtues, the medieval sense of chivalry guided knights both in and out of combat, especially in their interactions with women. There was a good reason for orders of knights to introduce such a code of conduct: their heavily armored mounted troops needed to be reined in the unrestrained violence they inflicted on civilian populations.
In the modern day, we tend to think of knights as virtuous and honorable, but in the knights' heyday, they were actually like medieval tanks who could wreak havoc on unarmed populations whenever they wanted - and they often did. They were often hired mercenaries who were promised money or land in return for serving what we would today call a warlord. By 1100, churches all over Europe began to pray for God's help in delivering them from the whims of roving knights - and that deliverance would come in the form of romantic storytelling.
There's no better example of the violent, unpredictable nature of medieval knights than the story of the Fourth Crusade. In 1202, Pope Innocent III called on the knights of Christian Europe to once again take up arms and set out for the Holy Land to wrest control of Jerusalem from Muslim control. An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 knights from France, Venice, and the Holy Roman Empire answered the call. Along the way, they were called on to help restore Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelos to his throne, and they did.
But when the newly restored emperor was deposed and killed by a popular uprising, and the knights were no longer going to be paid, they decided to sack Constantinople, one of the holiest cities in Christendom, instead. The city and the Byzantine Empire would never fully recover, and Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands.
So, while the codes of chivalry began as a means of promoting battlefield prowess and loyalty to one's lord or master, eventually, the knights needed to be controlled. There was no one universal Code of Chivalry in the Middle Ages, but romantic texts of the era implored young knights to focus on the skills they needed for combat while they temper their aggression with strict etiquettes towards women. The legends of the Knights of the Round Table and the Song of Roland laid out examples and rules for knights to follow. In the 14th century, the Duke of Burgundy laid out 12 virtues his knights should follow:
● Faith
● Charity
● Justice
● Sagacity
● Prudence
● Temperance
● Resolution
● Truth
● Liberality
● Diligence
● Hope
● Valor
Unfortunately (for the commoners of the era), the codes of chivalry were also a means of reinforcing class distinctions. The courtly nobility wanted to retain their social hierarchy and developed knighthoods to create a warrior class that could only be accessed with the right family lineage, training, and - above all - money because becoming a knight and buying the armor and weaponry was an expensive undertaking.
Various codes of chivalry also created consequences for breaking the codes. If a knight was found guilty of treason, cowardice, or other dishonorable behaviors, he could have his family name or coat of arms removed or his armor smashed to bits, forever shaming his name and family.
"… if we should die today, then dream a dream of heaven
Take your northern heart with you to the grave
Be proud and true you are a Union soldier
Stand fast, ye are the boys of Maine…"
On 7 Jun 2019, the "Ballad of the 20th Maine" (not written and composed by Griffin Sherry until 2015) became Maine’s official State Ballad by an act of Governor Janet Mills. Organized from the Maine Volunteer Militia in August 1862, the 20th Maine mustered into Federal service several weeks later. The precursor regiment's enlistments ran up in 1863, but about half the unit had signed papers to serve for the three years, so they were amalgamated into the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment raised primarily from the Brewer area. Assigned to the Army of the Potomac, the regiment fought in the Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville campaigns. At Gettysburg, the 20th was commanded by Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain (aka "the Lion of Bowdoin"), a former professor at Maine's Bowdoin College.
After marching all day and night to reach Gettysburg, the regiment was ordered late in the afternoon of 2 Jul to occupy critical terrain between two hills, Big and Little Round Top. Chamberlain was ordered to hold this position on the extreme left flank of the Union line at all costs; if outflanked by Confederates, the entire Union position would be in jeopardy. It was not long before the 15th and 47th Alabama Regiments attacked. The 20th Maine held off six attacks by the determined Alabama men, but Colonel Chamberlain knew that his regiment, low on ammunition, could not withstand the seventh. He, therefore, ordered a counterattack with fixed bayonets, and the 20th charged down the slopes of Little Round Top into the startled Confederates and broke their attack. The 20th Maine took an estimated 400 prisoners and stopped the Confederate threat to the Union flank. The crucial role these Maine militiamen played in the Union victory at Gettysburg exemplifies the military qualities of leadership, initiative, unit cohesion, and gallantry. Joshua Chamberlain was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions of 2 Jul 1863.
At Appomattox Courthouse almost two years later, it was Brevet Major General Chamberlain, chosen to accept the Confederate surrender, who ordered Union troops to present arms to their former enemy as a matter of respect. After the war, Chamberlain was elected Governor of Maine and completed his military career as a major general in the Maine National Guard. The heritage of the 20th Maine is carried on today by the 133d Engineer Battalion, Maine Army National Guard. The 20th Maine regiment was mustered out of service on 16 Jun 1865. Out of a total enlistment of 1,621 men, nine officers and 138 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, and one officer with 145 enlisted men dying of disease; 15 were in Confederate prisons.
"The lesson impressed on me as I stand here and my heart and mind traverse your faces, and the years that are gone is that in a great, momentous struggle like this commemorated here, it is a character that tells. I do not mean simply or chiefly bravery. Many a man has that, who may become surprised or disconcerted at a sudden change in the posture of affairs. What I mean by character is a firm and seasoned substance of soul. I mean such qualities or acquirements as intelligence, thoughtfulness, conscientiousness, right-mindedness, patience, fortitude, long-suffering and unconquerable resolve."
Using those words, in part, for his speech at the dedication of the 20th Maine’s monument at Gettysburg in 1889, Joshua Chamberlain observed a fragment of the experience the combatants endured in 1863. And, what better manner to have described those events than his recounting of that episode of war: "I am sorry to have heard it intimated that any hesitated when [my] order was given. That was not so. No man hesitated. There might be an appearance of it to those who do not understand the whole situation. The left-wing bent back like an oxbow, or sharp lunette, had to take some little time to come up into the line of our general front so as to form the close, continuous edge which was to strike like a sword cut upon the enemy's ranks. By the time they had got up and straightened the line, the center and salient, you may be sure, were already in motion. Nobody hesitated to obey the order. In fact, to tell the truth, the order was never given or imperfectly. The enemy was already pressing up the slope. There was only time or need for the words, ‘Bayonet! Forward to the right!’ The quick-witted and tense-nerved men caught the words out of my lips, and almost the action out of my hands." The 20th Maine Reg. 3d Brig. 1st. Div. 5th Corps, under the command of Colonel Chamberlain, captured and held this position on the evening of 2 Jul 1863, pursuing the enemy from its front on the line marked by its monument below. The Regiment reportedly lost in the battle, with 130 killed and wounded out of 358 engaged. This monument at Gettysburg National Military Park marks the extreme left of the Union line during the battle of the third day.
On 2 Aug 1862, the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment was organized at Portland and mustered in under the command of Colonel Adelbert Ames and Lieutenant Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain. The regiment left for Alexandria, Virginia, attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. In September, at the Battle of Shepherdstown, Corporal Waterhouse became the regiment’s first casualty when he was wounded in the foot. Two other men were wounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlain lost the first of many horses shot from under him during the Civil War. In December of that year at Fredericksburg, the regiment lost four men killed and 32 wounded, charging the deadly Confederate defenses on Marye’s Heights late in the day on the 13th and spending the next day and two nights lying in the open in front of enemy positions. The 20th Maine was one of the last regiments to retreat back across the Rappahannock, serving as a rear guard for the army. The regiment missed the battle at Chancellorsville in May 1863 due to being under smallpox quarantine. Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlain pleaded with Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield to put the men into the fight and was refused. Chamberlain replied, "If we couldn’t do anything else, we would give the Rebels the smallpox!" Instead, the regiment was assigned to guard duty on the telegraph line from headquarters to United States Ford, although Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlain joined the First Division for the fight and lost another horse shot from underneath him.
Following on the storied engagement at Gettysburg, the 20th continued to fight in battles chiefly at Bristoe, Rappahannock Station, Mile Run campaign, Battle of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Springs Church, First Hatcher’s Run, Dabney Mills, White Oak Road, Five Forks, Red River Campaign, Seven Days Battles and High Bridge before advancing to the surrender of General Lee’s CSA forces at Appomattox on 9 Apr 1985. On 16 Jul of that same year, the Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel Ellis Spear after having marched in the Grand Review at Washington, DC.
20th Maine’s predecessor parent unit, "Maine’s Regiment," the 133rd Engineer Battalion (est. 1760-1803), consisting of nine Companies, a Detachment, and two Sections, is represented on Army TWS by 69 registered members. Their DUI insignia of today bolsters the original spirit felt by those who served in the unit’s heroic confrontations 162 years ago.
Many books have been written about the 20th Maine, starting soon after the war ended in the late 1800s up to and including most recently:
Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences, by: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain;
Stand Firm Ye Boys from Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign, by Thomas A. Desjardin;
In the Hands of Providence: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the American Civil War, by Alice Rains Trulock;
With a Flash of his Sword: The Writings of Maj. Holman S. Melcher, 20th Maine Infantry, Edited by William B. Styple.
Monuments and memorials to the 20th are likewise numerous, including ones at
Gorham, ME, Colby College, Salisbury NC prison camp and at Andersonville. Documentary films and videos featuring this unit most well-known have included "Gettysburg" (1993), "Gods and Generals" (2003), "Some Nights" (2012), and "Lions in Blue and Gray: Joshua Chamberlain and Stonewall Jackson" (2024).
I have found a number of Battle Buddies that I lost touch with. It is good to see that they are doing well and see how their career progressed since I have seen them. This is a great way to connect with my fellow military members.
Served 2002-2022
Whether you're flush with cash or an average person, you should consider developing an estate plan to make sure your wishes are carried out after you're gone.
Over the years, we've all seen or heard about families fighting in court over estates of wealthy celebrities, such as singer Michael Jackson or baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams. But the truth is, these battles can happen in anyone's family.
Estate Planning Description: The illustration shows the five main documents that comprise an estate plan, which are: Health Care Power of Attorney Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney Beneficiary Designations, and a Living Will (also known as a Directive to Physicians). Depending on your age and individual circumstances, you may also consider having: Letter of Instruction Inventory of Assets and Liabilities, a Revocable Living Trust, and Other Trusts for Gifting Control and Estate Planning
Highlights
Complete legal documents.
Consult an attorney.
Consider establishing a trust.
Sometimes, people mistakenly believe that estate planning is only for the rich and famous. That belief couldn't be further from the truth.
One key to any well-established plan is the same for everyone: Have the right paperwork that's up to date. You may need the following five important documents as part of your plan.
Five documents you may need
A will allows you to:
Distribute assets and property in accordance with your wishes.
Designate an executor of your estate, such as a trusted relative, friend or corporate executor, saving the cost of a court-appointed attorney.
Choose a guardian for your minor children.
A living will generally allows you to express your wishes with respect to certain types of medical treatment, such as life support if you're terminally ill.
A durable power of attorney for finances designates a person you trust to make financial decisions and pay your bills if you become incapacitated.
A medical power of attorney authorizes a person to make medical decisions on your behalf, including wishes expressed in your living will.
A letter of instruction is an informal, nonlegal document that helps surviving family members put your affairs in order, from making funeral arrangements to canceling credit card accounts and paying other bills. It even can include personal thoughts and instructions, such as how to care for a prized orchid collection or what's in a safe deposit box.
Once these basic documents are in place, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your affairs are in order. As time passes and your life changes, you need to keep them up to date.
It's not one and done when it comes to estate planning. Your documents should be reviewed at least every three to five years to ensure they still reflect your wishes and current laws.
Consider establishing a trust.
Beyond the basic documents, establishing a trust may be the next major step in your overall estate plan. Here are a few situations where a trust may be appropriate:
Blended families. Trusts could help ensure that your assets go to those you intend.
Minor children. For example, a testamentary trust as part of your will can specify when a child is to receive an inheritance and how the money is to be spent. Trusts also can help provide for children with special needs by paying for expenses not covered by government programs.
Real estate in more than one state. A trust can help avoid the attorney and court fees associated with going through probate in each state where you own property.
Life insurance. Trusts can hold life insurance intended to pay estate taxes, equalize the value of inheritances for business owners or create liquidity for other purposes.
Where to go for help
Consult an attorney. While many estate planning documents may be available online, consider hiring an attorney experienced in estate planning to prepare customized documents or at least review online forms you're working to complete.
Active-duty service members and their dependents as well as retired or disabled service members and their dependents may be eligible to take advantage of no-cost legal assistance. Commonly known as JAG, this service can include estate planning. To find a general legal services provider within the continental United States, visit the U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance Locator.See note1
For more education or to find a local attorney who specializes in estate planning, visit the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
The year 1983 was a mixed one for the United States Marine Corps. Some 220 Marines were killed in the Beirut Barracks Bombing, marking the deadliest single day for the Corps since the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. On the other hand, Marines were a critical component to the success of Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. invasion of Grenada, which took place just days apart from the barracks bombing in Lebanon.
Still, despite the looming threats of war with the Soviet Union or international terrorism, the Marine Corps had no trouble meeting its recruiting goals in 1984, and much of that was due, at least in part, to the posture of its Commander-In-Chief, President Ronald Reagan.
At the time, the Corps' recruiting campaigns relied heavily on advertisements and in-person recruiting stations at high schools. So it's not really known how it came to be, but one day, the 73-year-old President of the United States received a letter from the Marine Corps, inviting him to join its prestigious ranks.
President Reagan did serve in the military when he was of military age. He joined the Army Reserve in 1937, first as a Private and later as a Second Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps. As war with Japan loomed in 1941, Reagan was called up for active service but kept getting studio-funded deferrals so he could complete filming "Kings Row." When production wrapped, Reagan answered the call.
Reagan was soon transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces, where he became a Public Affairs Officer and continued to make films, some 400 training films for the U.S. Army's First Motion Picture Unit, set up by studio mogul Jack Warner. He also participated in war bond drives and the production of Army newsreels for the duration of the war. No one was shooting at him, but the job needed to be done (he would otherwise be unsuited for duty, given his poor eyesight).
But Reagan believed his 1984 invitation to become a United States Marine came "as a result of a Lance Corporal's overactive imagination." While he was probably correct about the letter coming to him as a joke, Reagan still sent a response letter to the then-Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Paul X. Kelley, declining the invitation.
"I regret that I must decline the attached invitation to enlist in the United States Marine Corps," Reagan wrote. "As proud as I am of the inference concerning my physical fitness, it might be better to continue as Commander-in-Chief. Besides, at the present time, it would be rather difficult to spend ten weeks at Parris Island."
The President also joked about the timing of the letter, which informed him that if he had joined six months earlier, he would be leading an entirely different life. He agreed, noting that the Democratic Party would be thrilled with the idea but that Nancy is happy with their new house and that he is satisfied with his current job.
Reagan also thanked the Lance Corporal who arranged to send the letter, saying, "he honored me in believing that I have what it takes to become a United States Marine."
When I first found TWS, which was completely by accident (surfing the web), it was as a result of my attempt to locate many missing Brothers in Arms that I had served with. Now, being somewhat of a computer geek, I was not very inclined to signing or "getting on board" with yet another website that touted its military association. However, after deciding (through frustration, if nothing else) to sign up, I began to realize that not only was the site an attractive site, but it was well thought-out and well-maintained as well. Thus began my "affair" with TWS. At first, in order to avoid having to pay anything, I started an effort to bring on board as many new participants as possible. But mind, this was partly due to the fact that I had already located more of my missing com-padres than any other previous source; thus, my motivation was supportable. Although I will say I do not "live" on the site as much as I used to, I have been a proactive member of its content and affairs, having attended TWS events and site change involvement. I have also become a lifetime member (what'd I tell you, it must have presented a viable enough purpose to have me pocket the Lifetime Membership). I tell people that I recommend TWS for a couple of very solid reasons: Firstly, because it is the single best website for Marines (and other services) to locate missing fellow service members; secondly, because it is the best designed and maintained (military-related) website I have seen; thirdly because it is "fluid;" constantly changing and finding ways to improve its services, esthetics, and purpose.
MSgt George Sidler US Marine Corps (Ret)
Served 1973-2000
Honor Flight is a non-profit organization that recognizes American veterans for their sacrifices and achievements by flying them to Washington, D.C., to see the war memorials at no cost to the Veterans. Top priority is given to WWII and terminally ill veterans from all wars and then to Korean War Veterans, Veterans of other conflicts who may be terminally ill, and Vietnam War Veterans as seats are made available. In order for Honor Flight to achieve its goal, Guardians will fly with the veterans on every flight, providing assistance and helping veterans have a safe, memorable, and rewarding experience for their service to our Nation. The Honor Flight program is a nonprofit organization, and they want you to consider going on an Honor Flight as a token of their appreciation.
The Honor Flight Staff and Board of Directors do a tremendous amount of work and coordination to put on these Honor Flights. Just think of what's involved in making the trip, including air travel to get all the Veterans, Guardians, and Staff on the same flights, making hotel reservations, getting all the meals, ground transportation, etc., for a large size group of veterans, their Guardians, and support staff.
Honor Flights have Hubs in all states except Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Hawaii. If you live in one of the states that don't offer Honor Flights, you can submit an application from a neighboring state that offers this service.
I was honored this year to be selected to go on an Honor Flight from the Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico Hub. All I can say is this trip was truly an outstanding experience, especially meeting and getting to know the other veterans on this Honor Flight who served in WWII, the Korean War, and, like me, in the Vietnam War. I had applied to go on an Honor Flight a couple of years ago and received a call in May 2023 saying I was selected to go. I was pretty excited to get the call one evening, and the Board of Directors from Honor Flight calling me was just as excited as I was.
On our trip to Washington, D.C., the group of Veterans consisted of two WWII Veterans, eight Korean War Veterans, 15 Vietnam Veterans, our Guardians, a Flight Nurse, seven Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico Staff/Board Members, plus a newspaper reporter from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
We were all treated like royalty the entire trip with our Guardians watching over all of us. Here's a photo of the two WWII Army Veterans on our trip. The Army veteran on the left is Tommy Jewell and his son Tommy, Jr., who was his Guardian and is a former Judge in New Mexico. Tommy is 98 years young and fought in the Pacific during WWII. On the right is Felix Coca, 97 years young, who served in the Navy in both the Pacific and in Europe during WWII. His Guardian was his Grandson, Michael Beltran. Felix' own father served in the U.S. Army during World War I.
During the trip, as I mentioned above, each Veteran is paired with a Guardian who has volunteered their time toward the effort in getting you to Washington, D.C., and home. They ensure all of the Veteran's needs are met. Guardians pay their own way and a portion of their donation is tax deductible and covers all costs associated with the entire trip. The donation amount that each Guardian pays to go on an Honor Flights is different in each state, but again, the Veteran doesn't pay anything to go on an Honor Flight. I didn't select a Guardian for my Honor Flight so the Honor Flight organization here in New Mexico selected one for me. These Guardians really love what they do for us veterans and actually some of the Guardians on our trip were veterans themselves.
I attended a pre-flight meeting about 2-weeks before our flight would take us to Washington, D.C. and I met my Guardian, her name was Bethann Preston. Bethann has done 10 Honor Flights so far and she said she will do another one next month on the East Coast. She's really motivated and made my trip really enjoyable and fun! Her Father was a WWII Army-Tank Commander in Europe and was the sole survivor when his tank came under attack. Every Veteran is required to have a guardian for their trip. You can consider your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter as your Guardian. Guardians must be 18 years of age and older. If you don't have a guardian, Honor Flight has a waiting list of those who are available and ready to travel with you.
Here's a photo of my Guardian, Bethann Preston, and myself at a dinner banquet at the Hilton Hotel after our visit to Washington, D.C.
Your Guardian is there to help with everything and ensure you have an unforgettable experience on your visit to Washington, D.C.
Because our group of veterans is located in the state of New Mexico, our trip was a total of three days, which two of those days was travel. If you live closer to Washington, D.C., and go on an Honor Flight, it could be for just one day…it all depends on the distance you live from Washington, D.C. We left on a Tuesday morning and arrived at the Baltimore-Washington Airport that night and stayed at the Baltimore Hilton. On Wednesday morning, we all assembled with our Guardians and boarded buses heading to Washington, D.C. On Thursday, we started our trip back home, and it was a true "Welcome Home" Celebration when we arrived back in Albuquerque.
I don't want to give away all the secret things we encountered on the trip, because if you happen to go, I want you to experience everything we experienced during the trip. All I can say is this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that you can only experience with other veterans.
Again, the Honor Flight trip to our Nation's Capital is free of charge to the veterans and includes airfare, lodging, meals, and all transportation within the Washington, D.C. area.
My Honor Flight flew from Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ) to Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport. We had a lot of well-wishers greeting us at the BWI airport, and that was really nice and touching. We stayed at the BWI Hilton Hotel, which was close to the airport.
Veterans were paired with other veterans in the hotel rooms, and the Guardians were paired with other Guardians. My roommate was also a Navy Vietnam Veteran. The following morning, after breakfast, we all boarded buses heading to the WWII War Memorial in Washington, D.C. After our visit to the WWII Memorial, we walked down to the Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial and saw the Washington Monument.
We had lunch near the Korean War Veterans Memorial and then boarded buses for Arlington National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
We boarded buses again and went to the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, and then to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. We headed back to the Hilton Hotel in Baltimore, arriving at approximately 1800. We all met for a banquet dinner at 1900 and went back to our rooms around 2100. Here are a few photos taken while on this tour of the Nation's Capital and War Memorials:
World War II War Memorial
The Price of Freedom Plaque at WWII War Memorial
World War II War Memorial Wall with Stars
World War II Wall of Stars
Vietnam War Memorial Wall
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Arlington National Cemetery
Audie Murphy's headstone Arlington National Cemetery Near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
Air Force Memorial
National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial (You can call and listen to the prerecorded messages that explains the building of the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and the significance of the Memorial. Please Call 202-741-1004 to hear the prerecorded messages.) National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial lists names of those killed in the Pentagon and those who were on American Airlines Flight 77
The next morning, we had breakfast, packed our suitcases, and headed back to the airport for home.
When we arrived back at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, we were met by the news media and many individuals welcoming us home and thanking us for our Service, including active-duty military personnel escorting us from the gate to our families.
Each one of us Veterans was treated like Kings, and our Guardians were especially helpful for taking care of us during the entire trip, never letting us get out of their sights. A big "Bravo Zulu" to the Honor Flight Staff and our volunteer Guardians. "Bravo Zulu" is a Naval Signal, conveyed by flag-hoist or voice radio, meaning "well done." All of the Staff members and some of the Guardians have full-time jobs in addition to families, and they still volunteer their time and energy to help the Veterans take a trip of a lifetime to the Nation's Capital to visit the War Memorials and Monuments.
There are Honor Flight Hubs throughout the U.S., and if you're interested in signing up, please read the information below. There's almost an Honor Flight Organization (they call Hubs) in each state, and some states have two or more Honor Flight Hubs. Please go to https://www.honorflight.org and click on "Find a Hub," and you will see where every state has an Honor Flight Hub. There are only six states without Honor Flight organizations, and they are Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Hawaii. There's a Schedule Tab on the Honor Flights Homepage where you can see a list of all scheduled Honor Flights throughout the Nation and when they travel to the Nation's Capital.
Honor Flight now offers an easy ONLINE way to apply as a veteran. The form is easy to use, and just go to the following website: https://loneeagle.honorapps.org/public/veteran-registration to get started, or you can go to your state's Honor Flight Hub to sign up.
You can also go to the Honor Flight Homepage, click on "Lone Eagle and TLC Programs," and click on "APPLY NOW" at the top of the screen. If you prefer to download, print, and mail the veteran application, you can download it by going to the following website: https://www.loneeagle.honorapps.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/07/Lone-Eagle-Veteran-Application2022.pdf The waiting list to get called varies from state to state so the state you apply it will normally tell you how long the wait time is.
Honor Flight will call you once your name in line has been reached.
Bob Barnett is a retired Command Master Chief and Chairman of the Swift Boat Sailors Association and a Director for the Association of the United States Navy.
The acrid smell of cordite
Still hovered in the air.
No breeze to wash away
The scent of Satan’s hair.
The Medivacs are fading now,
Cabins filled with dead.
So many grisly pictures
Surging through my head
Another hill’s been taken
The earth all charred and black
We all know what’s coming;
Tomorrow…” Give it back!”
The Eagle cries from barren trees
His tears, he cannot hide.
Where once a proud, young soldier stood
My Warrior Brother, died
The scorched ground that surrounds me;
Am I in Dante’s Hell?
This skirmish now is over
We saw them as they fell.
My Warrior Brother, Donny,
Died that gruesome day.
He took the bullets meant for me
With his final words did say,
“Tell Mom and Sis I loved them!
Please! Don’t let me down!”
I promised I would tell them
A promise I’d soon drown.
The Eagle cried that tragic day,
Back in Sixty-Eight.
A promise made… un-kept,
To my Warrior mate.
One thing that I’m sure of,
A thing that gives no rest.
The hounds of Hell still battle
Deep within my chest.
A bottle’d been my address
For forty years or more.
I’d take ‘most any drug,
I couldn’t find the door.
Somewhere there’s a record,
Of drugs and booze and tears.
When I crawled out of the bottle
I’d been buried in for years.
Half a decade sober.
Not a real long time.
That’s how long I’m clean tho’,
My life’s becoming mine.
The winds of war are blowing by;
In history books they last.
I’m in the winter of my years,
My best days... they have passed.
One thing that I’ve never done
One thing I cannot face:
To visit the Memorial,
The headstone for that place.
My daughter said, “You have to go,
To honor those who died!”
I said “I know I should…”
And that I’d go… I lied
Then one day the phone rang;
A call I knew I’d dread.
It was Donny’s sister,
“Please help me!” Karen pled.
“I’ve spent these years just searching;
I even hired a sleuth.
I finally found out where you live…
I need to know the truth.”
“The Army’s always been real vague,
And their answers never matched.
I need to know what happened;
They always seemed detached”
“Our Mother has passed on now,
But I still need to know;
I’d really love to meet with you,
Please…just tell me how!”
The hounds of Hell are roused again;
Their howling has re-started.
I force their shrieks out of my mind,
My path, it has been charted
Quiet now, you dogs of war!
It's time for a new quest!
It's time for me to wrestle you,
And lay your souls to rest!
Then I thought the one thing,
A thought I'd never say,
Should I meet her at The Wall,
And put my hounds at bay?
I finally said I’d meet with her,
With a voice that was not mine.
“The Wall is where I’ll meet you.
I’ll see you there at nine.”
I saw flowers in her hand,
As she walked my way.
“Yellow roses were his favorite.”
Later she would say.
“Hello, my name is Karen.”
She said when we did meet
“Donny wrote me many things,
I knew that you’d be sweet!”
“I know this must be hard for you,
But I really need to know.
Please tell me how my brother died,
That day, so long ago.”
The moment had arrived.
I could hide this fact no more.
I said things I’d kept hidden,
Behind my mind’s locked door
She took my hand in hers,
And waited patiently.
My head bowed down as I thought
Of the words I had to say.
I knew my words would stab her heart
But she would not look away.
She watched me as I told her
Of that ghastly day.
“Your Brother died in my arms
In that nameless place.
He took the bullets meant for me
And died as we embraced!”
Her head dropped down, when I was done
Her chin upon her chest.
A single tear rolled down her cheek,
“Now Donny’s laid to rest”
I walked with her as she made her way
To the Wall of Stone.
She laid the flowers at the base
Her silent prayer was sown.
At last I’ve honored those who fell,
Whose names are etched in rows.
We touched the name of Donny,
Who died so long ago.
And we cried…
The Eagle’s cry is heard again;
It lives within the Wall!
Each time a name is touched
The Eagle gives his call.
© Richard Turton 2014
All Rights Reserved
Note from Editor- This poem is presented without photos. We felt the words painted a vision that no photos could do justice to.
Brian Dickinson is a former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer who specialized in combat search and rescue. His military experience is not the most difficult situation he's ever faced. For six years, he served as a rescue swimmer, but in his post-military career, he has climbed some of the most challenging mountains in the world, including Denali, Kilimanjaro, and even the Sentinel Range in Antarctica.
In 2011, Dickinson climbed Mount Everest by himself, which was a difficult challenge in itself, but on his way down, he became snowblind and had to make his way down the world's highest and most dangerous peak solo and without eyesight. In a sojourn that should have taken three hours, he climbed hand-over-hand for seven hours. In that time he fell and lost his oxygen too. With what he calls a "determined faith and focus," he arrived safely back to the campsite and survived.
"Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest" is the story of his powerful and bold decision to persevere in the face of ultimate adversity.
Summiting Everest is a gut check for even the most hardy and experienced climbers. When Dickinson undertook his climb to the world's tallest peak, his Sherpa got ill and had to turn back just as the duo entered Everest's "death zone," where oxygen can no longer fully support human life, some 1,000 feet from the summit. Faced with the decision to press on or turn back, he decided he would climb the peak solo. He did it, took his photos, and radioed back to his camp that he was on his way back.
Then, at 29,035 feet, his eyes began to sting, his vision blurred, and he found himself alone and blind in one of the deadliest areas on Earth. He turned to his Navy survival training and his faith in God to see him through as he crawled back to safety. Today, he uses this experience as a motivational speaker to inspire audiences to overcome adversity and the obstacles in their own lives, to plan for what's beyond their control, and to push themselves beyond what they believe are their personal limits. He also helps others create and maintain new perspectives on their own lives and abilities through his many stories of survival both in and out of the Navy.
Readers call "Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest" inspirational and refreshing. Dickinson's story is one that hooks readers from very early on and keeps them engaged and intrigued throughout his entire fight for survival. Even experienced mountaineers agree that "Blind Descent" is a must-read for anyone who climbs mountains, especially those thinking of summiting Everest.
"Blind Descent: Surviving Alone and Blind on Mount Everest" is available on Amazon for around $11.00 for the Audible audiobook and $14.90 for the paperback version. Anyone interested in more information about Dickinson, his career, his speeches, or his faith can visit his website at BrianDickinson.net or listen to his podcast, "Calm in the Chaos—U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer Podcast," on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or Amazon.
Tragically, her years-long career in gathering intelligence is not the only legacy she leaves behind. Kent would become the first female service member killed in Syria when an ISIS suicide bomber attacked a restaurant in the northern Syrian city of Manbij in 2019. The 35-year-old left behind a husband and two children. 
In lieu of attending the doctoral program, she deployed to Syria in November 2018 to continue her secretive intelligence-gathering work with the Navy's Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66. Their mission was to track the remnants of ISIS still operating in the country despite being systematically dismantled and destroyed in the years preceding her deployment. It would be her fifth combat tour.
The Spanish-American War was declared in April 1898, sparked by the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor due to an explosion that was, at the time, believed to be caused by a Spanish mine (it was later ruled an accident). Spurred on by the sensational American press, the United States blockaded Cuba in retaliation, and Spain declared war in return. Guam had already fallen to U.S. forces, and Americans had already landed in the Philippines by the time U.S. Marines landed at Guantánamo Bay on June 10, 1898. 
At the outset of the war, Spanish troops in Cuba were largely inexperienced but had very experienced officers who had been fighting insurgents for years. They were carrying new breech-loaded, bolt-action repeating rifles with smokeless cartridges, and Spanish artillery were also more than capable of supporting their infantry. 
A Spanish blockhouse dominated San Juan Hill, the higher of the two hills that dominated the San Juan Heights. As casualties began to mount, 1st Lt. Jules Garesche Ord led the 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers), the 24th (Colored) Infantry Regiment and the 6th, 9th and 13th Infantry Regiments up San Juan Hill, supported by the Army's first-ever Gatling Gun detachments providing cover fire for their advance. At 150 yards from the crest of the hill, the advance turned into a charge. 
Meanwhile, the Gatling Guns were having a devastating effect. Some 18,000 rounds were fired in less than nine minutes, eviscerating the Spanish and causing them to flee their positions at the top of Kettle Hill. The Black regiments were the first to arrive at its crest, and the rest soon followed, intermingling in their success. A lieutenant in command of the 10th Cavalry at the Battle of San Juan Hill, the future General of the Armies of the United States, John J. Pershing, would later remark:
In the modern day, we tend to think of knights as virtuous and honorable, but in the knights' heyday, they were actually like medieval tanks who could wreak havoc on unarmed populations whenever they wanted - and they often did. They were often hired mercenaries who were promised money or land in return for serving what we would today call a warlord. By 1100, churches all over Europe began to pray for God's help in delivering them from the whims of roving knights - and that deliverance would come in the form of romantic storytelling. 
But when the newly restored emperor was deposed and killed by a popular uprising, and the knights were no longer going to be paid, they decided to sack Constantinople, one of the holiest cities in Christendom, instead. The city and the Byzantine Empire would never fully recover, and Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands. 
Unfortunately (for the commoners of the era), the codes of chivalry were also a means of reinforcing class distinctions. The courtly nobility wanted to retain their social hierarchy and developed knighthoods to create a warrior class that could only be accessed with the right family lineage, training, and - above all - money because becoming a knight and buying the armor and weaponry was an expensive undertaking. 
After marching all day and night to reach Gettysburg, the regiment was ordered late in the afternoon of 2 Jul to occupy critical terrain between two hills, Big and Little Round Top. Chamberlain was ordered to hold this position on the extreme left flank of the Union line at all costs; if outflanked by Confederates, the entire Union position would be in jeopardy. It was not long before the 15th and 47th Alabama Regiments attacked. The 20th Maine held off six attacks by the determined Alabama men, but Colonel Chamberlain knew that his regiment, low on ammunition, could not withstand the seventh. He, therefore, ordered a counterattack with fixed bayonets, and the 20th charged down the slopes of Little Round Top into the startled Confederates and broke their attack. The 20th Maine took an estimated 400 prisoners and stopped the Confederate threat to the Union flank. The crucial role these Maine militiamen played in the Union victory at Gettysburg exemplifies the military qualities of leadership, initiative, unit cohesion, and gallantry. Joshua Chamberlain was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions of 2 Jul 1863.
Using those words, in part, for his speech at the dedication of the 20th Maine’s monument at Gettysburg in 1889, Joshua Chamberlain observed a fragment of the experience the combatants endured in 1863. And, what better manner to have described those events than his recounting of that episode of war: "I am sorry to have heard it intimated that any hesitated when [my] order was given. That was not so. No man hesitated. There might be an appearance of it to those who do not understand the whole situation. The left-wing bent back like an oxbow, or sharp lunette, had to take some little time to come up into the line of our general front so as to form the close, continuous edge which was to strike like a sword cut upon the enemy's ranks. By the time they had got up and straightened the line, the center and salient, you may be sure, were already in motion. Nobody hesitated to obey the order. In fact, to tell the truth, the order was never given or imperfectly. The enemy was already pressing up the slope. There was only time or need for the words, ‘Bayonet! Forward to the right!’ The quick-witted and tense-nerved men caught the words out of my lips, and almost the action out of my hands." The 20th Maine Reg. 3d Brig. 1st. Div. 5th Corps, under the command of Colonel Chamberlain, captured and held this position on the evening of 2 Jul 1863, pursuing the enemy from its front on the line marked by its monument below. The Regiment reportedly lost in the battle, with 130 killed and wounded out of 358 engaged. This monument at Gettysburg National Military Park marks the extreme left of the Union line during the battle of the third day.
Following on the storied engagement at Gettysburg, the 20th continued to fight in battles chiefly at Bristoe, Rappahannock Station, Mile Run campaign, Battle of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Springs Church, First Hatcher’s Run, Dabney Mills, White Oak Road, Five Forks, Red River Campaign, Seven Days Battles and High Bridge before advancing to the surrender of General Lee’s CSA forces at Appomattox on 9 Apr 1985. On 16 Jul of that same year, the Regiment mustered out under the command of Colonel Ellis Spear after having marched in the Grand Review at Washington, DC. 
Many books have been written about the 20th Maine, starting soon after the war ended in the late 1800s up to and including most recently:
Over the years, we've all seen or heard about families fighting in court over estates of wealthy celebrities, such as singer Michael Jackson or baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams. But the truth is, these battles can happen in anyone's family.
Five documents you may need
Still, despite the looming threats of war with the Soviet Union or international terrorism, the Marine Corps had no trouble meeting its recruiting goals in 1984, and much of that was due, at least in part, to the posture of its Commander-In-Chief, President Ronald Reagan. 
But Reagan believed his 1984 invitation to become a United States Marine came "as a result of a Lance Corporal's overactive imagination." While he was probably correct about the letter coming to him as a joke, Reagan still sent a response letter to the then-Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Paul X. Kelley, declining the invitation. 
The Honor Flight Staff and Board of Directors do a tremendous amount of work and coordination to put on these Honor Flights. Just think of what's involved in making the trip, including air travel to get all the Veterans, Guardians, and Staff on the same flights, making hotel reservations, getting all the meals, ground transportation, etc., for a large size group of veterans, their Guardians, and support staff. 
We were all treated like royalty the entire trip with our Guardians watching over all of us. Here's a photo of the two WWII Army Veterans on our trip. The Army veteran on the left is Tommy Jewell and his son Tommy, Jr., who was his Guardian and is a former Judge in New Mexico. Tommy is 98 years young and fought in the Pacific during WWII. On the right is Felix Coca, 97 years young, who served in the Navy in both the Pacific and in Europe during WWII. His Guardian was his Grandson, Michael Beltran. Felix' own father served in the U.S. Army during World War I. 
Here's a photo of my Guardian, Bethann Preston, and myself at a dinner banquet at the Hilton Hotel after our visit to Washington, D.C. 
Veterans were paired with other veterans in the hotel rooms, and the Guardians were paired with other Guardians. My roommate was also a Navy Vietnam Veteran. The following morning, after breakfast, we all boarded buses heading to the WWII War Memorial in Washington, D.C. After our visit to the WWII Memorial, we walked down to the Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial and saw the Washington Monument. 
Each one of us Veterans was treated like Kings, and our Guardians were especially helpful for taking care of us during the entire trip, never letting us get out of their sights. A big "Bravo Zulu" to the Honor Flight Staff and our volunteer Guardians. "Bravo Zulu" is a Naval Signal, conveyed by flag-hoist or voice radio, meaning "well done." All of the Staff members and some of the Guardians have full-time jobs in addition to families, and they still volunteer their time and energy to help the Veterans take a trip of a lifetime to the Nation's Capital to visit the War Memorials and Monuments. 
Brian Dickinson is a former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer who specialized in combat search and rescue. His military experience is not the most difficult situation he's ever faced. For six years, he served as a rescue swimmer, but in his post-military career, he has climbed some of the most challenging mountains in the world, including Denali, Kilimanjaro, and even the Sentinel Range in Antarctica.
Then, at 29,035 feet, his eyes began to sting, his vision blurred, and he found himself alone and blind in one of the deadliest areas on Earth. He turned to his Navy survival training and his faith in God to see him through as he crawled back to safety. Today, he uses this experience as a motivational speaker to inspire audiences to overcome adversity and the obstacles in their own lives, to plan for what's beyond their control, and to push themselves beyond what they believe are their personal limits. He also helps others create and maintain new perspectives on their own lives and abilities through his many stories of survival both in and out of the Navy.