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Articles by Ward Carroll
Punk's Force
Tony Peak writes science fiction, fantasy, & LitRPG novels. He is the author of Inherit the Stars, the Eden Trilogy, the Redshift Runners trilogy, and more works of speculative fiction. His interests include progressive thinking, storytelling in all mediums, and planetary exploration. He resides in southwest Virginia with a great view of New River.
4 things that made the F-16 Fighting Falcon years ahead of its time
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was originally designed to be a daytime air superiority fighter, but over the decades of its service life, it has evolved into an all-weather, multi-role attack platform. The first F-16 rolled off the manufacturing line in 1976, and ultimately more than 4,500 aircraft followed it.
The Inside Story on the F-22's Chinese Spy Balloon Kill
What you think about this story? The Inside Story on the F-22's Chinese Spy Balloon Kill
That time a fighter pilot ejected into a thunderstorm and rode the lightning
Marine Corps Lt. Col. William H. Rankin had flown combat flight operations in both World War II and the Korean War, but it wasn’t enemy fire that came closest to killing him during his military flying career. It was a summer thunderstorm over the east coast of the United States.
11 fighter pilot rules that can be applied to everyday life
Fighter pilots have a lot of cool sayings like, “Don’t ask somebody if he’s a fighter pilot. If he is, he’ll tell you. If he’s not, why embarrass him?” and “Faster fighters, older whiskey, younger women,” but not all of these can be applied to real life. Fortunately, they also have a few saying that can be applied to real life. Here are 11 of them: 1.
The 5 Most Beloved Sidearms in US Military History
When ground fighting gets close, warfighters reach for their sidearms to save the day. Here are five of the most widely used and beloved pistols in U.S. military history: 1. Harper’s Ferry Model 1805 (Photo: NRA Museum) The first pistol manufactured by a national armory, the Model 1805 was a. 54 caliber, single-shot, smoothbore, flintlock issued to officers. Known as “horsemen’s pistols,” they were produced in pairs, each one bearing the same serial number.
The 5 most beloved sidearms in US military history
When ground fighting gets close, warfighters reach for their sidearms to save the day. Here are five of the most widely used and beloved pistols in U.S. military history 1. Harper’s Ferry Model 1805 The first pistol manufactured by a national armory, the Model 1805 was a. 54 caliber, single-shot, smoothbore, flintlock issued to officers. Known as “horsemen’s pistols,” they were produced in pairs, each one bearing the same serial number.
This Libyan MiG Shootdown by F-14s Was Both Heroic and Gooned Up
Back in the ’80s – before 9/11 when the U.S. military’s focus shifted completely to the Middle East – aircraft carriers used to spend entire deployments in the Mediterranean Sea playing cat-and-mouse with the Soviet Navy, doing bi-lateral exercises with NATO allies, and pulling great liberty in ports like Cannes and Malta. During that time there was also a persistent pain-in-the-ass Libyan dictator named Moammar Gadhafi.
Why CBD is a popular - and safe - choice for pain relief
In 2017, when Hurricane Irma, a monster Category 5 storm, barreled toward Florida’s southern peninsula and Homestead Air Reserve Base, The Air Force Reserve commander had a lot of decisions to make. Thankfully, history – in the form of Air Force historians – was on her side. The Air Force Reserve Command history office pulled data and information from three previous hurricanes, including Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5, which devastated the base 25 years ago.
This Combat Camera vet used his skills to launch a civilian career as a photojournalist
MIGHTY MONEY Ward Carroll Posted On January 29, 2021 00:03:00 CLEVELAND, Ohio — There was a bit of irony in Bill Putnam’s first job as a civilian who’d just transitioned out of the military: He was sent back to Iraq to cover the war, the same place where he’d honed his skills as a photographer for the U.S. Army. “I knew before I got out of the Army that I wanted to specialize in news photojournalism,” Putnam says.
Kevin Nash says 'Magic Mike XXL' cast reminds him of his Army squad
MIGHTY MOVIES Ward Carroll Posted On January 29, 2021 01:36:00 Kevin Nash went to the University of Tennessee for one reason: to play basketball, and for three years that’s pretty much what he did. Nash played center, and as a junior he helped the team advance to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament. But one physical altercation with legendary coach Don Devoe later, he was gone. Who knew he would end up in Magic Mike?
A Big Winner in Georgia: Joe Biden
It’s obvious, but true: The big winners tonight are Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. They deserve congratulations for their victorious campaigns, and best wishes as they join the United States Senate. Congratulations also to Stacey Abrams, without whom it wouldn’t have happened. And one thinks, too, of the late John Lewis, surely smiling somewhere tonight. Another winner is Sen. Chuck Schumer. It’s a lot better to be majority leader than minority leader. There’s another winner.
Ted Cruz Wants to Copy the Corrupt Process That Killed Reconstruction
Political campaigns always wind up getting messy, and the campaign to be MAGA’s favorite lawmaker in the post-Trump presidency GOP is no exception. Senator Josh Hawley jumped out to the early lead last week by announcing that he intended to object to the counting of the Electoral College votes that will take place in Congress on January 6.
How David Hockney Trolled the ‘New Yorker’
The New Yorker has released a preview of the magazine’s second-to-last cover of 2020. The cover features an original digital painting by David Hockney, titled “Hearth.” It depicts a fireplace and is decidedly juvenile in execution. The brushwork appears childish and has sparked a Twitter backlash and outcry. This week’s cover, “Hearth,” by David Hockney: https://t.co/WRnz71KC07 pic.twitter.com/enowehlTrB — The New Yorker (@NewYorker) December 14, 2020 “This is very funny.
Pragmatists, Professionals, and Patriots on Biden’s National Security Team
Now that President-elect Joe Biden has tapped retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to be secretary of defense, the choices for the new administration’s national security team are nearly complete. So far, they are solid picks. For the most part, Biden has selected men and women who have vast experience in foreign affairs, understand the importance of treating our allies with respect, have diverse backgrounds, and recognize the need for the United States to lead by example.
When Chuck Yeager Caught the Demon
Chuck Yeager, best known as the first man to break the sound barrier and the test pilot immortalized in the novel and movie The Right Stuff, died yesterday at the age of 97. If Yeager hadn’t existed, Hollywood writers would’ve had to make him up. His life is a uniquely American story, one that singularly defines the nation’s claim to greatness in the twentieth century. Yeager came out of the hills of West Virginia with little education and lots of pluck.
How to make yourself hard to kill, according to a special operator
Articles The Havok Journal Posted On July 05, 2018 03:10:27 Time and again in my line of work, people ask me, “What did you do to prepare?” I usually respond with some sort of reference to steel genitalia, eating large amounts of bacon, and shooting nails from my eyes. That usually wows people. After the hilarity that is EVERY encounter with me, I give them an answer that always seems to underwhelm. “I try to be as strong as I can. All the time. I just want to be the strongest guy out there.
This is what happens when an Army Ranger goes through Navy SEAL training
When Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released in March of 2016, the thought of two colossal superheroes clashing on the big screen brought out huge box office numbers for its opening weekend. But despite the initial hype, the pedestrian offering saw a huge drop-off in enthusiasm the following week, as poor word-of-mouth reviews plagued it: the final product, as usual, not living up to expectations Batman versus Superman, on its face, seems such an intriguing construct though.
Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff’s spouse saves veteran’s life on Veterans Day
MIGHTY TRENDING Jessica Manfre Posted On November 16, 2020 01:36:41 Although Hollyanne Milley is probably best known for being the spouse of the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, she’s so much more. On Veterans Day, she saved a veteran’s life. And, it probably wasn’t the first time. Milley is a nurse with over 30 years of experience. She spent almost 20 years as a critical care nurse and has been a cardiac nurse for 15 years.
Trump’s Pentagon: No Place for Good Men
On Monday of this week, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows—fresh from testing positive for COVID-19—called Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to let him know that President Trump was removing him from his cabinet position. The call had no sooner ended when Trump informed the world via tweet that Christopher Miller, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, was the acting Defense secretary, effectively immediately. The tweet ended bluntly: “Mark Esper has been terminated.
Be Alarmed - The Bulwark
Ride or die. Support The Bulwark. Join Now I hope I am over wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, something of ill-omen amongst us. —Abraham Lincoln, Lyceum Address, January 27, 1838 I know, I know. Donald Trump is a petulant child, and congressional Republicans are just humoring him. The Four Seasons Total Landscaping fiasco is an appropriate symbol of his shambolic efforts to contest the election results.
Why Sweden Should Join NATO
As American foreign policy observers begin cautiously to look beyond the Trump era, what they see is not pretty: The United States’s reputation lies in shatters. Whereas George W. Bush (justly or not) earned the U.S. a reputation of aggression and carelessness in leading the free world, Donald Trump has earned the U.S. a reputation of uninterest in leading at all.
The USS England was a Japanese sub's worst nightmare during World War II
Articles Harold C. Hutchison Posted On September 10, 2020 00:36:05 Sometimes there can be total domination by an individual or a team. In sports, we could see it in something like Gayle Sayers scoring six touchdowns in a game, or Randy Johnson pitching a perfect game.
The 18 greatest fighter aircraft of all time
Results are what make a weapons system great, not just technology. In the case of fighter aircraft, it's all about the kills, and with that as the main selection criteria, here's WATM's list of the 18 greatest fighters of all time: 1. Fokker Triplane The iconic aircraft behind the World War I success of Manfred von Richthofen's Flying Circus was actually designed after a Sopwith Triplane crashed behind German lines in 1917.
Aerial footage of the Abraham Lincoln super carrier drifting
Articles Tim Kirkpatrick Posted On August 21, 2020 16:57:08 Considered one of the most technologically advanced ships in the Navy’s arsenal, the USS Abraham Lincoln is the fifth ship built in the Nimitz-class of aircraft carriers. Originally costing nearly three billion dollars in the mid-’80s, the carrier was christened and launched by Newport News Shipbuilding under the command of Capt. J. J. Dantone. Do you remember when former President George W.
How the NFL Could Help Rename Military Bases
President Donald J. Trump’s sweat session with Fox News’s Chris Wallace on the patio outside of the Oval Office a few weeks ago was a classic Trumpian word-salad buffet that will power a dozen Sarah Cooper viral videos in the weeks to come. The interview covered a lot of ground, and elements of it have already been analyzed in these pages.
The 5 most beloved sidearms in US military history
When ground fighting gets close, warfighters reach for their sidearms to save the day. Here are five of the most widely used and beloved pistols in US military history: Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 1. Harper's Ferry Model 1805 NRA Museum The first pistol manufactured by a national armory, the Model 1805 was a. 54 caliber, single-shot, smoothbore, flintlock issued to officers. Known as "horsemen's pistols," they were produced in pairs, each one bearing the same serial number.
The Conspiracy Theorist Trump Wants to Install in the Pentagon
The news that the Trump administration has directed the Defense Department to appoint the once-dismissed conspiracy theorist, Rich Higgins, to a major Pentagon job has so far received little coverage in the major press.
The 5 most beloved sidearms in U.S. military history
Articles Ward Carroll Posted On July 07, 2020 21:50:41 When ground fighting gets close, warfighters reach for their sidearms to save the day. Here are five of the most widely used and beloved pistols in U.S. military history: 1. Harper’s Ferry Model 1805 (Photo: NRA Museum) The first pistol manufactured by a national armory, the Model 1805 was a. 54 caliber, single-shot, smoothbore, flintlock issued to officers.
Warriors in their own words: Battle of the Bulge
Articles Logan Nye Posted On July 01, 2020 14:09:44 The Battle of the Bulge was a Hail Mary pass by a führer who was quickly running out of options. Hitler desperately needed a decisive victory on either his Western or Eastern front. Remembering his series of victories after sneaking through the Ardennes forest in 1940, he went for a repeat in 1944. On Dec. 16, 200,000 German troops and 1,000 tanks slammed into 80,000 Allied troops.
"Thank You for Your Service" Gets a Stress Test
On a recent edition of Fox News Sunday, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, the retired admiral who led the charge of four-stars taking to the web to criticize President Trump’s Bible stunt and threat to invoke the Insurrection Act, said this: I see [Trump’s willingness to use U.S. military troops in a domestic policing role] reemerging from a war . . . where the United States military lost the respect and the trust of the American people.
9 lies soldiers tell their loved ones while in combat
Prior to WW2, knowing that they couldn’t compete with the numbers of the US navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy quietly authorized the construction of the two largest battleships by weight ever seen in warfare — the Musashi and her sister ship, the Yamato. The origins of these two behemoths can be traced back to Japan’s 1934 withdrawal from the League of Nations.
The 7 best transport planes in US military history
It's not the most glamorous Air Force mission, but arguably it's the most important because without transports troops and gear don't make it to the war. (And it's hard to win a war without troops and gear.) Here are the top seven transport planes that have served the U.S. Air Force over the years: 1.
The 'Khakistocracy' Tries to Save America
In the past few days, 16 stars-worth of retired flag and general officers have taken to the pages of prominent websites to voice their opposition to President Donald J. Trump’s conduct in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and subsequent protests in cities across America. Together they constitute an unprecedented chorus of criticism of a sitting president by a group who used to be the highest-ranking members of the U.S. military.
The Commander-in-Tweet Isn’t Just Disrespectful, He’s Dangerous
Three presidential administrations have had ownership of America’s longest war. President George W. Bush invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 after the Taliban refused to oust al Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for the 9/11 attacks, in a manner that suited him. He then shifted the Pentagon’s focus two-and-a-half years later by ordering the invasion of Iraq, which allowed the Taliban to reverse the gains made by coalition forces during the first phase of the war.
The Sharp Contrast Between the Biden and Trump Online Campaigns
Back in 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign pioneered the use of the web and associated metrics, catching his opponent John McCain flat-footed. It changed the way candidates ran for president. And now, since the pandemic prevents both Donald Trump and Joe Biden from having rallies or other in-person events, the online campaign is pretty much the only campaign. Not since 2008 have we seen as sharp a contrast in the digital media presence between presumptive nominees.
I Like People Who Were Captured. Donald Trump? Not So much.
Like many Americans my age, I first became aware of Donald J. Trump with the publication of Trump: The Art of the Deal in 1987. At that time, I accepted the notion of him in passing. I was a Navy lieutenant, a radar intercept officer (think “Goose” in Top Gun), assigned to my first F-14 Tomcat squadron, and the idea of somebody brash and innovative making things happen—in his case, turning worn-out buildings and abandoned lots into skyscraper complexes with fresh vibrancy—had its appeal.
Add the Roosevelt Crisis to the Cautionary Tales from Trump’s Presidency
Around Thanksgiving of last year, Thomas Modly accepted the role as acting secretary of the Navy in the wake of controversy. His predecessor, Richard Spencer, had been fired by Defense Secretary Mike Esper for trying to negotiate a satisfactory end to the war crimes scandal involving Chief Eddie Gallagher by working directly with the White House staff—without Esper’s knowledge. Modly was determined not to suffer a similar fate. His would be a tenure free from drama.
Joe Biden's Silent Majority
Oakland It’s just shy of 11:00 a.m. on Super Tuesday and a pair of black 70-something sisters, Shirley and Goldy Daley, are standing outside a diner where Joe Biden is scheduled to appear leading a “WE KNOW JOE” chant, in an attempt to drown out the white, millennial Bernie Bros who were heckling them with shouts of “racist” and “retire.” Three days ago the sisters had a Mike Bloomberg sign in their yard. That’s how fast things have moved for Biden.
Pink Floyd alum Roger Waters talks to WATM about his concert for (and by) wounded vets
We Are The Mighty sat down with Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters and Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello to chat about the ‘Music Heals’ concert that was held last week in DC to create awareness about MusiCorps — a program that uses the healing power of music to assist wounded vets with their rehabilitation.
The 5 biggest stories around the military right now (Aug. 12 edition)
This awesome sea story explains why blue falcons get absolutely no love Blue falcons—buddy f-ckers for the uninitiated—are a permanent fixture of military life. There are usually a couple in every unit …
The 5 biggest stories around the military right now (Aug. 14 edition)
Here are the headlines you need to know about going into the weekend (whatever that is.
The top 5 stories around the military right now (Aug. 7 edition)
TGIF. Here’s what you need to be aware of going into the weekend: • Huckabee: ‘The purpose of the military is to kill people and break things’ • Michael Moore takes on U.S. military’s ‘need’ for war • Military still not fully accepting of women (opinion) Now: Here’s how US Marines evacuate an American Embassy
The 5 biggest stories around the military right now (Aug. 6 edition)
Here are the headlines you need to make it through the rest of the day mission-ready: • 9 Supermarket Staples That Were Created by the Military • Afghan military helicopter crashes, killing 17 troops in south of the country • Navy: No Charges Against Officer for Weapons Violations in Attack Now: We’re freaked about Iran, but what other countries already have nukes?
Here's what it took to pull off the Commander-in-Chief Forum
Articles Ward Carroll Posted On February 05, 2020 19:03:31 (Photo: Ward Carroll) Just over two weeks after the Commander-in-Chief Forum aired during prime time on NBC, IAVA chief Paul Rieckhoff is still recovering from the event, riding the high of having had a big hand in pulling it off but also weathering a substantial wave of social media criticism — much of it from fellow veterans — about how it fell short.
Paul Rieckhoff wants vets to help America 'bring the temperature down'
Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA CEO and founder, advocating for vets at the DNC in Philadelphia. (Photo: Ward Carroll) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — If the 13 years of running Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has taken an emotional and physical toll on founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff, he doesn’t show it. Watching him in action at the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia is a study in determination and attention to detail.
Fast-mover hit by enemy ground fire over Afghanistan
Articles Ward Carroll Posted On February 05, 2020 19:02:46 An F-16 launching with external fuel tanks. AFP is reporting that an American F-16 was hit by small arms fire over Paktia Province in eastern Afghanistan over the weekend. The damage to the jet was severe enough that the pilot decided to jettison all external stores (drop tanks and bombs) before returning to Bagram Air Base north of Kabul.
This former Army Blackhawk pilot is on the verge of taking off in Hollywood
Articles Ward Carroll Posted On February 05, 2020 19:03:28 Ellis behind the controls of a U.S. Army Blackhawk. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ellis) By the time Nate Ellis reached the sixth grade he knew there were two things he wanted to do with his life: make movies and fly airplanes for the military. Ellis was raised in a family with military experience.
This Army veteran started his own festival to help fellow military filmmakers
MIGHTY TRENDING Ward Carroll Posted On February 05, 2020 19:03:21 Bryan Thompson on the set. (Photo courtesy of Bryan Thompson) Bryan Thompson’s path to the U.S. Army was a circuitous one. The Detroit native earned his bachelor’s degree in International Trade from Eastern Michigan University before getting hired by Stahls, a sportswear graphics company. He got the job because he was fluent in Spanish, a skill he attributes to the first military mentor in his life.
The top 5 stories around the military right now (August 11 edition)
Articles Ward Carroll Posted On February 05, 2020 19:02:38 Articles Alex Licea Posted On April 02, 2018 09:40:49 The Summer Olympics Games may be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but all eyes are on Peru this week as security forces from 20 nations compete at Fuerzas Comando, a friendly military skills competition where the top special operations forces and police forces from the Western Hemisphere compete for the coveted Fuerzas Comando Cup.
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