Luke Ryan

About the author

Luke Ryan is a SOFREP journalist in Tampa, FL. He is a former Team Leader from 3rd Ranger Battalion, having served four deployments to Afghanistan. He grew up overseas, the son of foreign aid workers, and lived in Pakistan for nine years and Thailand for five. He has a degree in English Literature and loves to write on his own as well, working on several personal projects.

Peter Conover Hains: The only known veteran of the Civil War and WWI

It is a notable thing to survive a major war. Veterans of these wars held in the highest esteem among other veterans — they have experienced things most could not imagine. Every once in a while, you will hear of veterans who served in two major conflicts. For example, due to their relatively close proximity […]

Why are we so fixated on watching robots achieve consciousness?

There are minor spoilers in this article, that you might find in a trailer for “Westworld.” “Westworld,” a science fiction drama show put on by HBO, is halfway through its second season and has already been renewed for a third. It is set in the future, where “guests” can visit a Wild West theme park […]

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification

North Korea’s recent moves toward peace on the peninsula have not turned out to be as easy as it initially seemed. When Kim Jong Un met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in and the two crossed respective borders in the historic meeting in late April, it seemed like things were miraculously improving. Instead, future meetings were […]

The nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Who is Robert Wilkie?

A glaring vacancy has occupied the position of Secretary of Veterans Affairs after the departure of David Shulkin and the subsequent nomination, debate and eventual rejection of Dr. Ronny Jackson for the position. In their stead, Robert Wilkie has taken up the mantle of Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Recently, President Donald Trump sent forth […]

The wars that we have forgotten

There are too many wars and conflicts around the world to keep up with. It’s difficult to stay updated on some of the conflicts that do occasionally make their way to the headlines, even just for a little bit. Firefights in Afghanistan will sometimes make the headlines, but to many consumers they look like the […]

Texas veteran memorials destroyed in possible vandalism

Four granite memorials meant to honor veterans were destroyed in Brownwood, Texas recently. The slabs lay shattered in pieces across the memorial platform, metal and wood scattered about the bits of granite that now bear engravings that cannot be read. Previously, they had honored veterans from WWII and the 36th Infantry Division which had been […]

Recent violence in Afghanistan kills 14, wounds 33

Ghazni — There has been a surge of Taliban activity in central eastern Afghanistan, in the province of Ghazni. The Taliban have attacked police and security force checkpoints throughout the area; some estimates claim up to 14 dead Afghan police officers so far, including a police chief and reserve commander. At least 12 others were wounded. […]

Irreverent Comedy versus PC Culture

Many people have noticed a shift in our culture toward what some have dubbed “Political Correctness,” or PC. This means that words, while technically legal, must be policed by others in order to preserve the sensibilities of those who might be offended or hurt. While you don’t see this enforcement too much in everyday life […]

An overview of Afghan-Iranian relations

As the United States has unveiled their rigid sanctions with Iran in regards to their denuclearization, the world’s eyes are once again turned to the country to see how it will respond to financial threats. Sanctions coming from a country like the U.S. have historically been seen an alternative to real action to appease public […]

Opinion: The great lie of the internet

Someone with access to the internet does not have all the world’s information at their fingertips, but it certainly feels that way. The dawn of the internet shot the information age light years ahead. Resources like Wikipedia, dictionary.com, sites that compile news together from multiple sources, and access to unlimited TED talks and history documents […]

Five Mark Twain quotes as they relate to 2018

Note: These are the author’s interpretation of quotes said in a context completely separate from today. Even the most timeless phrases must always be viewed, at some point, through the lens of context. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable […]

On this day in history: The founding of the American Red Cross

May 21, 1881 — Clara Barton becomes the president of the American Red Cross, holding their first meeting in Barton’s apartment in Washington D.C. Barton had been working to integrate the U.S. into the Red Cross since 1873, and that long road had finally come to and end as the next chapter of her life […]