Category: War Stories

Chuck Mawhinney, a son of Lakeview, Oregon, and the silent guardian of his fellow Marines, wove a legacy in the jungles of Vietnam with his Remington M40, marking the Earth with the precision of his resolve, forever enshrined in the annals of Marine Corps legend.

In “Cut From the Same Cloth,” former special operators reflect on the deep bonds and profound shifts in perspective forged in the crucible of combat, highlighting the unique camaraderie and challenges that define their post-service lives.

In the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Nevada Test Site, where the line between success and cataclysm is as thin as the morning’s first light, I wielded the dual swords of Distance and Fear, carving out a sanctuary for innovation amidst the shadows of potential disaster.

In the midst of a critical mission, as tensions ran high and the intricate dance of military precision played out, we pushed the limits to ensure the success of a historic operation under the cover of darkness, proving that even in the face of adversity, determination and teamwork prevail.

In the heart of the quiet gym, as I ran on the treadmill, oblivious to the world changing outside, I couldn’t have imagined that the news of an airplane hitting the Twin Towers would catapult us from relentless training into the grim reality of war.

In the sweltering Key West sun, Big Jim’s sloop swayed lazily in the marina, a testament to his carefree, albeit solitary, existence, while the thunderous laughter of Pee-Pee Jack’s brood echoed like a boisterous symphony, painting a vivid portrait of life’s unpredictable rhythms and bonds formed in the most unexpected of crucibles.

In the dead of night, under a cloak of stealth and the vigilant eyes of the Night Stalkers, the desert transformed into a silent battleground where precision and bravery danced in the moonlight.

Amid the monochrome expanse of the Afghan desert, Chief Greg Coker, with the wily grit of a Texan Mustang, wove his unbridled spirit into the tapestry of war, lassoing fleeting moments of camaraderie and defiance under the relentless sun.

In the midst of the maddening swim, fighting against nature’s fury and our own limits, there was a raw, gritty camaraderie that bound us together, stronger than the relentless waves we battled.

Amidst the grueling swim, tension, and dark humor, I realized that even in the most desperate of situations, we sometimes have to find a way to laugh in the face of adversity.

Amidst the relentless pitch and yaw of our ACU vessel, we stood, a band of brothers girded by the sea’s moody whims, our resolve as unyielding as the ocean’s depths.

In today’s gripping episode of Inside the Team Room: Green Berets, Andrew Wilkow delves into the survival instincts and emergency plans of these elite soldiers, revealing a stark truth: in the direst of circumstances, it’s the ones who can detach from technology and rely on raw skills who truly stand a chance.