Category: War Stories

In the dead of night, with the streets empty and the world holding its breath, I raced to answer the call, wondering if this was just another drill or the moment everything changed.

Amid the unpredictable antics of C-5 Galaxies and the spirited games of combat basketball, we found camaraderie and resilience, always hoping our next flight wouldn’t turn back but instead carry us onward to our next adventure.

Defying the shadows of his past and the limitations set by others, Drago, a former political prisoner turned fervent patriot, shattered expectations by becoming a Navy SEAL, embodying the resilience and determination that define the American spirit.

At just 16, after an intense falling out with his father during their global sailing trip, Brandon found himself journeying alone from Tahiti back to California, where a chance encounter with two SEAL Team FIVE members set him on the path to becoming a Navy SEAL, a decision that shaped his entire life.

In the midst of the Vietnam War, as a newly promoted first lieutenant, I navigated the unpredictable dangers and crucial leadership decisions that came with leading a platoon through the dense jungles and uncertain terrains of a conflict that tested both my resolve and my survival instincts.

Even as I stood there, contemplating the raw intensity of that free fall, I couldn’t shake the realization that my fear of jumping was as vivid as ever.

And there we were, a bunch of Green Berets, huddled around a makeshift breakfast table, swapping stories and jokes with a wounded Korean soldier, finding humor and camaraderie amidst the chaos of our unexpected adventure in the ROK.

From rucking through the Rockies to navigating the nuances of Korea, my journey as a soldier has been a tapestry of gritty experiences and humorous encounters, all underpinned by the unbreakable spirit of camaraderie and adaptability.

In Simon Scarrow’s brisk and chilling new book set in 1940 Berlin, DEAD OF NIGHT: A Berlin Wartime Thriller (on sale Dec. 26, 2023), Kriminalpolizei Inspector Horst Schenke is a seasoned and deeply conflicted detective who has failed to publicly voice his support for Hitler, making him a visible target to his superiors. He defies repeated life-threatening warnings by Nazi brass to stand down from his investigations into a series of murders that initially seem unconnected but will lead him straight to the regime’s most brazen architects of death. In the process he uncovers a stomach-churning SS scheme to exterminate the most vulnerable, deemed “unworthy.”

James Nelson Sudderth, with his characteristic knife-hand to the chest, didn’t just advise, he commanded with a conviction that propelled me out of my self-doubt and straight into the heart of Delta Force.

In the shadowy realm of Red Cell, where the line between protector and pretender blurs, the team’s audacious maneuvers within the heart of America’s most secure facilities reveal the unsettling truth about our nation’s preparedness against unseen threats.

After a grueling trek and mental ordeal, I sat by the campfire, savoring a hard-earned respite with ‘Long Walker,’ reflecting on the profound realization that sometimes, letting go is the key to achieving what you truly seek.