Tennyson's Sir Galahad

Sir Galahad
by Alfred Lord Tennyson


My good blade carves the casques of men,
   My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten,
   Because my heart is pure.
The shattering trumpet shrilleth high,
   The hard brands shiver on the steel,
The splinter'd spear-shafts crack and fly,
   The horse and rider reel:
They reel, they roll in clanging lists,
   And when the tide of combat stands,
Perfume and flowers fall in showers,
   That lightly rain from ladies' hands.

How sweet are looks that ladies bend
   On whom their favours fall!
For them I battle till the end,
   To save from shame and thrall:
But all my heart is drawn above,
   My knees are bow'd in crypt and shrine:
I never felt the kiss of love,
   Nor maiden's hand in mine.
More bounteous aspects on me beam,
   Me mightier transports move and thrill;
So keep I fair thro' faith and prayer
   A virgin heart in work and will.

When down the stormy crescent goes,
   A light before me swims,
Between dark stems the forest glows,
   I hear a noise of hymns:
Then by some secret shrine I ride;
   I hear a voice but none are there;
The stalls are void, the doors are wide,
   The tapers burning fair.
Fair gleams the snowy altar-cloth,
   The silver vessels sparkle clean,
The shrill bell rings, the censer swings,
   And solemn chaunts resound between.

Sometime on lonely mountain-meres
   I find a magic bark;
I leap on board: no helmsman steers:
   I float till all is dark.
A gentle sound, an awful light!
   Three angels bear the holy Grail:
With folded feet, in stoles of white,
   On sleeping wings they sail.
Ah, blessed vision! blood of God!
   My spirit beats her mortal bars,
As down dark tides the glory slides,
   And star-like mingles with the stars.

When on my goodly charger borne
   Thro' dreaming towns I go,
The cock crows ere the Christmas morn,
   The streets are dumb with snow.
The tempest crackles on the leads,
   And, ringing, springs from brand and mail;
But o'er the dark a glory spreads,
   And gilds the driving hail.
I leave the plain, I climb the height;
   No branchy thicket shelter yields;
But blessed forms in whistling storms
   Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields.

A maiden knight--to me is given
   Such hope, I know not fear;
I yearn to breathe the airs of heaven
   That often meet me here.
I muse on joy that will not cease,
   Pure spaces clothed in living beams,
Pure lilies of eternal peace,
   Whose odours haunt my dreams;
And, stricken by an angel's hand,
   This mortal armour that I wear,
This weight and size, this heart and eyes,
   Are touch'd, are turn'd to finest air.

The clouds are broken in the sky,
   And thro' the mountain-walls
A rolling organ-harmony
   Swells up, and shakes and falls.
Then move the trees, the copses nod,
   Wings flutter, voices hover clear:
"O just and faithful knight of God!
   Ride on! the prize is near."
So pass I hostel, hall, and grange;
   By bridge and ford, by park and pale,
All-arm'd I ride, whate'er betide,
   Until I find the holy Grail.


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

My Flag -- the United States of America Flag

I awoke this morning, after dreaming, with a renewed vigor to protect the America I know and love -- to do all in my power to preserve the greatest symbol freedom in the world today, Old Glory.  I felt, as I nearly leaped from my bed, to contact my elected officials and with all the vigor I have to muster, encourage them to preserve, sustain and/or create any and all such laws that make dropping the flag, burning, trampling, spitting upon, or disrespecting, defiling, or defacing the national flag, in any way, illegal.  

We must treat the Stars and Stripes as the physical representation of all America holds dear.  The fabric of three colors -- red, white and blue -- beautifully sewn in a pattern rich in national historic meaning, is the symbol of a free people and a free nation.  That incredible flag which was still standing during the War of 1812, while Francis Scott Key was held a helpless prisoner on a British vessel during the attack at Fort McHenry, is the flag I hold most dear.  That same flag, given 37 more stars, is the flag of my home.  

We must treat the United States flag as the symbol of peace and power she truly is.  Americans must look to that beautiful, incredible and majestic piece of art as the sacred emblem of “the Republic for which it stands.”  

I have seen the flag -- my flag -- flown high over the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and U.S. embassies and consulates in foreign lands.  I have seen the fabric and material honored, presented and saluted by men and women in military uniform.  I have witnessed men literally weep while looking to her and the free nation she represents.  I have wept myself and have received chills over my entire frame while saluting and listening to our national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner.  I have silently watched as our flag has been draped over the coffins of American countrymen who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of all she stands for -- foremost being freedom, liberty and equality. 

May the blood of our forefathers, who created and erected the blessings we now enjoy because of their actions, and because of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, be revered, respected and honored forever.  May the faithful and courageous military men who hoisted the flag of our nation from Fort McHenry to Iwo Jima and beyond, be remembered for sacrificing for our great nation, represented foremost by our greatest symbol of freedom, the American flag.  May the war dead who die today and tomorrow be allowed an honorable burial without protesters who, in essence, are certainly disrespecting my flag, my nation, and my brothers and sisters in arms. 

I pray that our flag -- my flag and your flag -- will be the banner of freedom it truly represents, the beacon of hope for all mankind, the light and glory of “one nation under God.”  May this blessed symbol -- held high at ball parks, waved at parades, worn on every military uniform, and flown at half-mast during national catastrophes and loss of life -- become, and forever stay, the symbol of hope for a better way, the sacred evidence of self-government, the meaning of all things Americans cherish most, the incarnate Constitution of these United States of America.  

May each of us gain anew the appreciation for Old Glory.  May we each rally together, around and behind and beside this blessed symbol of freedom.  May we all look high to see this extraordinary piece of fabric forever waving in the breeze and cherish all she stands for.  May national patriotism shown to our flag be honored, respected, and sustained and enforced by law.  

Finally, may all those who value freedom and all those who have stood with arms to defend her rich blood-red stripes, her deep-blue sky and pure-white stars and stripes, forever thank God for all she stands for.  May this people -- the American people -- remember what Abraham Lincoln once so eloquently encouraged in his Gettysburg Address every time we look upon the folded or unfurled flag.  Let us “be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us ... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The Hands -- a powerful poem by Richard Brewer

The following is a brief commentary and a poem written by warrior-advocate and Marine, Rich Brewer, founder of One Warrior Won. 

I wrote this shortly after putting the cold steel of my weapon in my mouth, then realizing “My Hands” were not done yet.  By the grace of God my journey continues, and with BBOWW, we will march forward and make sure so many others never get to the point so many of us already have!! 

The Hands

The hands that were once used as a pacifier for a new born child.

The hands that were used to reach out to hold my mothers legs.

The hands that were held by my parents to ensure I stayed close by.

The hands that awkwardly wrote that first love note in third grade.

The hands that were used as a teenager to prove my self worth.

The hands that reached out and held my first girlfriend.

The hands that struggled to breakaway from ordinary and reached for extra-ordinary.

These were the hands that rose and swore to defend this nation from the enemy; foreign and domestic.

These were the hands that nervously grasped the stair rails of a bus bound for Parris Island in the middle of the night.

These were the hands that were held tight to the seams of my “trousers” while being screamed at standing on yellow footprints.

These were the hands that climbed obstacles they never thought possible, that learned to defend for the righteous.

These were the hands that first felt the cold comfortable steel of my newly issued M16A1 rifle.

These were the hands that spent weeks feeling, touching, learning every part of the very weapon that was to keep me and others alive.

These were hands that proudly had the Eagle, Globe and Anchor pressed into its palm transforming from a mere mortal to a Marine.

These were the hands that committed to God, Country, and Corps.

These were the hands that embraced the brotherhood that has been bonded by blood, sweat and tears.

These were the hands that grasped the seat of the swaying Chinook at it took evasive action while delivering us to the hostile shores.

These were the hands that held firm, aimed true and gently squeezed the trigger to silence a different set of hands that will forever remain unknown.

These were the hands that steadied scared people as they were gently pushed to waiting choppers to carry them from the surreal reality of war to safety.

These were the hands that held the head of youth, shattered by a snipers bullet, providing comfort awaiting the last breathe.

These were the hands that held my own head down in holes never deep enough as the rounds pounded way to close.

These were the hands that waved good-bye to thousands of Marines as they sailed away from the hostile shore.

These were the hands that grasped tightly to the fourteen Marines left behind to guard the bees’ nest that had been vigorously stirred.

These were the hands that clasped tightly every night in prayer to preserve my life until I woke, and again in the morning to pray to survive the day.

These were the hands that waved frantically to my office colleagues to take cover as I grabbed my weapon and ran towards the noise. 

These were the hands that reached for that sliding glass door that allowed me to step onto the exposed balcony.

These were the hands that attempted to hold steady the weapon I knew so well, only to have it blown from my hands by the force of the bomb.

These were the hands that flew through the air for untold feet only to crash against the collapsing wall.

These were the hands that were buried and felt my own body to see if it was in one piece.

These were the hands that scratched, clawed, and dug my way out from what I believed to be a premature coffin, only to hear and see the hell unfolding around me and wanting to crawl back into my hole.

These were the hands that would hold the soon to be lifeless bodies of two close buddies trying to make their last moments less lonely.

These were the hands that would dig, uncover and carry untold numbers from the burning and destroyed building.

These were the hands that again took hold of my precious weapon and stood guard against a secondary attack.

These were the hands that held my body off the ground as I fell to my knees, not knowing why until it was realized the blood covering me was my own.

These were the hands that shakily signed me out of a field hospital to return to the pile of flesh infested rumble.

These were the hands that stood guard over the ground that only mere moments ago stood the American Embassy for four sleepless days.

These were the hands that wiped away dust from my eyes and wished for the tears that never came to flow.

These are the hands that now try to hold a fragile life and family together.

These are the hands now that try to hold a beast within at bay.

These are the hands today that hold a wonderful wife.

These are the hands that two young children rush to for safety and love.

These are the hands that have tried to teach young minds the perils and purpose of war.

These are the hands that have provided protection to communities from those who wish them harm.

These are the hands that have shied from friendship for fear of being exposed.

These are the hands that are never idle in fear of some distant unseen enemy.

These are the hands that for years never reached out, stoically staying by my side.

These are the hands that wrapped themselves around a bottle, the only medicine able to take the unseen but always present pain away.

These are the hands that hide the scars that so many do not wish to see, yet so many of us bear.

These are the hands that have reached out after 25 years for help, and were slapped by those professing to be helpers.

These are the hands that had to enter battle all over again simply to be recognized as worthy of treatment and care.

These are the hands that have been clasped together in prayer for someone to understand.

These are the hands that have been clenched in anger over those who have never served making us prove we indeed did serve.

These are the hands that have flailed about speaking jargon others seem to think is a foreign language.

These are the hands that have spent countless hours typing rebuttals to the appeals of my appeals.

These are the hands that have fantasized about being around the neck of so many who say they are there to help, but never do.

These are the hands that have been thrown in the air, and wishing to wash themselves of the entire process.

These are the hands that have written farewell notes to loved ones; too tired to go on.

These are the hands that have tried to write, hoping to get someone to see what I feel.

These are the hands that have grasped the cold comfortable steel of an old trusted friend in hopes of ending the pain and suffering.

These are the hands that held a family vacation itinerary in one hand, and the end in the other.

These are the hands that God made and Parris Island perfected.

These are the hands that have saved so many, and protected so much.

These are the hands that have lost battles, but will eventually win the War.

These are the hands that remain clasped in prayer every night, praying that justice will prevail for me, and all who suffer from the beast within.

These hands paid a dear price for this country.  Now it is time for this country to pay a little back. 

All gave some; Some gave all. What has the country given to them?

THIS poem and an interview with Richard Brewer, and many others will soon be featured in a forthcoming book about warriors with wounds and PTSD. Be sure to check out Warrior SOS for updates. 

To read amazing interviews, including an interview from Richard Brewer, check out Warrior SOS, the book available on Amazon.com  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Rescue US Marine (Military Intelligence) held in Iran

I couldn't sleep last night, knowing there was a U.S. Marine held captive with the sentence of death looming about him.

Wall Street Journal: Ex-Marine Reaches 500 Days of Imprisonment in Iran

Of course, there's no such thing as an "Ex"-Marine; they're just Marines.

Here's the letter I sent to my U.S. Representative and Senators:

Amir Hekmati is being held prisoner and under the death penalty in Iran. He is a former linguist from the US Marine Corps. He was born in the US. He is a veteran of the Iraqi war. 

I personally know one of his former Marine Corps friends very well. I've vetted them both. 

I am a veteran of Iraq and have a Top Secret government clearance. I cannot imagine how horrible it is to be in his shoes. I pray he is still alive. 

Please act immediately to see that he is safe. 

Urgently and Respectfully, 

Jeffrey Denning

For more information, check out these links:

http://freeamir.org

U.S. condemns reported Iran death sentence for former U.S. Marine

Family of detained Iranian-American “shocked” at spy charges

Amir Hekmati, a former marine and decorated war veteran, was born in Arizona and raised in Michigan. Within weeks of setting foot in Iran for the first time in August 2011 to visit his grandmother, he was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned.  Months later he appeared on Iranian TV, forced to confess he was a CIA operative. The U.S. State Department denies he was spying for the U.S. government and calls the case a gross miscarriage of justice. While Amir languishes in prison, his health deteriorating, and his father dying of cancer, his family pleads with the Iranian government to let him go free.

Source: CNN


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

War and the Work of Death

War and the Work of Death
by Jeffrey Denning

Warrior SOS

from my column at http://newscornerusa.com/jdenning.html (no longer operable)

The warrior is taught and trained and encouraged to destroy. His skill lies in battle. A physical battle between bodies and of souls--his own soul, his own life or the life of his comrade, and those enemies seeking his destruction. In seeking death, the warrior dies. 'Tis possible to die, but to go on living. Those select veterans and their family members understand what that means. They "get it." They understand the significance of it.

Or do they?

The warrior's greatest asset is to shut off a portion of his own yearning for life. This is the ultimate sacrifice. Dying is not what the warrior seeks, but to be skilled enough to kill, and to kill well. The most effective and efficient warriors will begin to not care for life. Not that they will murder intentionally, unjustly injure those who do not "deserve" it, but that they can dispose of the life and the body of the enemy, at least to some degree--to raise their rifle, to look him in the face and to watch the enemies' body go flaccid and limp. Such a mental image and such a physical act--including the training for such up-close and personal ending of life altercations--has its repercussions. Of course it does. It should.

The greatest fear may not be that life will end, but that he will end the life of another or that he will fail his team. In some aspects, and under some conditions, this transforms the warrior where he now considers himself less civil. Unworthy. Unable to cope with himself--whether he couldn't save a buddy or whether he took a life or many lives in war. Certainly more circumstances exist than these. Regardless, the warrior now views the world differently. He is a changed man. His life has already ended although he remains awake. Although alive, he may feel dead. He may feel life is over.

But this is not all. Much deeper is the departing life and energy he once knew.

The searing that comes under war can paralyze. Such a fear of being wounded or the fear of the unknown--what shall occur upon death of his own body--can cause acute physical stiffening. In such a mental position the warrior physically freezes. But training will force him to continue on, if not for someone beside him yelling at him to attack or retreat.

Naturally he may want to run. To flee. To get to safety. But the most effective warrior will cease to live. He will neither care for his own life nor the life of his enemy. He may only care for his comrade and brother-in-arms. He is professional. He is emotionally numb to some degree. That is survival.

Once such a warrior has ceased to live on the battlefield, his emotions become fluid to physical acts, his nerves become more relaxed. Instead of freezing, he can now muster the energy to kill. His reactions improve. His instincts develop.

In the state of his own lifelessness, beginning first in his mind, paradoxically he is now in greater control of life--at least while in the war zone. His skill melds with his mind, and vice versa. The chemistry and physiological nature of his mortal body now work in harmony with the mission he has. Target discretion improves; target acquisition improves; readiness and willingness improves, for he is willing to die but more willing to kill.

In short, he doesn't care much anymore. He ceases to care about his own physical injuries. He ceases to believe in the hope of his survival, although he holds on to the daydreams of yesteryear. He stares death in the face. And he feels that sooner or later he will depart. The fear and willingness to live dies before he dies. That makes an effective fighting warrior. But it has tremendous setbacks after the battle is over. The battle never leaves him entirely although he may leave the battle scene.

In a constant state of battle, his mind and psyche change. He is altered emotionally. He becomes conditioned to living war. That is where he lives. That is where he thrives. War becomes him and he becomes a part of war. He becomes effective at this work, although he may not believe it himself always. And for some reason his experiences in the foray will alter the course of his life forever.

His survival instinct grows. Or rather his instinct for physical war develops in a way that he becomes a hunter...and the hunted. It is not simple survival. It is man against man, warrior against enemy, man against the machines of death and carnage. This survival is the most complex of all, latent in some, swollen in the minds of those who understand and have lived the work of death.

The lack of reprieve, the semblance of normality, is bereft. Even a short R&R will not bring him home again. Physically he may be there. But he is not there. He may mask his own development from those who know him best. But it cannot hide forever. He cannot hide in war. And his war continues on within him. The course of his life is altered forever. He may find coping mechanisms; he may find emotions and changes will adapt over time to his peaceful living; but that which he experienced and that which his mind altered (chemically, emotionally and psychologically), have forever changed the course of his existence.

In war he is nice to have around, for it would not take long for those survival instincts and deft reactions to be stirred up again. But without a war to fight, he may be lost. He does not want to fight anymore; he tries to let it go. Or, he will volunteer to go back to the battle, in some way or in some form.

In seeking the work of death he has died himself. And unless he can find a meaning and reason and a purpose for living, he will go on living as though he is dead.

Be sure to check out Warrior SOS, the book.
on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

PTSD and the Soul

Indeed, psychotherapists are trained not to talk much about spirituality or morality in the first place, but these are precisely the dimensions we must address in order to evolve strategies for identity reconstruction and soul restoration. 

...Moral pain, with its incumbent harm to the soul, is a root cause of PTSD. If we do not address the moral issues we cannot alleviate it no matter how much therapy or how many medications we apply. 

-- Edward Tick, "War and the Soul: Healing our Nation's Veterans from PTSD.” 


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Links

http://www.mormon.org/me/2GXB/JeffreyDenning 

About me and my religion. There's a special experience I wrote about while in Iraq. 

http://jeffreydenning.blogspot.com/

My original blog, and the blog I kept while I was in Iraq. These are more religious and political in nature, unlike this Warrior SOS blog here.

http://www.guns.com/author/jd/

Articles and videos I've written for Guns.com. 

http://newscornerusa.com/jdenning.html

My weekly column about military, law enforcement and other issues -- whatever comes to mind. (Posted, but no longer active)

Check out Warrior SOS, the book on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Here are some colleagues' sites or training sites that I'd recommend: 

http://www.fast762.com

If you're in Texas, be sure to get training from this SOF operator. 

http://www.invictusagi.com

These SOF operators train in Kentucky, as well as in other locations.

http://www.standbythewounded.com

Click here for a great nonprofit organization that helps wounded SOF operators, founded by an operator who's "been there."

http://www.grahamcombat.com

My good friend and one of the most energetic and intelligent instructors I know, Matt Graham.


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Letter to my Legislative Rep -- Gun Control and Mental Illness

Dear Honorable ---, 

As a former local and federal law enforcement officer, as well as a military veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I strongly oppose any ban on high capacity magazines or so-called military or assault-style firearms.

As a combat veteran, there is no one who hates and opposes violence more than I do. But, I am also experienced enough in law enforcement to know that banning guns or high capacity magazines will not reduce crime or gun violence. Banning firearms or magazines usurps the freedoms and liberty of those who obey the law -- those who wish to protect themselves and their families. Criminals do not obey the law.

From shooting sports to hunting, and from firearms collection to self-defense, I urge you to please oppose any and all legislation designed to stop millions of law-abiding citizens from gun or magazine ownership.

The facts revolving around the terrible incidents at the most recent school shooting were incorrect. There was no so-called military assault-style weapon used in the school, and the gun in the trunk of the subject's vehicle was not in the AR family of rifles. To me, it appeared to be a shotgun.

There are so many more facts needing to be addressed, like the annual FBI uniform crime report, which shows that more people were bludgeoned to death by hammers and clubs than were killed by rifles; and that banning firearms does not make an area safer. For instance, Chicago has had more firearms violence than in many years past. On the corollary, Florida concealed carry permits are up and the violence is down. These are just two brief examples of reasons to allow law-abiding citizens to continue to own, purchase, use, sell or transfer firearms according to the laws currently in place.

Certainly many things ought to be done to help our society become less violent. Strengthening the most fundamental unit of society -- the family -- will help alleviate many social ills. Avoiding and prohibiting violence that our children are exposed to in the media and in video games will do much more to help control violence than any attempt to "control" guns. After all, whether using a claw hammer or an illegally purchased or stolen firearm, the criminal element will not be entirely stopped unless his mind and heart can be changed.

In sum, I plead with you to help design, support and sustain any legislation that supports and strengthens traditional family units while allowing law-abiding veterans like myself to keep and bear arms. Moreover, please be cautious about measures or legislation that may be introduced that may negatively impact veterans (or citizens) who suffer from PTSD from legally owning firearms. As a founder Warrior SOS, I have talked with many veterans about PTSD. Having PTSD is not like what Hollywood says it is. It may be classified as a "mental illness", but this certainly does not mean that veterans who suffer from this will go "crazy" and begin shooting up kindergarten classrooms, as horrible as that comparison sounds.

Thank you very much for your time.

Very Respectfully,

Jeffrey Denning

Buy Your Warrior SOS Emergency Bug Out Bag Today!

To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Warrior SOS bug out bags for sale

Warrior SOS prepping, emergency, disaster preparedness and last days survival prepper kits are now available. The Warrior SOS go-bag is both tactical and practical.  This elite go bag, (a.k.a. E&E bag, grab bag, grab-and-go bag, emergency kit, survival kit, 72-hour kit, or bug out bag) contains products for surviving in most any conditions, urban or rural. Researched, designed and specifically created for the most urgent end-of-days survival needs, the Warrior SOS bug out bag allows users to escape and evade, or survive in harsh conditions. Whether it’s a harsh military operation, a paramilitary zone, a high adventure scouting trek, environmental disasters, or a zombie apocalypse, the items contained in this Warrior SOS bug out bag allow users to survive for at least 72 hours. Combine this essential bug out survival gear with some of your own items, if desired, to create your prepper survivor kit. This go bag can be kept in an automobile or in a grab-and-go bag at home or in the office. Be at peace by being prepared. Order your disaster survival bug out bag today, complete with products that really work when unexpected emergencies occur. Buy your kit today. Don’t delay. Supplies are limited. 

The Warrior SOS bug out bag includes:

• Stormproof Match Kit (dark green) 
• Advanced Pure Water Straw
• 36-oz. Whirl-Pak® Stand-Up Bags (2 bags in each kit)
• 12" X 12.5" aLOKSAK® waterproof bag
• Guardian Expedition Light (white light)
• Folding Utility Knife
• Ten packets of honey 
• Sandwich baggie (2 bags in each kit)
• Mini compass
• 4-oz. Datrex emergency drinking water
• Warrior SOS camouflage wristband

Order your Warrior SOS survival go bag today. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warrior-SOS-Bug-out-Go-Bag-for-Emergency-Preparedness-and-Survival-/200872816695?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item2ec4f3f037

This premiere survival kit, not available in stores or anyone other than Warrior SOS. This kit cannot be purchased by single items anywhere. The Warrior SOS go bag is worth well over a hundred dollars, but you can order today for only $89.

Order today for peace of mind tomorrow!

All orders are final. No shipping overseas.

To learn more about each product, see below for details. 

Stormproof Match Kit (dark green)

The essentials for survival include warmth. In harsh environmental conditions, even in the desert at night, temperatures can drop to life-threatening degrees. Whether surrounded by water, cold or wind, the UCO Stormproof Matches and Stormproof Match Kit will burn for up to 15 seconds each, even in the harshest conditions. The waterproof, windproof container comes with 25 stormproof matches, three strikers, a piece of cotton and one durable, floating waterproof container. 

Watch this YouTube video to see the matches burn even after submerged in water, buried in dirt or in the blowing wind. 

CAUTION: For outdoor use only. Carefully monitor lit matches until completely burned. For use by adults only. Store extra strikers in protective sleeves after use to keep dry. Store matches separately from strikers to prevent accidental ignition.

Advanced Pure Water Straw

This advanced filter and straw removes up to 99.9999% of all virus and bacteria. There is a standard filter and another filter for more murky water. It’s an ideal filter for emergencies, travel, hiking, camping or outdoor use. It can be used with any type of water source excluding salt water such as tap or rainwater, rivers, streams or even lakes. Whether in your backpack, go bag, purse, or glove compartment, this filter is a must have in disasters and emergencies. 

The filter life is good for 25 gallons of water. 

36-oz. Whirl-Pak® Stand-Up Bags (2 bags in each Warrior SOS go bag)

The highly durable, leakproof Whirl-Pak® Stand-Up Bag can carry anything, including gathering or carrying water in an emergency. The bag completely stands up by itself when filled. Equal to about one liter, the amount needed per day for the average adult, the bag have superior strength and can written upon with pen or pencil on the write-on surface. The bag features a leak proof closure and “puncture proof tabs.” When filled it stands 5” W x 15” L.  

Bags should not be used at temperatures above 180° F (82° C). Bags can be frozen to any temperature. All bags are sterilized after manufacturing. 

Video start at 1:15

12" X 12.5" aLOKSAK® waterproof bag

aLOKSAK® bags are resealable element-proof storage bags featuring a hermetic seal. That means absolutely no water, air, dust or humidity permeates the closure. They are designed for a wide range of applications and environments. The transparent bags are flexible and puncture resistant. They can be sealed over and over again and are waterproof to 60 meters / 200 feet. Temperature rated to -40F to 140F. Store books, maps, medicines, electronic devices and more. 12" X 12.5"  (30.5 X 31.8 cm)

Guardian Expedition Light (white light)

The Guardian is rugged, easy to use and can be seen for over 5 Km / 3.1 Miles. With its dual function of flashing and steady on modes, the Guardian can offer over 250 hours of use. Whether on a dark highway with a road crews or commercial fishing, the Guardian is the one light to have when you must be seen. Waterproof to 300 feet and an operational range from -40C to +50C, the Guardian is available with either belt clip, wrist strap/arm band, swivel clip key chain attachment, or magnetic base. 

The clip snaps easily onto the base of the Guardian allowing the light to be attached to molle, belts, clothing, straps, collars, and a variety of other objects.

Folding Utility Knife 

The folding utility knife is a light to medium duty cutting tool. It has a stainless steel razor blade and is very sharp. It weighs less than 8 grams with a closed length of less than three inches. 

Ten packets of honey 

Honey contains all the necessary nutrients to maintain life, including water.

The Warrior SOS go bag also includes: Sandwich baggie (2 bags in each kit), Mini compass, 4-oz. Datrex emergency drinking water, and an Warrior SOS camouflage wristband. 

Remember, it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Have peace of mind in an emergency. Fear and panic grows when preparation hasn't occurred. Prepare now!

Order your Warrior SOS go bag today!

To order send me a note and name your price.  Send me a note either by posting a comment here or via Facebook. Thank you.


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Guns and Freedom

“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself.  They are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.” 

~ George Washington

"Let me make a short, opening, blanket comment. There are no good guns. There are no bad guns. Any gun in the hands of a bad man is a bad thing. Any gun in the hands of a decent person is no threat to anybody – except bad people.”

~ Charlton Heston

Facts about mass shootings: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-mother-jones-full-data

South Africa has more murders with firearms than any other nation. They also have more assaults and more rapes than any other nations. (Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/facts/Crime and  http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_wit_fir-crime-murders-with-firearms) 

Interestingly, they've attempted for years to ban guns. It's not working. When governments ban guns only criminals have guns.  http://www.nrapublications.org/index.php/9472/south-africas-deadly-disaster/


To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out my book Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Is This Me? - Taken from OneWarriorWon.org

IS THIS ME

Taken from www.OneWarriorWon.org by Richard Brewer. 

You’re different since returning home?  Can’t sleep?  Have nightmares?  Can’t trust civilians anymore?  Need your back to the wall when you go out to public places?  Jump at loud noises?  Feel unsafe without a weapon? Everyday stuff seems tranquil and trite?  Small annoyances set you off?  Feeling aggressive always ready to defend or fight?  Drinking to calm the swirling and raging thoughts permeating your mind?  People telling you it’s ok to seek help, to admit you have “PTSD“, but being labeled as “crazy” or being mentally ill, just doesn’t seem right?

Well, you’re not crazy, not mentally ill.  You’re a combat vet, and all that you’ve experienced has pumped up your body’s alarm, like a car alarm set way too sensitively, so that a simple set of footsteps sets off the alarm.

You are not alone!!! Warriors since the start of time, after experiencing combat, seeing corpses, smelling burning flesh, spilled blood, or feeling death’s presence in the air, have been forever changed, and so are you.  Civilians too, raped, assaulted, motor vehicle crashes, even just witnesses to horror, get the same stuff.  Why?  Because the oldest part of our brain, our ancient hard- wiring, is first focused on survival.  And, millions of years ago, our ancestors who learned to either avoid a second go around with a life threatening situation, or managed to conquer the threat (kill the enemy) were more likely to survive and pass on their genes.

So what does this mean?  If you have flashbacks, nightmares, rage over small stuff, hyper-vigilance, emotional numbing, you do not have a mental illness, you are experiencing a natural, predictable, biological response to the trauma you have been exposed to.  You are continuing to do what allowed you to survive while in a life-threatening situation, while no longer in that situation. You have been injured and have Combat Stress, not a mental disorder. You have real pain and suffering that is preventing you from living the life you once knew and still deserve.

We will help you gain the knowledge to better understand your brain’s hard-wiring system, and help you see why you continue to experience the things that race through your mind, and why your body’s survival alarm is still set on high.  Armed with this knowledge we will be able to show you ways to begin to reset your own alarm and maintain it at a level that will allow you to react appropriately when needed, and peacefully exist in the civilian world and enjoy the life you rightful deserve.

Be sure to check out www.OneWarriorWon.org 


To read an amazing interview with the founder of One Warrior Won, check out Warrior SOS, the book on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

The Most Severely Wounded Airman in History: Triple Amputee, Brian Kolfage, Jr.

The Most Severely Wounded Airman in History: 

Triple Amputee, Brian Kolfage, Jr.

Interview by Jeffrey Denning

To read amazing interviews with warriors, check out Warrior SOS: Interviews, Insights and Inspiration, the book on Amazon.com. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D3WO7VK

Brian Kolfage is a former Security Forces Airman-turned Architect.  On September 11, 2004, on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he lost both legs and an arm after a rocket attack.  The 107mm rocket shell exploded about three feet from Airman Kolfage, who was thrown several feet in the air and landed against a wall of sandbags.  Still conscious, he began calling for help.  Thirty-six hours after being struck by the blast of that mortar, he was airlifted to Walter Reed Medical Center, where his new life would begin. 

The fact that no one with his level of amputation had ever been able to walk independently didn’t discourage him.  Brian walked out of Walter Reed 11 months after being injured.  To this day, he is still the most severely wounded Airman to survive any war.  

After leaving the hospital, he continued his service in the Air Force for a time and was assigned to Davis Monthan AFB (Tucson, Arizona) 355 Security Forces Squadron as the Base Security Manager.  Brian further gave service to the community by proudly accepting a position on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’  Veterans Advisory Committee where he provided crucial, inside information to help the Congresswoman make vital decisions which helped veterans nationally.  Additionally, he was invited by the Congresswoman to be her special guest at the 2012 Presidential State of the Union Address when she resigned. 

Today, at the time of this interview, Brian is in his fourth year at the University of Arizona’s School of Architecture, where he has risen among the ranks to the top of his class with an overall 3.8 GPA.  He never let the daunting tasks of drawing without his dominant right hand affect his ability to perform.  With persistence and determination, he has beat all the odds stacked against him and recently was awarded one of the most prestigious military scholarship’s, the Pat Tillman Scholar Award. 

Brian continues to embrace a positive attitude as he makes great strides, both literally and figuratively, in learning how to walk with his prosthetics.  He and his wife continues to make trips back to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to visit with newly wounded vets.  His insight and ability to connect with the veterans gives them new hope for their future.

Do you remember any details when you were injured?

I do.   I was fully conscious after my friends rolled me over on my back.  I remember every detail like it was yesterday.  I wasn’t in any pain at first.  I remember being pissed because I knew what happened, and how it happened.  I looked at my hand and it was hanging by skin like it had been chewed off.  My hand was folded backwards and hanging.  I tried looking at my legs but my friend Sr. Airman Cortez put his hand over my eyes so I wouldn’t see.  I told him to just get me home.

What was the hardest thing you encountered when you were in the hospital?

The hardest thing I encountered was literally dealing with having to learn how to re-live my life.  I had one hand and no legs, everything was different.  Putting clothes on, brushing my teeth, shaving left handed, zippers, buttons, unscrewing lids, caps, tying and untying knots, etc, all the little basic things we take for granted became a huge task for me and there’s hundreds more too.

Dealing with the fact that my legs were gone really wasn’t as tough as you would think, though it sucked for a few days, for sure.  I was an athlete and always depended on my legs.  My legs and extreme health at the time is ultimately what allowed my body to stay alive in those crucial moments after I was injured.

How did you overcome the set back and the loss of your three limbs?

I had to be very patient and just try to think outside of the box when doing my daily grind.  I became very creative and it took months to be able to just function normal again. 

 One moment really stuck out to me being able to move past losing my legs and that was seeing another wounded guy with all his limbs, but he didn’t know the people around him were his family.  He had no clue, and he looked 100 percent normal.  I also saw other guys missing half of their heads!  It was crazy to see how medical technology kept people alive who in any other war would be dead.  After seeing this stuff I realized I still had the most important thing: my head, my brain.  I could care less about my legs from that point on and I never looked back.

How has life been since leaving the hospital?

It’s been great.  The first two years after being out were still a learning experience for me.  Being thrusted into society after such a horrific incident was eye-opening, especially how some people react to me.  However, 99 percent of people are genuine and compassionate.  A lot of people attempt to give me pity, say they are so so sorry, and even cry.  I feel like telling them, “listen my life is probably better than yours, so relax a bit.”  But I know everyone deals with it differently. 

Kids are great; instantly I’m robo-cop or a robot.  Some kids will just stare in awe so I rotate my prosthetic hand 360 degrees and it freaks them out.  They usually run and hide behind their mom.  I have fun with it.

Do you feel the VA and the Air Force have taken care of you well? 

They have and with no major complaints.  The medical staff for the VA are amazing.  The ratings and evaluation people are evil, but it’s their job.  

The Air Force has been there for anything I need as well.  They have a great program that they stood up right after I was injured to deal with patients like me.  Even the leadership at the top communicates with me and has stayed in touch on a personal level.  They have become family to me.  I’m sure it affected everyone involved, so they probably have that connection with me because it was tragic for them as well. 

Do you have any key information you’ve learned that could help others?

There’s one thing I learned and I share it with everyone; it’s to document everything or have medical documentation about any issues you obtained while in the military.  It doesn’t matter how small, do it.  Even if you plan on doing a short enlistment, it still matters.  To get free college tuition, a computer, free books, free everything related to school, all you need is a 15 percent disability rating to qualify for the VA’s Voc Rehab program.  If you want to be a brain surgeon, they’ll foot bill for everything.  

I’ve told this to people and they got their 15 percent disability for back issues and are now going to school for free, plus they pay you $800 month if you go full time.  So not only do they pay for school, they pay you to go.  This is the program I’m using right now to pay for my five year Architecture degree, and I’m planning to attend Harvard grad school which they will be paying for as well. 

I know another vet like myself who is going to Harvard law and the VA is stuck with the bill.  It’s a great program.  One more thing: never accept the first rating they give you.  DENY, DENY, DENY till you get what you deserve.  They NEVER give you what you deserve the first or maybe even the second time.  I denied mine twice and received a 30 percent raise in benefits.

Okay, now for the crucial question.  What happened?

I was deployed attached to the Army to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.  They needed 13 volunteers to  forward deploy to Balad/LSA Anaconda to run the Customs Enforcement for the entire region of Iraq.  I desperately wanted to go instead of hanging out in Kuwait getting fat at pizza hut.  Out of 350 others my chances were slim.  

My friend was selected, but I wasn’t.  

I told one of the newer guys who was from my home base that if he went, he was going to get hit by a rocket and lose his legs (in a joking manner).  Nevertheless, he just had a child and didn’t want to go.  Everyone knew I wanted to go so I took his spot, and we left the next day.  

About two weeks later, on September 11, 2004, I awoke about 12:45pm (about 15 minutes earlier than normal) so I decided to grab a cold water from the moral tent.  As I walked out of my tent I asked my buddy if he wanted to go, but he didn’t.  I stepped out of my tent and walked about 20 feet.  I was in the middle of the intersection of tents when I heard a turbine noise for a millisecond, and I was out.  

My friends came out of the tent to see if anyone was hit and that’s when they found me lying face down on the ground with my feet pointing up.  They rolled me over and that’s when I became fully conscious.  I recall every detail.  

My right hand was severed at the wrist and hanging backwards with all the skin peeled back.  I tried to look at my legs but my good friend Cortez put his hand over my eyes so I wouldn’t see.  At that point I knew it was bad, but I didn’t feel any pain. 

I was dying of thirst.  I told my friend Higgs to get me water.  (I learned right be fore you hemorrhage to death you get very thirsty.)  Medics actually stopped me from drinking.  My friends Cortez and Higgs were rushing to stop the bleeding from my femoral arteries, as well as many others who came to help.  They were applying towels to the massive areas where my thighs once were.  They were completely gone, just mangled mush.  The medics arrived and put me into a litter, then pain kicked in and it was like my body was lit on fire.  

I arrived at the Balad Combat Support Hospital (CSH) five minutes after I was hit.  They rolled me into the door and I saw the nurses and doctors looking at me in awe, and just like that I was out.  I found out later a 107mm mortar landed three feet away from me.  I was so close that the blast projection liquified my thighs and luckily took the blast completely saving my man parts.  As you read this it sounds calm, but nothing was calm about this.  Two or three more rockets impacted around us.  The air was smokey, and chaos was everywhere; it was a horrific scene to see first hand.

You said that you remember everything perfectly.  Do you dream about it?  Flashbacks?

I don’t dream about it or have any flashbacks.  It’s never really bothered me. 

Really?  I mean, it seems surreal and, well, unbelievable to think you have not been affected, ever—even in the slightest way.  Not even a hint of sadness, grief or hard days?  Regret for volunteering to go from Kuwait into Balad?  Bitterness, anger or discomfort at loud noises, crowds?  Hyper-vigilance?  

Do you or have you had any of the emotional feelings or residual effects so many combat veterans have—any at all? 

It’s definitely affected me.  I just don’t get bummed about it.  At first I when I would think about not being able to play hockey or surf anymore it would piss me off for a few minutes each time.  But anyone who knew me before knows I’m very laid back and hate to be in bad moods.  I knew there was nothing I could do to get them back, so it wasn’t worth being upset.  

On my deployments I never saw direct combat besides seeing a mortar land next to me.  My 13-man fire team was the first unit on the ground inside Iraq during the invasion.  We saw no combat while we ran convoys.  IED’s were not being used then either.  It was fun . . . to be frank. 

My second deployment was in 2004.  I wasn’t there but two weeks.  My logical thinking for why I am so relaxed about it mentally is because I never experienced the stressors that most people have.  Loud noises, crowds . . .  Love it!  ’Went to the super bowl in 2008, NHL and MLB games.  

For the initial phase of my recovery I was so doped up for months, that I didn’t care about my legs really.  I was feeling good.  It sounds crazy but true. 

I’m not a regretful person.  I know things happen for a reason, so I could never be mad at myself for volunteering.  

I had a strong support system with family, friends, and all the doctors at Walter Reed.  I was very happy-go-lucky at Walter Reed and was constantly goofing off and clowning on guys who only lost a leg.  It was my personality, and it never changed.  As I realized how lucky I was to be alive, have my head working and man parts, I really began living my life again.  I embraced my new life, the new me, and learned so much while in that hospital.  

Being around guys who were mentally disabled for life because of a fragment of metal in their head really opened my eyes!  I would see these guys who were my age at the time (21-ish) and they had to drink every meal through a straw.  I saw guys who had half their heads missing, and others with no faces.  What normal person could be engulfed in this everyday for a year and not be thankful for what they had?  I saw so much grief and so much horrific stuff that people never see it literally kicked me in the ass, and set me on course to who I am today.  

I’ve seen pictures of my injuries from head to toe minutes after I was hit, and I'm still awake in the pics.  When I look at them it reminds me how lucky I am to be here.  If you saw them you would wouldn’t believe I had lived.  People never live with these injuries.  I was just lucky enough to be injured one minute away from the regional hospital in Iraq. 

On September 11, 2004, one thing didn’t go my way that day.  But a million other things did.  My life is great.  I have a beautiful wife, family, dogs, bought a house on my own, finish my degree in architecture next year, what couldn't be good about this?  

The human mind is an amazing thing that’s developed over millions of years.  We are hard wired to deal with trauma.  Just as DNA decides who we are, some of us are just lucky to have DNA that allows us to deal with trauma better.  

Before my injuries I was a little arrogant, and cocky sometimes.  If you would have told me I was going to lose my legs and hand the next day I would have told you that I’d rather be dead, and swore by it!  But once it happened my body went into survival mode, and I had no control.  My entire way of thinking changed instantly, and I didn’t care.  In fact, when I was laying on the ground bleeding to death I told my friend Cortez that “I knew my legs are gone.  I don’t care.  Just get me home. . . .” 

In addition, my way of thinking has been further affected by two other incidents.  One year after I was injured a friend from my unit was killed in Iraq by an EFP (Explosively Formed Projectile), then years later I was on Congresswoman Gabby Giffords’ Veteran Advisory Committee when she was shot in the head.  I’ve seen how fragile life is and know how fast it can yanked away.

I’m sorry to hear about the death of your friend.  The whole nation was shocked when Congresswoman Giffords’ was shot, but since you knew her that affected you much more profoundly, no doubt.  These are horrible tragedies.  

You do have a gift of resilience.  What a blessing!  

You said that the military has treated you well and you have friends that are like family.  What about other family members?  How did they respond to you, and how did they help?

All my family was pretty shocked, as you could imagine.  The Air Force sent chaplains, the whole nine yards.  They were preparing for my death, and none of the docs were too optimistic.  

The very first time I began speaking—but I don’t remember any of it—I was telling my dad and the medical staff about plans of college when I was still in the ICU and only days out from the incident.  I think they saw that I had a strong mind, and as I slowly came to, I was still me.  It made it easier on everyone to deal with it.  I was very self-motivated and involved in what was going on with my medical care too.  Once they realized I would be able to take care of myself on my own they pretty much went back to normal, which was about a month after I was injured. 

I have another question: what advice would you give to veterans who suffer from depression or PTSD?

I’ve never personally been affected by either; however, I’ve met many people who’ve suffered from both and it seems like the key to it is getting out and being active.  The Wounded Warrior Project has helped many people I know by allowing any veteran to go on free trips, which get veterans out being active.  I’m talking about trips to Alaska to fish, Colorado to hunt, or Florida for water sports.  They allow veterans who have similar struggles to come together in a nonclinical environment to share their struggles with each other and bond.  

I’m not a professional in this matter, however I’ve seen many life’s changes from this program and would suggest that anyone who feels they need a boost to their morale to give the WWP a call or email, and they’ll have your back as they did for me and my other issues. 

Do you believe in God?  Why or why not?  How has your belief helped in your recovery and your future?

I do believe in God.  I guess you can say I’m a non practicing catholic, or least that’s what I was raised in.  It really never factored into my recovery one bit.  

Being highly competitive in sports my whole life and always trying my best has been one of the drivers that kicked in automatically when I woke up in the hospital.  I felt like someone had just one-upped me, that being an insurgent, and I wasn’t going to let them determine how I lived my life.  I was going to conquer what they did to me and be even better than I was.  That was my mentality.

Brian, I’m amazed at what you’ve accomplished.   You’re an inspiration to me and many others.  You have an amazing optimism and a great outlook on life.  Keep up the great work and, please, give our love and appreciation to all the wounded warriors you continue to meet and associate with.  

This interview, and many more, will soon be published into a forthcoming e-book published by Warrior SOS founder and director, Jeffrey Denning, in early 2013. There are warriors from Panama, wives of warriors, a warrior who was one of the only Marines to survive the USMC Barracks bombing in Lebanon, Vietnam Vets, a WWII Battle of the Bulge survivor and many, many more.  Proceeds will be donated to the widow and children of two-time Iraqi War Vet, John Cloninger. 

Also, be sure to check out Jeffrey Denning's weekly column on warriors in military and law enforcement at NewsCornerUSA.com.

Stay tuned to the Warrior SOS blog, and stay safe! 

To read this and other amazing interviews, check out Warrior SOS, the book on Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-SOS-Military-Veterans-Emotional/dp/1462117341/

For Warrior SOS book endorsements from Glenn Beck, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and others, check out the author's link: http://www.jeffrey-denning.com/books/warrior-sos/