Keypoints - Stories of Service

Can't help but put this up - it's basically captures everything about America's military: we're vigilant and dangerous as hell.

Following is the link for my interview with Jay Kirk, freelance writer for GQ. The story appears in the February issue of Gentleman's Quarterly and tells everyone about my story in Afghanistan. http://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201202/burning-man-sam-brown-jay-kirk-gq-february-2012

Iraq's first competitive election in a half-century takes place, marking an historic breakthrough for the democratic principle in Iraq. 60 percent of eligible voters turn out, with the following ethnic breakdown: strong voter turnout among…

President Karzai’s Emergency Exfil On the evening of September 5th, 2002, Ninja 11 and Ninja 12 launched as a two-ship formation of USAF Special Operations MH-53M Pave Low helicopters. The aircraft were launched as an immediate casualty evacuation…

I would NOT want this fleet pointed in my direction if it was feeling playful...

On Dec. 15th 2011 the Iraq War finally came to an official end. With the possible exception of the Korean War, never in U.S. history has a major war concluded with so little fanfare: no dancing in the streets, no victory parades, no flashy…

24 KIA. 232 WIA. 3/5 AKA Dark Horse sacrificed more than any other unit in Afghanistan. God rest those who are no longer with us and comfort those who remember them.

We never plan to miss a Marine Corps Ball.

Someone is about to have to very bad day...

I ran more here then I did my entire life.

On that Sunday morning, I just got out of the shower and went up on the deck to observe the morning. I had a towel around me and was carrying a cigar box with my toiletries. I noticed that there was a lot of commotion in the sky. Planes were…

Now for the first time, I really felt like I was in the Air Force. Up until now, I wasn't ever on an actual Air Force Base. Here I was on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and flying on the RC-121-D which was the first Radar aircraft. It was a Super…

I guess this is when it all really started. My parents gave me a military service dress uniform that I wore to all the WWII victory celebrations in 1945. At every victory parade, as the flag bearer marched by, I would do my best to pop to attention…

No matter the service, you have to admit that's a pretty cool looking uniform...

Hootch corner... 3days out of every 40... the rest was rucksack time, humpin' the jungle lookin' for Chuck.

Breathing in the smoke and feeling the shock wave - that's a raw floating platform of democracy right there!

Section Ldr, Asst S-3, Platoon Ldr, 2/20th ARA Blue Max 1st CAV DIV IIICorps, RVN

NATO built a full recreation facility in an dormant volcano north of Naples, including a 9 hole golf course and clubhouse. I was transfered from my radio position to run the golf operation just prior to the golf course construction completion.…

With very few uparmored vehicles, most Army units construct makeshift shields for armor, formed from salvaged metal. I drove an unarmored 5-ton truck with expando van attached (which extends outward and is used as a tactical operations center…

Once on a dare, we pinned a shipmate into her bedding, while she was sleeping, using only the safety pins given to us in our issued sewing kits. Made for an interesting and very funny morning sound off when we all reported to the line at reveille.…