Heroes Journey

Healing Takes Many Forms

(***Edit: In the original version, I said that Scott had deployed to Afghanistan during the NEO. He did not. He drove operations from the US. At GCV-F, we put our corrections up top)

Howdy,

Ok. Let’s take a break from hunting bad guys and talk about healing.

In recent weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about healing. That’s because I feel so great. I can feel my body healing, and most importantly, my mind and soul are healing.

This weekend was a case in point. On Saturday, I attended Scott Man’s Heroes Journey. It was a magical day. Scott is a retired Green Beret who literally wrote the book on counterinsurgency.

Scott reminds me a lot of my old boss in Kandahar, Rusty Bradley, who also wrote a great book on Afghanistan.

Rusty Bradley is an intimidating presence, my friends. I was intimidated. LOL. I’m not scared of many men, but oh shit, bro, don’t hurt me!

When I was under his command, he was already a legend. I don’t remember all the details, but he took over for the Civil-Military Operation Center—South during my time at Village Stability Platform Ghorak.

Let’s just say Rusty and Scott are from the same cloth. They both understand the importance of fighting in the dirt with your allies. Alliances cannot only be made in air condition offices at some fancy war college. In an insurgency, you must form your partnerships in the dirt—and hunt like them.

I have met Scott a few times. We swam in the same waters during the fall of Afghanistan. He wrote an incredible book about his efforts.

Scott drove operations in Afghanistan from the United States. It’s quite an impressive accomplishment.

When Afghanistan fell, I was in command of an intelligence squadron, but DIA recalled me to help with the evac effort.

I walked into my supervisor’s office wearing flip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt and said, “Send me right now. I can help and get people out.”

And I could’ve. If I had my old interpreter, Zabiullah, we would’ve maneuvered effortlessly. I can operate better alone, but only with the requisite interpreter. And Zabiullah was fearless.

But, alas, that mofo said no. (They always said no).

Anyway, walking into Scott’s function was a bit intimidating. I think very highly of Scott Mann. Luckily, I had an in-with Holly Higgins, who you might remember from episode 5 of Should to Shoulder.

The room was filled with those affected by war. We had two Afghan and Iraq veterans and, most importantly, a Vietnam veteran.

His name is Steve. And he’s a BAD MAN! Do you know why? Steve is a tunnel rat from Vietnam. If you don’t know what a tunnel rat is, don’t worry, I gotcha. In essence, he crawled through tunnels to kill both North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong soldiers—often with nothing other than a knife, a flashlight, and a pistol.

There were others there, too. Those we don’t often speak of—the widows of those slain. The family members left in the wake of a suicide. The pain caused by war is immense.

War is a seductive mistress. It can give you so much but also takes so much from you. Unfortunately, too often, the sins we commit during war keep us mum. But at Heroes Journey, everyone’s story was welcome and, more importantly, sacred.

We’ve forgotten the power of storytelling in the United States. Storytelling has the power to heal.

Throughout the day, we practiced telling our stories after receiving hours of practice telling them in front of each other. At the end of the day, after multiple iterations, I told my story extemporaneously. And, if I don’t say so myself, it was a good performance.

Even Scott Mann, the legend himself, told me so.

That, my friends, meant the world to me. To be seen. That’s the secret sauce. I see you. I know. And sit there in the trauma. And honor it.

Hap tip to Scott, Holly, and the rest of the crew for making this grump combat veteran cry (again)!

If you’re looking for someone who really supports veterans, give some money to Scott Mann’s organization. They’re doing the Lord’s work.

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ANASOC

Speaking of bad mofos, on this week’s episode of Stories From My Brothers: Tales of the Afghan Security Force, we talked to Naqib Mirzada. Naqib and I met during America’s last year in Afghanistan. He’s a bad man. He scares me, too. I’m just a little ol intel weenie, don’t hurt me!

Graduate of West Point. Graduate of Army Ranger school. Graduate of Air Assault.

He was part of some of the most elite commando units inside the Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps (ANASOC). Bruh - yikes!

Look, people. You wanna know why I’m smart on Afghanistan? I let the Afghans teach me - not the other way around. That’s it. Intellectual humility. Nothing more. Nothing less.

The episode drops tomorrow!

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The College World Series

My beloved Aggies are going to the College World Series!

Sweet Baby Jesus!

I’ve already got my tickets for Saturday’s fight against those damn bastards at the University of Florida.

Charge!

I’m excited, though I’m also bad luck. I haven’t seen the Aggies win a game in any sport in five years.

I went to a baseball game last year, and they lost.

College Sports gods, I beg of you, please have mercy on me!

Until Next Time