The War Horse

The War Horse is a celebrated nonprofit newsroom recognized for its reliable journalism that explores the human effects of military service. Our dedicated team works to ensure accountability from those in power, supports democratic values, and enhances awareness of the real implications of military service.

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The Hidden Costs of Caregiving: Meet the Kids Taking Care of Wounded Veterans

1 month ago | thewarhorse.org | Jennifer Brookland

It was horrifying every time it happened, every time Kylie Briest’s father choked on his food and started to turn blue, every time her mom, Jenny, sprang out of her own dinner chair to attempt the Heimlich maneuver on her husband.
What Do Firings of DOD and VA Inspectors General Mean for Military Whistleblowers?

1 month ago | thewarhorse.org | Hope Seck

Three weeks after President Donald Trump’s extraordinary purge of inspectors general across the federal government, a document arrived in Navy Lt. Cmdr. Shannon Bencs’ email inbox.
On Sale for $2: A Soldier's Act of Heroism, Right Next to Used Books and an Old Toaster

1 month ago | thewarhorse.org | Audrey Pavia

Every Sunday, a swap meet takes over the parking lot of the VanBuren Drive-In movie theater in Riverside, California. During one visit, I had wandered away from my friends, who were combing through old dishes, looking for rare midcentury china to add to their collection. As I strolled through aisles past folding tables and blankets, my eyes roamed over the vast assortment of toasters, empty picture frames, coffee mugs, and well-worn hardcover books.
They Fought in Iraq’s Bloodiest Battle. Will Their Kids Be the Next Generation of Marines?

Dec 19, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Mike Frankel

Today, when more than 300 second lieutenants graduate from the intensive training known as The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, Aaron and Jennifer Cunningham will beam from the audience as their only son, Mason, takes his next step in becoming a Marine Corps officer. But last month, on the day after Veterans Day, their feelings were more complicated when Jennifer’s phone lit up with her son’s number. Retired Marine Col.
My Army Service Required Embracing the Suck—and Squeezing in a Few Good Laughs

Nov 26, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Jonathan Ore

Serving in the military is a lot of things. Absurd and funny are definitely part of the story. When people think about service, they think about combat or embracing the suck, and they are not wrong. However, my experience in the Army was filled with fun stories that didn’t teach me a lesson or give me the spicy memories that made me wake up late at night in a pool of sweat. Many times, it was just fun. Let’s be honest: Unless you were career military, most of our service took place when we were kids.
My Platoon’s Fight To Survive—and Heal From—The Bloodiest Battle in Iraq

Nov 14, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Thomas Brennan

My Platoon’s Fight To Survive—and Heal From—the Bloodiest Battle in IraqBy Thomas J. BrennanNovember 14, 2024A Caution To Readers: This story is an unvarnished, unsanitized firsthand account of the Second Battle of Fallujah that includes descriptions and photos that are candidly disturbing. In telling this story, I promised my fellow Marines that I would not sugarcoat our experience. Narrow metal cages sit empty in a dark, damp corner of the execution room.
Video: My Platoon Recalls Fallujah, Iraq War’s Bloodiest Battle

Nov 10, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Thomas Brennan

In November 2004, I was a 19-year-old lance corporal assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. We were at al-Asad, an air base in Iraq, when we were told to pack only what we could carry. We strapped our packs to the sides of seven-ton trucks and rode into the darkness in a convoy of military vehicles that stretched to the horizon. When we got to Camp Fallujah, we all knew something big was about to happen. Thousands of Marines from across multiple battalions were crammed onto the base. On Nov.
Silence Was My Father’s Fortress. I Shared It for a Time Until Poetry Set Me Free.

Nov 7, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Bill Glose

I grew up on Air Force bases overseas, bouncing from one country to another. While most mothers were marking heights on kitchen door frames, mine was packing cupboards and taping boxes for yet another move. My father was a pilot, his plane an F-4 Phantom with a shark’s mouth painted on its nose.
New Bill Raises Hope for Amputee Veterans Craving Active Lifestyle

Sep 23, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Hope Seck

It took nearly two years of badgering for the Department of Veterans Affairs to approve amputee veteran Matt Brown’s prosthetic leg socket specialized for jiujitsu. It took only three months of practicing his cherished martial art for Brown to lose 18 pounds and regain a sense of himself.
It All Began With a Secret Union. I Wish I Hadn’t Settled for Secrecy.

Sep 3, 2024 | thewarhorse.org | Noelle Wiehe

I started writing for the U.S. Army as a civilian when I was 21. I worked alongside a veteran editor, a couple of National Guard soldiers, and a few officers. They all warned me against doing two things: joining the military and falling in love with a soldier. I did both. The thing is, I didn’t really consider the man I fell in love with a soldier at first, although he was. We’d known each other since childhood. At 14, we’d shared crushes on each other. He was familiar, and I needed that.