Stephen Carlson, Author at Task & Purpose

By Stephen Carlson May 10, 2017

Opinion

Sending More US Troops To Afghanistan Shows How Little We Learned From Vietnam

On Jan. 23, 1973, President Richard Nixon gave a speech describing a peace agreement with North Vietnam after over a...

By Stephen Carlson Sep 11, 2015

History

151 Years Ago, General Sherman Gave America Its Best Definition Of War

Throughout the summer of 1864, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman commanded three Union armies in a series of battles across northwest Georgia...

By Stephen Carlson Jul 7, 2015

History

How Mandatory Military Service Started In The Civil War

On July 7, during the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation putting into effect the...

By Stephen Carlson Jun 30, 2015

History

How The Korean War Started 65 Years Ago

On the night of June 30, 1950, Lt. Col. Charles B. Smith was asleep in his quarters at Camp Woods...

By Stephen Carlson Dec 22, 2014

News

What Changed And What Stayed The Same: How 2014 Impacted The Veterans Community

2014 has been a tumultuous year for veterans and the military. A country where many thought the war was over...

By Stephen Carlson Dec 16, 2014

News

The Man Who Killed The Bill To Combat Veterans Suicide

It is doubtful that any single senator of the post-9/11 era has managed to piss off as many veterans as...

By Stephen Carlson Dec 10, 2014

Community

‘Let The Damn Army Clean Up The Mess’: An (Almost) Story Of Suicide

I don’t even know why I took the gun with me out to the garage. Since I had been home...

By Stephen Carlson Dec 8, 2014

History

The Japanese Attack On Pearl Harbor Was About Oil

The “day that will live in infamy” ended with the deaths of over 2,400 sailors, Marines and soldiers, along with...

By Stephen Carlson Dec 5, 2014

News

Who Is Ash Carter And Why Does He Make Sense As Defense Secretary?

President Barack Obama announced on Friday that former Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is the White House’s choice to...

By Stephen Carlson Dec 4, 2014

History

The Story Behind The First Submarine To Sink A Warship

When testing new military technology, there are always risks for the operators. Test pilots suffered appalling death rates in the...

By Stephen Carlson Nov 25, 2014

News

The Committees That Oversee Military And Veterans Affairs Will See Big Changes

After the midterm elections gave the Republicans the majority in Congress, there are some big shakeups coming to several key...

By Stephen Carlson Nov 21, 2014

Gear

The Man-Portable Rocket Launcher That Could Destroy A City Block

Davy Crockett was a renowned frontier hero steeped in myth and legend, much of it probably based on tales invented...

By Stephen Carlson Nov 17, 2014

News

So Far, The Big VA Reforms Have A Failing Grade

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald was sworn into office in July inheriting an avalanche of problems and scandal that...

By Stephen Carlson Nov 6, 2014

News

Meet The 8 Post-9/11 Veterans Just Elected To Congress

The midterms are over, and a number of new members of Congress are post-9/11 veterans and reservists. Here is a...

By Stephen Carlson Nov 4, 2014

News

Is The Pentagon’s New Survey On Sexual Assault Too Graphic?

In 2012, the results of the defense department’s survey on gender relations in the military caused a national firestorm. The...

By Stephen Carlson Oct 27, 2014

News

Automated Swarm Boats Are Next Up In Drone Warfare

The spectacle is mesmerizing: A squadron of 13 small rubber boats moving in perfect synchronicity, turning right or left in...

By Stephen Carlson Oct 21, 2014

News

Despite DoD Budget Cuts, The Military-Industrial Complex Is Alive And Well

The Association of the United States Army is well known as a professional development and advocacy organization, and its annual...

By Stephen Carlson Oct 15, 2014

News

The Psychology Of Why People Join Terror Movements

“We will conquer your Rome, break your crosses, and enslave your women, by the permission of Allah, the Exalted. This...

By Stephen Carlson Oct 9, 2014

News

The 6 Issues Veterans Should Rally Behind In The Midterm Elections

You would have to look pretty hard to find a politician or candidate who doesn’t profess staunch support for veterans....

By Stephen Carlson Oct 9, 2014

News

Lawmakers Battle Over Tobacco Use In The Military

When Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was asked during a March press conference whether he favored banning tobacco sales on military...

By Stephen Carlson Oct 7, 2014

Community

My Love For The M240 Goes Way, Way Back

I remember waking up one morning, sleeping on some rocks, spooning my M240B like it was the love of my...

By Stephen Carlson Sep 30, 2014

Community

This Soldier Took A Joy Ride To The White House In A Stolen Helo

When Iraq War veteran Omar Gonzalez jumped the fence of the White House on Sunday, Sept. 19, and rushed the...

By Stephen Carlson Sep 26, 2014

News

New Report Reveals Evolving Terrorist Threat Against the US

“Last night, on my orders, America’s armed forces began strikes against ISIL targets in Syria,” President Barack Obama said in...

By Stephen Carlson Sep 24, 2014

Community

Ivy Leaguer, Enlisted Army Ranger, CIA Analyst … Is Congress Next?

The 2014 Midterms are weeks away, with hundreds of candidates campaigning hard for a chance to join the halls of...

By Stephen Carlson Sep 19, 2014

Community

The Story Of The Man Who Fought In His Friend’s Place In Vietnam

What started as a simple plan between old friends to help one get out of deploying to Vietnam resulted in...

Stephen Carlson

News

Featured by Stephen Carlson

Sending More US Troops To Afghanistan Shows How Little We Learned From Vietnam

151 Years Ago, General Sherman Gave America Its Best Definition Of War

How Mandatory Military Service Started In The Civil War

How The Korean War Started 65 Years Ago

What Changed And What Stayed The Same: How 2014 Impacted The Veterans Community

The Man Who Killed The Bill To Combat Veterans Suicide

‘Let The Damn Army Clean Up The Mess’: An (Almost) Story Of Suicide

The Japanese Attack On Pearl Harbor Was About Oil

Who Is Ash Carter And Why Does He Make Sense As Defense Secretary?

The Story Behind The First Submarine To Sink A Warship

The Committees That Oversee Military And Veterans Affairs Will See Big Changes

The Man-Portable Rocket Launcher That Could Destroy A City Block

So Far, The Big VA Reforms Have A Failing Grade

Meet The 8 Post-9/11 Veterans Just Elected To Congress

Is The Pentagon’s New Survey On Sexual Assault Too Graphic?

Automated Swarm Boats Are Next Up In Drone Warfare

Despite DoD Budget Cuts, The Military-Industrial Complex Is Alive And Well

The Psychology Of Why People Join Terror Movements

The 6 Issues Veterans Should Rally Behind In The Midterm Elections

Lawmakers Battle Over Tobacco Use In The Military

My Love For The M240 Goes Way, Way Back

This Soldier Took A Joy Ride To The White House In A Stolen Helo

New Report Reveals Evolving Terrorist Threat Against the US

Ivy Leaguer, Enlisted Army Ranger, CIA Analyst … Is Congress Next?

The Story Of The Man Who Fought In His Friend’s Place In Vietnam