Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Serve.
Let Slip the Dogs of War
I never understood how books were worked on for several years, even ten, before the author felt it was finished. I never understood it until I realized that the majority of my work presently has been laying in abandoned notebooks or stuck in my head for decades not really knowing what to do with it.
By Ethan H. Gaines6 years ago in Serve
What Are Military Medals Made Of?
Medals of service are given for numerous reasons including service periods during times of war, particular campaigns or tours, and acts of valor and courage. These medals are typically worn on the service member’s dress uniform and signify that they have been rewarded for their superior service. You may be wondering what military medals are made of. Most medals consist of both a ribbon and a medallion. Each segment of the medal requires special materials and craftsmanship to be completed.
By Krisna Garcia6 years ago in Serve
So You Think You're An African-American
I walked into the main entrance of the post medical facility. A gentleman, a fellow soldier, bypassed me in the corridor and said, "keep that smile on your face. It's beautiful." That made me smile even harder. It was so natural to me to have a smile on my face that sometimes I forgot I was smiling. I was naturally a happy person. I didn't let anything get me down or ruin my joy. I was a strong, African-American, black woman.
By Latousha Young6 years ago in Serve
Credit Card Benefits for Military in 2020
Many active military members are unaware of the financial benefits they are eligible for. Waived fees, low interest rates, and lucrative cash-back deals are just a few of the many benefits offered to service members by the federal government and credit card companies. With these perks and benefits, service members with debt could save hundreds of dollars in waived interest. If you are an active-duty service member here are some things to consider.
By Damien Justus6 years ago in Serve
How to Combine Two Selves Part One
When I joined the Navy at 18 years old, right after high school as a wide eyed naïve teenager, I never could have imagined the journey I was about to set out on. My whole moral being was about to be shaken to it's core. It was going to be rebuilt. My sense of self, what I had been taught was going to go out the window for self preservation. You see, I signed on to be a Corpsman in the United States Navy. It was during the time of mass deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. I was a sophomore in high school when 9/11 happened. I was a junior when we found Saddam. My first boyfriend joined the Marines in 2003, my cousin joined the Navy in 2003 also. I left in September 2004 for bootcamp under the impression that "females don't deploy over there". I was fine with that. I wasn't ready for college, and I just wanted the G.I. Bill. Once my six years were up I was out. I had no intention of deploying. I wanted to learn a few medical skills and head to college to be a doctor. The Navy was my way in.
By Jacqueline Kinsey6 years ago in Serve
Memories of the Windrush
It was big with an off-white colour. Long with rows of small round portal for windows and rust speckles blemishing its off-paint as if a battle of hues was taking place where the vessel’s own history had left off. A dark strip, running the length of the ship, indicated the gangway. While high above me, two smoking black-painted stacks poked from the ship’s middle or its amidships - according to the shipbuilder’s definition - making the vessel seem even higher; its tall structure out-of-place on the edge of the capital’s harbour. The day was already hot. The blazing Caribbean sun as merciless as the stewards on the pier shouting at the top of their voices in the melee and mayhem. The smell of the sea assaulting my nose and me thanking God that I never once had to ditch in it.
By Kwame MA McPherson6 years ago in Serve
From Decoration Day to Memorial Day
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day but this term is seldom used now. I can recall my grandmother and others of her generation saying Decoration Day but as a child, I did not ask why. I now know that originally this was a day to “decorate” the graves of American war veterans. Memorial Day as we call it now is now a federal United States holiday. The purpose of this date is for mourning and honoring all military personnel who died serving in the US Armed Forces. I can remember my grandma and others placing flowers on the graves of our relatives who fought in WWI and WWII. This was also a time to check in the graves of nonmilitary loved ones. We had no cemetery caretaker and men from our small African American church volunteered to upkeep the area.
By Cheryl E Preston6 years ago in Serve
They Didn't Ask. I Didn't Tell.
When I was five years old, I knew that I desired to be with little girls both emotionally and sexually. I didn't know or understand what homosexuality was, but I knew that I wanted to be with a girl. As I aged into young adolescence, I had a steady boyfriend and attended dances and prom just like any other typical female. Still, I knew I wanted to be with a woman someday.
By Latousha Young6 years ago in Serve
Room3
CHAPTER 1 The year is 1949 around early October just after the war the Sternberg’s are looking forward to moving back to Belgium. Claude Sternberg and his wife Nicole Sternberg had moved to Birmingham to escape the Nazi brutal regime towards people of Jewish descent in Belgium.
By Walugendo Billy6 years ago in Serve
The Most Unbelievable Thing I Witnessed in the Military
Someone on Quora asked this question, so I gave them an honest answer. In 2006, I was an Air Force embedded trainer in Kabul, Afghanistan, and we drove out to see the local military guys using sledgehammers to tear up the exterior of a new facility we'd had built for their army. That was the most unbelievable thing I saw in my 21-year career. But the fact is, all my days over there were just one scene after another that made me wonder what we were trying to accomplish.
By Matt Cates6 years ago in Serve
How to Financially Plan For Veterans
Historically, veterans and military members are not equipped with the financial tools they need to succeed in civilian life In many cases, veterans leave the military with a lot of debt and bad credit scores, making it difficult to find another job or achieve financial stability. Leaving the military is a big financial transition, and veterans should be given the financial support they need to have financial freedom. Here are some financial planning strategies for veterans.
By Mikkie Mills6 years ago in Serve
