Top Stories
Stories in Serve that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
The History behind the Purple Heart
In the US Armed Forces, the Purple Heart is second only to the Medal of Honor in terms of recognition. Furthermore, it is the oldest military award in the United States- but where did it originate?
Rose Loren Geer-RobbinsPublished 8 months ago in Serve
Four Habits of Discipline From My SEAL Dad
I grew up with a SEAL dad. He graduated from Class 117 in 1983. From there he was an active duty SEAL for 35 years. He was deployed for 50% of my life to war zones.
Sean KernanPublished 10 months ago in ServeWhere are you from?
“Where are you from? Quite frankly, this is probably one of my least favorite questions to be asked, especially when I was still in school. Then, I still moved frequently at the whim and necessity of Uncle Sam.
Top 10 Interesting Warplanes With The World's Most Ridiculous Design
Warplanes are some of the deadliest weapons ever designed. They have the ability to carry huge loads and destroy entire cities. How exactly are they interestingly designed? What makes them so ridiculous?
Writer TigerPublished 12 months ago in Serve7 Navy SEAL Characteristics That Are Worth Emulating
The Navy SEALs lead by example, that's what is so alluring about them. They don't wait for others to show them the way or ask for permission either. They simply go about their business with conviction and purpose.
Andy MurphyPublished about a year ago in Serve
The Siege of Tay Ninh Province
About me: I am a Permanent and Totally (P&T) disabled veteran of the Vietnam War. I am sharing my experiences looking back after the war in the hope it helps someone else find peace.
Daughter of War
We've all heard about the life-long effects that war can have on human life. Effects of war can include mass destruction of cities and long lasting effects on a country's economy. Citizens can turn into refugees and there are possibly mass killings of men, woman and children alike. The disastrous effect it has can last for lifetimes and even centuries.
Rebecca Lynn IveyPublished about a year ago in Serve
5 Lessons The Army Taught Me About Life
Joining the military taught me a lot about life. I feel wiser beyond my years and friends with their degrees. I absolutely value education, but a lot of the degrees seem like useless, debt building degrees.
Jordan MendiolaPublished about a year ago in ServeMy First Submarine Watch
This was it. I was finally a useful member of the crew. Earlier that morning, I had finally qualified to stand the Shutdown Roving Watch. Our boat was in the shipyard, which meant the engine room was shut down, but someone still needed to walk around every hour and check on different machines and temperatures and pressures. Enter the Shutdown Roving Watch, or SRW, or roving watch as it was spoken. This is the guy that wanders the depths of the engine room with a clipboard and flashlight, writing down the same set of numbers each hour, bored out of his mind. During the day there are plenty of crew members to chop it up with, shipyard workers to yell at, and commotion to keep us busy, but at night, there’s nobody. Three guys look after panels in the maneuvering room, one of which takes the occasional trip down into the engine room, and every few hours one of the supervisors will take a tour of the space and review the clipboard, but that’s it. It’s an important job, sure, but only on the rare occasion that something goes wrong. Otherwise, it’s a lonely way to spend a day, switching off with other watchstanders every few hours.
Jackson SherryPublished 2 years ago in Serve
Stripes and Bars to Stars
In the hip hop genre, rappers often describe how they’ve earned stripes, and sometimes in the next breath say they’re five star generals. This is true, but only with conditions. Someone who transitions from the enlisted ranks to becoming an officer is known as a mustang, and it takes decades for officers to achieve general status.
Skyler SaundersPublished 2 years ago in Serve
Crossing Over
As a young Marine, I was both excited & nervous to go to another country. Of course, as a member of the armed forces, there is a potential for being put in a dangerous environment which heightens the anxiety. Okinawa, Japan, was ordered to be my home for the next three years of my life. While going to a tropical island seems like a paradise, this was not a vacation but a workplace. We were allowed time to enjoy the island on our off time while still adhering to specific guidelines. "You are an ambassador!" was drilled into our heads from before leaving to go overseas. During this allotted free time, there seemed to be some tensions between the Okinawans & U.S military in some places. Others knew that the American army had money which made them all the friendlier. Until now, I did not fully understand these tensions. After reading multiple historical accounts, literature and speaking with some of the locals, I understood the impact of some of the past atrocities. This is why I chose to write about my time in Okinawa versus my other travels. My time spent overseas was the most intense cultural change I've experienced yet. With that, I also found it necessary to raise a bit of awareness regarding cross-cultural experiences.
Jeffrey A. SappPublished 2 years ago in Serve
Memorial Day in Canton, Georgia
About a year and a half ago, I rode through Canton, Georgia with a friend and neighbor on our way to Old Car City. As we were about to pass the Georgia National Cemetery on Hwy 20, he asked if I minded taking a brief detour. Knowing he was a Vietnam Veteran and wanting to see this relatively new memorial, I gladly complied. The entrance road wound through about a mile of wild and natural forest before you come to the second, and real, entrance to the cemetery. A large ornate marble wall and wrought iron gate flanked with American flags greets you as you enter the hallowed grounds.
Darryl BrooksPublished 2 years ago in Serve
