Category Archives: Military

Looking for Life After Loss-Chapter Seven

Posted on November 7, 2025 by richrockwood

The next day was Friday, the day of the luau. Ray, by then had some idea of what to expect, but hoped it would be more than dinner and a show. He and Wes had talked about women and Ray … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Appearance, Bravery, Communication, Computer, Connection, Courage, Death, Depression, Disappointment, Feelings, Friendship, Grief, Letting Go, Life, Loss, love, Manliness, Marriage, Memory, Perseverance, Perspective, relationships, Self-Worth, Suffering, vacation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Looking for Life After Loss-Chapter Five

Posted on October 25, 2025 by richrockwood

The next morning, getting out of bed at his usual 6:30 a.m., he took off his pajamas and stepped into the shower. As he washed himself he started humming a melody which he couldn’t identify or remember humming in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Challenge, Feelings, Friendship, Fun, Grief, Holidays, Letting Go, Loss, Military, Restoration, vacation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Looking for Life after Loss-Chapter Four

Posted on October 18, 2025 by richrockwood

Ray tore open the letter, but not until noticing the return address was different than the one he had. Someone must have corrected it. He scanned the page. In the first part of the letter Wes told about what he’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Alcohol, Laughter, Military, relationships, Service, Socializing, Veteran | Tagged | Leave a comment

Three Similar Stories, But Different Coverage for One: Are We Just a Statistic?

Posted on December 27, 2016 by richrockwood

  Over the last few days there have been three news items dealing with unexpected deaths that seem to have been given quite different treatments by the news media in America.  The first was the crash of a Russian airliner … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Belief, Conflict, Country, Culture, Death, Entertainment, Famous People, Grief, Humanity, Life, Loss, Military, Music, Peace, Politics, Russia, Self-Worth, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Thoughts on Memorial Day 2013

Posted on May 27, 2013 by richrockwood

It is my family’s custom to go out to breakfast on all holidays so today was no different.  On my way home, I thought about my observance of Memorial Day.  I hoped I could find a service somewhere either in … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Appreciation, Bravery, Choices, Commitment, Country, Courage, Faithfulness, Fear, Freedom, Holidays, Life, love, Loyalty, Memorial Day, Military, Mission, Patriotism, Prayer, Quiet Time, Service, Soldier, The Past, Values | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Second-Second Chance

Posted on February 25, 2013 by richrockwood

A Gust of Grace: blew through my life when I was in the US Army.  I was in during the height of the Vietnam War (1967-1970).  I had finished basic training at Fort Knox and the class ahead of me … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Faith, Fear, Grace, Military, Morals, Patriotism, Principles, Priorities, Repentance, Soldier, The Past, War, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The First Time

Posted on February 4, 2013 by richrockwood

General Observations About Life:  The first job I had was packing groceries and helping people load them in their cars.  I worked at a local supermarket and providing this service to customers was something done which young people could do.  To … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Accomplishment, Adaptability, Adventures, Claustrophobia, Courage, Employment, Job, Military, Perspective, Reality, Stress, Wisdom, Work, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From 9/11 to 12/7

Posted on December 5, 2012 by richrockwood

Living in the Past:  The terrorist attack of 911 gave every American, old enough to understand, the feeling Americans must have had when Pearl Harbor was attacked December 7, 1941.  We’ll soon mark the 71st anniversary of that surprise attack. … Continue reading →

Posted in Apocalyptic, Country, Evil, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Imagination, Life, Military, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, Priorities, Soldier, Suffering, Tasks, Terrorism, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Military Service for the Holidays

Posted on November 28, 2012 by richrockwood

Living in the Past:  As I’ve already shared, I was in the US Army during the 1960’s.  One of the things I wondered about when I was away from home was whether the folks back home knew what I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Country, Creativity, Faithfulness, Feelings, Focus, Military, Morale, Patriotism, Perspective, Politics, relationships, Service, Soldier, Volunteerism, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Take a Walk

Posted on November 19, 2012 by richrockwood

  Lessons from Life:  When I was in the Army, it seemed an easy way out of my problems.  Whenever things piled up and I began to think I couldn’t handle life, I always took a walk.  There was something … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Contentment, Creation, Creativity, Enjoyment, Exercise, Feelings, Focus, Fun, Guidance, Happiness, Health, Life, Military, Nature, Peace, Perspective, Quiet Time, Stress | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment