Ian Michael
Ian served four years in the Marine Corps as a fire support man, deploying twice to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. While pursuing higher education, Ian joined the California Army National Guard as a public affairs specialist. In late 2015, he deployed again, this time with a combat aviation regiment with an operational footprint in multiple countries across the Middle East. After returning home, Ian decided to broaden his horizons. In the world of firearms, Ian earned his certification as an NRA basic pistol instructor. He is a co-founder of Distributed Security Quad Cities, a firearms handling and safety training program. Ian’s passions include writing and photography. He is a prolific journalist with articles, photos, and documentaries that have been shared across the country and abroad. His most recent venture is into the world of speculative fiction. He’s published one volume of his work with several more on the way.
Nazism is Cool Again
In the 2018 English edition of her book The Unwomanly Face of War, Svetlana Alexievich expressed a commonly held fear in the former Soviet Union, and it absolutely came true. The Nazis would go down in history as brave heroes fighting for a lost cause, and the Soviets would be condemned as grotesque villains.
Landships, Horses, and Feet
If you had to compare war to a sport, which one would you choose? Football? Soccer? Tennis? No. Imagine a game of dodgeball, except with ten balls for every player, no breaks whatsoever, and both sides are toddlers. That’s war. If you make it five seconds into the game without your team disintegrating into chaos, be grateful. You got farther than most.
