MILSPEAK MEMO MILITARY LIFE IN THE WORDS OF THOSE WHO LIVE IT volume 7: catch-22 POSTING quarterly summer (August/September) fall (October/November) Winter (January/February)
 
To Fill-Up an Empty Page

There will be times when
you must lose your mind
forget all you have learned
to fill-up an empty page.
 
There will be gross stops
and sudden tugs along the way,
places where the words snag
 
like, in Block-City, where you 
have to stop and reflect upon
what your writing teacher
 
said at the roundtable when
he frowned at you like a worn-
out, hag-ridden cop, angry
 
because an accident occurred
when you stopped before an
onslaught of tough language
that growled and lurched like
 
a lion in a hive of hyenas.
You confused being a poet
with being a preacher. In
writing, you only save your-
 
self, maybe one, or more
onlookers, if you are lucky.
Write! as if you are the last
 
human left in this broken
world, one, in which you
couldn't allow another to
further wreck, nor to fix. —Willie James King, Veteran Willie James King is a widely published poet. He resides in Montgomery, AL. His latest book is The House in the Heart. His other books of poetry include Wooden Windows and At the Forest Edge. Visit Willie at http://www.williejamesking.com  http://www.amazon.com/House-Heart-Willie-James-King/dp/1893670244/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262638415&sr=1-1http://www.williejamesking.comhttp://www.williejamesking.comhttp://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Willie+James+King&x=0&y=0shapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2
 a publication of milspeak foundation “serving those who serve” editor: pirate the compiler contributing compilers Mustang AKA Harry Parmer, Major USMC (Ret.), “C” Co. 9th Engineers, Republic of Vietnam and 7th MEB, Desert Storm Sachem Two AKA Tom Sheehan, SSgt U.S. Army, 31st Infantry Regiment, Korean War O.A.T.S (One Among The Salts) AKA A.L. Syor, USMC 1965-69 Mammal AKA R. Richard Brown, Desert Storm and War on Terror Buckboard AKA Casey Cavanaugh FEATURES “military life in words & art” NONFICTION - FICTION - POETRY see submissions page SEND YOUR NEWS TO: memo@milspeak.org Readers, this electronic, online, guerilla ‘zine was founded January 3, 2009 by two members of the MACS Pack - Sally Drumm and Fred Siedentopf. Both these critters had a long history of being chosen to write things like op orders, SOP, self-study programs, awards, letters, and newsletters during their combined 50 years-plus of active service. It’s no wonder then that these two curmudgeons came together to create a magazine dedicated to freedom of speech for military people. There’s no denying this little rag’s existence and content has raised a few brows. So be it. You might be wondering, Why does she always bring out the monkeys, the cavorting, ridiculous, sometimes farting and not always funny monkeys? Well, the answer is simple. Monkey Mountain - Milspeak Memo - Two M’s - get it? See Volume 1.01-03-09 for a more intelligent discussion of all things Monkey Mountain. bring on the monkey Submissions.htmlmailto:submissions@milspeak.orgshapeimage_3_link_0shapeimage_3_link_1
POST V7.SU.11 “déjà vu” it is what it is: barbie gets smashed, mickey discovers the bad guys don’t always wear black, korea echoes, rip-offs abound, the kennedys remain unequaled, the office of the special counsel isn’t so special, the gov’t will suck you dry, the tax bill is never paid, and fiction abounds in the world of war. GET SOME! JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2011 POST V7.FA.11 “jamais vu” disconnection of perception and memory TAKE A LITTLE TRIP TO MARDI, REVISIT PLATOON, TAKE IN A LITTLE HOCKEY SUSPENSE, ENJOY THE POETRY OF THE MEMORIAL DAY WRITERS PROJECT, AND JOIN US IN INVITING ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WHO WON’T DO THEIR JOBS TO TAKE A HIKE . OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011 POST V7.WI.11 “presque vu” the almost lost WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF A POW IN AFGHANISTAN, THE STREETS OF BAGHDAD, A NEW MAN-NEW WAR, A JOURNEY INTO THE GREAT AMERICAN WEST, HARRY’S LAST STAND ON THE BACK DOCK, A BUM NAMED DANNY, AN AVIATOR’S CLASH WITH THE MILITARY RANK STRUCTURE, ROCK-YOUR-BOAT POETRY, A BRONZE STAR COMBAT CORRESPONDENT, A MEDAL OF HONOR AND SO MUCH MORE.... MARCH 2012 MILSPEAK MEMO VISIT MEMO IN POETS & WRITERS LITERARY MAGAZINE DATABASE!  “If the words honor, nobility, self-sacrifice, and altruism mean anything to you, this is the book to buy.” --Stephen Page-- BA Insider: Capital Living in Buenos Aires Purchasing a MilSpeak Books title supports MilSpeak Foundation. Milspeak Books are available at MilSpeak Books on Smashwords! Enter coupon code CC74X at checkout to receive a free copy of the MilSpeak anthology. CONTACT MILSPEAKMEMO@MILSPEAK.ORG SUBMISSIONS Disclaimer: The appearance of hyperlinks or logos does not constitute endorsement of Milspeak, Milspeak Memo, or linked sites, or the information (written and graphic), products, or services contained therein, by the Department of Defense, any other government agency or office. MILSPEAK FOUNDATION does not engage in political activity; however, writers and artists may present political opinions. Every attempt will be made for diversity. Content on these pages represents thoughts and opinions of the writers & artists, and not the official position of MilSpeak Foundation, its directors or of any other person, organization or institution. Enjoy! Contributors retain all rights to their works. ©2011 MILSPEAK FOUNDATION OOHRAH!PRODUCTIONS  MEMO_POST_V7.SU.11.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0_vuMEMO_POST_V7.FA.11.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamais_vuMEMO_POST_V7.WI.11.htmlMEMO_POST_V7.WI.11.htmlhttps://www.pw.org/content/milspeak_memohttp://bainsidermag.com/blog/pen/milspeak/https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7659mailto:MILSPEAKMEMO@MILSPEAK.ORGSubmissions.htmlhttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7659http://www.clmp.org/shapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2shapeimage_4_link_3shapeimage_4_link_4shapeimage_4_link_5shapeimage_4_link_6shapeimage_4_link_7shapeimage_4_link_8shapeimage_4_link_9shapeimage_4_link_10
a day late and a warrior...