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John Ismay

@johnismay.bsky.social
3.8K followers 135 following 368 posts

Reporter, The New York Times. Former U.S. Navy EOD & Iraq vet. Reach me securely via Signal at: johnismay.01 or by email at: john.ismay@nytimes.com

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Reposted by John Ismay
Carol Rosenberg @carolrosenbergfeed.bsky.social · 13h
Breaking news: The military judge just threw out the confessions of the fourth defendant in the 9/11 case -- which has gone on so long in part because prosecutors fought hard to keep them. It's a blow to the Bush administration's clean team theory. Scorecard: 5-0. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/07/u...
nytimes.com
Judge Throws Out Last Defendant’s Confession in Sept. 11 Case at Guantánamo (Gift Article)
The government is now 0-5 in its efforts to admit the so-called clean team confessions to the capital cases at Guantánamo Bay.
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Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"The federal government is lying to you." "The government has said that ICE does not zip tie or handcuff children." "They’ve denied engaging in racial profiling" "They’ve said the government is not wrongly arresting U.S. citizens." *We found the truth* projects.propublica.org/american-cit....
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Samira Shackle @samirashackle.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Every year UK bomb disposal teams respond to an average of 2500 call outs. 2000 of those are related to unexploded munitions from WW2. My latest piece tells the story of two sizeable bombs found in a single day in Devon earlier this year www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
theguardian.com
‘It could knock a whole street down’: the art of defusing a second world war bomb
The long read: On 14 January this year, army and navy squads faced an unprecedented challenge: one bomb on a Plymouth building site, another floating on a dredger in Exmouth. That afternoon, the clock...
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Hat's off and well done to 11EOD. This piece by @samirashackle.bsky.social is one of the best I've ever read about modern #UXO response in densely-populated areas www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
theguardian.com
‘It could knock a whole street down’: the art of defusing a second world war bomb
The long read: On 14 January this year, army and navy squads faced an unprecedented challenge: one bomb on a Plymouth building site, another floating on a dredger in Exmouth. That afternoon, the clock...
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Reposted by John Ismay
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 05/10/2026
The U.S. rushed over the weekend to withdraw all 12 B-1 Air Force bombers from an air base in southern England after commanders received new threats about an Iran-backed plot targeting the base, U.S. officials said. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/u...
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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This individual does not work for Bellingcat, and have no prior knowledge of them or their activities, so we'd urge anyone who is contacted by them to ignore their requests, and let us know via contact@bellingcat.com
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Reposted by John Ismay
Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Bellingcat has become aware of an individual contacting people via Telegram and WhatsApp from a UK number, naming themselves "Antony Kevin", claiming to work for Bellingcat, and asking for assistance recruiting journalists and analysts working on Syria, in particular Damascus and Idlib.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Carol Rosenberg @carolrosenbergfeed.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Breaking news: A military judge has thrown out yet another confession in the 9/11 case, ruled it was involuntary.
nytimes.com
Judge Throws Out Another Confession in Sept. 11 Case (Gift Article)
Prosecutors have long considered the defendants’ admissions during interrogations in 2007 to be their best evidence.
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Reposted by John Ismay
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 02/10/2026
Iran has been launching drones and missiles at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz each week, though it has often failed to strike its targets, according to a Western security official. Iran for the first time appeared to confirm it was behind the near-daily sounds of explosions.
nyti.ms
Oil Flows Are Up, but Iran Is Still Menacing the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has been launching drones and missiles at commercial ships in the waterway each week, though it has often failed to strike its targets, according to a Western security official.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Seamus Hughes @seamushughes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
To aspiring journalists, your reminder to just send that cold email today.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Eric Schmitt @erschm.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Since early August, Iran has launched about 30 drone attacks and 10 anti-ship missile attacks per week against commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/w...
nytimes.com
Oil Flows Are Up, but Iran Is Still Menacing the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has been launching drones and missiles at commercial ships in the waterway each week, though it has often failed to strike its targets, according to a Western security official.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Mike Black @mikeblack114.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
also this place won't believe me when I say this but "has to be LOAC compliant" is a real requirement for any nuclear order Omaha receives, and STRATCOM is actually very serious about that assessment
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A Centcom conference to discuss ways to reduce civilian harm in their operations comes shortly after a member of the HASC intervened to stop an Army official from reassigning all remaining staff working on the problem. w/ @malachy.bsky.social & @trbrtc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/u...
nytimes.com
Military Leaders Will Examine Ways to Limit Civilian Deaths in War
U.S. Central Command will hold a daylong conference at its Tampa headquarters after seven months of war in Iran.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Military Times @militarytimes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
CNO Adm. Daryl Caudle announced that the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command will now be known as Commander, Navy Expeditionary Forces. 🔗Link to article in comments ⬇️
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command rebranded to reflect warfare evolution
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The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining–GICHD @thegichd.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🚨 New report: 2,370+ IEDs caused 5,000+ casualties in 2020–24. We call for stronger coordination, better data and sharing, and risk education. Findings: link.gichd.org/IED-Sahel-EN (EN) link.gichd.org/IED-Sahel-FR (FR)
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Reposted by John Ismay
Eric Schmitt @erschm.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
U.S. forces formally withdrew from Iraq today, ending a two-decade military presence that stoked years of devastating bloodshed, and leaving Iraq to an uncertain future www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/w...
nytimes.com
After Two Decades, U.S. Forces Leave Iraq to an Uncertain Future
Some Iraqis are celebrating the end of an American military presence that unleashed waves of bloodshed. Others fear what happens next for their country, trapped between Washington and Tehran.
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Reposted by John Ismay
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 01/10/2026
Christa Pike, a Tennessee woman who was set to be executed on Wednesday, was still alive after two syringes of lethal drugs had been administered, her lawyers said. They said that while two syringes of pentobarbital had been administered, Pike still had a heartbeat and was audibly snoring.
nyti.ms
Tennessee Death Row Inmate Christa Pike Still Alive After Attempts to Execute Her, Lawyers Say
Christa Pike, who was convicted of murdering a classmate in 1995, was set to be executed by lethal injection. Officials had gone ahead with the execution after a temporary court-ordered pause.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Judge Questions Secrecy Around Trump Administration’s Memo on Boat Strikes The judge also ordered the Justice Department to privately show the court the contested document, which blesses the disputed killings at sea. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/u... w/ Ben Weiser
nytimes.com
Judge Questions Secrecy Around Trump Administration’s Memo on Boat Strikes
The judge also ordered the Justice Department to privately show the court the contested document, which blesses the disputed killings at sea.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Greg Jaffe @gregjaffe.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has survived in office by projecting an image of strength. But he has taken some big hits of late -- especially on the Hill. By many measures he's never been weaker. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth Talks Tough as Republican Doubts About His Leadership Grow (Gift Article)
Pete Hegseth has held onto his job by projecting a tough guy image, but his relationship with Republican lawmakers has never been worse.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Military Times @militarytimes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The first ship within the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., has returned home after its 10-month-long deployment. 🔗Link to article in comments ⬇️
First elements of USS Abraham Lincoln strike group return home
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
As the fifth aircraft carrier to support the Iran war is now deployed, DoD's daily contract announcements offer a look at the availability of the CVN fleet:
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 30/09/2026
After two decades, the U.S. formally withdrew from Iraq, leaving behind a battered nation trapped between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation cost nearly 4,500 U.S. lives and killed more than 115,000 Iraqis, according to the most modest counts. trib.al/E3sCiNB
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/u...
nytimes.com
Air Force Major Recommended for General Court-Martial After Protesting Trump
The recommendations are not binding, but it is rare for them to be ignored in the military justice system.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Two landmines that exploded in the Demilitarized Zone last week and injured three South Korean soldiers likely belonged to North Korea, according to preliminary findings from a joint investigation. From Stars and Stripes' Julie Masson:
stripes.com
North Korean mines likely caused DMZ blasts that injured 3 soldiers, South’s military says
Landmines that exploded in the DMZ and injured three South Korean soldiers likely belonged to North Korea, according to early findings of an investigation.
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Reposted by John Ismay
Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
After 10 months at sea, the guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. retuned to its homeport in Hawaii this week following a long deployment as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. (from @wyattwolson.bsky.social)
stripes.com
Abraham Lincoln strike group destroyer returns home after 301 days at sea
The guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. returned to Hawaii after a 301-day deployment.
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Reposted by John Ismay
U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 29/09/2026
Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group Deploys from San Diego — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/09/29/m...
news.usni.org
Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group Deploys from San Diego - USNI News
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group quietly departed Monday from San Diego for a scheduled deployment, USNI News has learned. Big-deck amphibious warship USS Makin Island (LHD-8), the flagship of ...
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
$52.3M for APKWS proximity fuzes, presumably for counter-drone shots. The basic 2.75-inch rocket it's based on came out of China Lake in the late 1940s and has been used since the Korean War nytimes.com/2026/05/05/u...
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Reposted by John Ismay
Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Extraordinary for any American president: Trump offered to sell weapons to Xi Jinping of China. That was revealed by David Perdue, US ambassador. Trump is withholding a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan approved by Congress. China aids Iran and Russia. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says (Gift Article)
President Trump made the offer to Xi Jinping, China’s leader, said David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China. Trump is withholding a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan.
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Days since: USS Abraham Lincoln deployed: 311 Iran war began: 212 USS George HW Bush deployed: 181 USS George Washington deployed: 128 USS Theodore Roosevelt deployed: 1
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Reposted by John Ismay
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 26/09/2026
“Imagine losing a third of a city’s firefighters and then wondering why downtown is burning.” The CDC, long seen as the global leader in public health, has lost its independence and much of its staff as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his associates have tightened control. nyti.ms/4hugAFa
The front entrance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention main campus in Atlanta. A headline reads: "‘Zombified’ CDC Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission After Staff Cuts'" Photo by Melissa Golden for The New York Times
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Reposted by John Ismay
Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
New: from 404 Media. The catastrophic FBI hack also exposed the FBI's own hacking unit. The Remote Operations Unit is a highly secretive part of the FBI, responsible for making tools to break into peoples' devices. Some of their names and addresses are in the data www.404media.co/fbi-hack-exp...
404media.co
FBI Hack Exposed FBI’s Own Hacking Unit
The FBI's Remote Operations Unit (ROU) is a highly secretive team of hackers making exploits and tools to break into target’s devices. Some of its members just got exposed.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 25/09/2026
Pope Leo XIV signaled support for journalists targeted by the White House, telling reporters they were “all welcome” to cover him when asked about the Trump administration’s press restrictions. This adds a new dimension to the tensions between the pontiff and President Trump. trib.al/3ijUCyI
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U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 24/09/2026
‘We Absolutely Need to Change,’ says New Navy Maintenance Head — USNI News news.usni.org/2026/09/24/w...
news.usni.org
‘We Absolutely Need to Change,’ says New Navy Maintenance Head - USNI News
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Not quite two months on the job, a submariner turned head of the Navy’s vast maintenance operation promised his office would create a more nimble organization that would better b...
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It wouldn't take all that much net explosive weight in an ammo bunker before the roads around the arch site -- including the GW Parkway, which carries 70k+ cars a day -- would be permanently shut down. Because 'explosive safety quantity-distances' are a thing www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Cites National Security as He Faces Pushback on Press Ban, D.C. Arch and More
The president is increasingly invoking the rationale while facing legal challenges to his plans, even in more curious cases like his triumphal arch, which he says will now include snipers and drones.
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Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
If you're a campaign finance lawyer, particularly one with expertise in the Hatch Act ... DM or hit me up on Signal? Thank you!!!!
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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In an Uber. Driver having loud phone conversation with someone in Spanish. A little annoying, but it happens. He hangs up. Says, “Mi hermano. La Migra.” And starts weeping.
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Defense News @defensenews.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Spooked by U.S. restrictions on satellite data access during recent crises, European countries are scrambling to catch up on sovereign capabilities. 🔗Link to article in comments ⬇️
Europe’s push to reduce US reliance is reshaping the defense space market
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
USS George Washington deployed: 122 SecDef offered a $ est. of war's cost: 93 2nd naval blockade began: 71 USS George Washington entered Fifth Fleet: 34 the U.S. Army had a Senate-confirmed Sec.: 20 Last known U.S. strike on Iran: 14 Trump has threatened to annihilate Iran: 0
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Days since USS Abraham Lincoln deployed: 305 Iran war began: 206 USS George HW Bush deployed: 175 the U.S. Army had a Senate-confirmed CoS: 173 the U.S. Navy had a Senate-confirmed Sec.: 153 USS George HW Bush entered Fifth Fleet: 152 SecDef briefed reporters on the war: 140
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Marco Hernández @mhernandez.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Greenland is back in the news. Some time ago I made 10 maps of this territory to show some of Greenland’s the key features, this one shows military bases. Check them all out here mhinfographics.github.io/funtography/...
A map of Greenland showing where military bases are situated
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Really interesting to see how this mission set has evolved from the Very Shallow Water MCM Test Det. that put Force Recon, Navy EOD and NSW all on the same team in San Diego in the late 1990s and gave them low-vis watercraft they could run dolphins from
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
“In 2025, Israel bought nearly eight times as many one-ton bombs from the United States as it did from 2012 to 2015.” Using public government data to report, w/ @halbfinger.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/w...
nytimes.com
Why Israel Wants More One-Ton Bombs From the U.S.
The Trump administration plans to deliver 60,000 of the powerful munitions at a time when opposition is growing in Washington to arms sales to Israel.
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Edward Wong @ewong.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: US intelligence reports warn China could acquire US warplane technology if Trump continues with his F-35 jet sales to Saudi Arabia. The Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency has raised concerns about China's military partnership with the Saudis. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/u...
nytimes.com
U.S. Intelligence Warns of China Theft Over Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudis (Gift Article)
Internal reports, including one from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, say China could acquire U.S. jet technology through spying or cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Remembering the fights leading up to opening the Vietnam Unknown’s tomb in the late 1990s, it will be something if this happens without controversy. Another family could potentially get the closure Michael Blassie’s did en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael...
en.wikipedia.org
Michael Blassie - Wikipedia
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Today is the 300th day of USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment. The Ford's was 326. ABE is expected back in San Diego in early October. It's the 170th day for USS George HW Bush's deployment, and the 117th for USS George Washington.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 16/09/2026
“I fear we are careening toward a future with fewer and fewer journalists to do the expensive, difficult work of original reporting.” — A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times. We thank the reporters who have been a part of our 175 years of fact-based journalism.
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Yeah, totally fair. No argument there. Realizing that the moment for Uncle Sam is now, given my mindset from when and where and how I came up, is kind of a lot to process
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The idea of helo medevac just being unavailable, period, was unthinkable when I was deployed. We were drilled on keeping a casualty alive and getting them to a combat surgical hospital within the "golden hour" -- and you often need helos to make that work www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
nytimes.com
Pentagon Inspector General Details U.S. Losses and Challenges in Iran War
Helicopters for evacuating casualties were pulled from four countries, and hundreds of military facilities were destroyed, according to a new report
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
DODIG: "Army rotary wing medical evacuation coverage was available in Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait at the beginning" of the Iran war, "but these assets moved out of Kuwait and Iraq due to force protection considerations after Iranian strikes." www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
nytimes.com
Pentagon Inspector General Details U.S. Losses and Challenges in Iran War
Helicopters for evacuating casualties were pulled from four countries, and hundreds of military facilities were destroyed, according to a new report
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John Ismay @johnismay.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
“Popular culture portrays special operations usually as Navy SEALs kicking in doors, and very rarely do they include all the other actors that make those spectacular missions possible, which, yes, include women” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/11/u...
nytimes.com
Women Special Operations Veterans Remember Their Battles
The only fraternal organization for women special operations veterans held a gala to mark the wars that began 25 years ago. It came as the Pentagon questions women’s roles in the military.
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