The War Horse

A Marine Went on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to Heal from War. War Found Him Anyway A Marine veteran on a spiritual journey to the Holy Land to recover from Iraq and divorce is caught in 12-day Israel-Iran war

A veteran embarked on a spiritual journey to recover from Iraq, divorce, and an arrest. But then the rockets came flying. thewarhorse.org/marine-caugh...

Mental health issues plague new moms in the military. The Pentagon is supposed to help. Congress mandated the Defense Department help military moms with pregnancy-related mental health struggles. The department is falling behind.

The Defense Department is months behind on addressing a new law’s mandate to fight pregnancy-related mood and anxiety disorders.

From @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social:

Mental Health Issues Plague New Moms in the Military. The Pentagon Is Supposed to Help The Defense Department is months behind on addressing a new law’s mandate to fight pregnancy-related mood and anxiety disorders.

The Defense Department is months behind on addressing a new law’s mandate to fight pregnancy-related mood and anxiety disorders. thewarhorse.org/military-mom...

What led to Operation Epic Fury? The events and military buildup in the Middle East that led to the U.S. striking Iran on February 2026.

Trump threatened military action if Iran didn't negotiate a nuclear deal almost a year ago.
Iran said it was at war with the US in Dec. 2025.
The military buildup in the region reached its peak in late Feb. 2026. thewarhorse.org/what-led-to-...

What led to Operation Epic Fury? The events and military buildup in the Middle East that led to the U.S. striking Iran on February 2026.

A timeline of the buildup to US attack on Iran
thewarhorse.org/what-led-to-...

We're hiring a Managing Editor! We're looking for a strategic thinker and problem-solver to manage and grow our editorial team, work with reporters, editors, and partners to publish stories that explore the biggest issues facing the military and veterans.
Learn more: thewarhorse.org/listings/ite...

Desperate for Help, a Marine Battles Phone Trees, Hold Music, and Indifference Marine veteran suffering with depression and suicidal ideation confronts the systems that make it hard to get mental health help.

The system is callous. Not maliciously. It just happens. Checkbox by checkbox. Door by door. Doctor by doctor.
thewarhorse.org/marine-menta...

Army captain struggles with decision to restore Confederate names An Army captain balances pride for the history of Black soldiers and despair over Confederate names being restored on military bases.

The years I spent in the shadow of West Point’s Confederate monuments made me who I am today.

Sitting in lectures about West Point’s guiding values of duty, honor, and country.

Actually living those values was shaped in resisting alma mater’s Confederate idols. thewarhorse.org/black-soldie...

US nonprofit, Filipino government search for remains of World War II servicemen Virginia nonprofit and Filipino Muslim government team up to find remains of US World War II general and four servicemen killed by Japanese

They will search for remains of four US Army soldiers, including a general who became a hero to many Filipinos after his refusal to obey Japanese orders led to his execution.
thewarhorse.org/world-war-ii...

Army captain struggles with decision to restore Confederate names An Army captain balances pride for the history of Black soldiers and despair over Confederate names being restored on military bases.

‘So many of my assumptions about the world and how to better it were turned upside down.’ thewarhorse.org/black-soldie...

Black US Military Veterans Face Enemies at Home and at War - The War Horse American servicemen and women returned from war to bigotry, exclusion, and overt racial violence—precisely because they had chosen to serve their country.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: American servicemen and women came back from World War II to bigotry, exclusion, and overt racial violence—precisely because they had served their country.

Why VA psychologists say they are burning out Veterans Affairs facilities report a shortage of psychologists as the mental health professionals say they are experiencing burnout.

The number of veterans seeking mental health treatment continues to rise, but the number of psychologists at VA dropped last year for the first time in a decade
thewarhorse.org/va-psycholog...

Retreats help combat veteran cope with PTSD, find hope after Iraq Veteran retreats offer adventure, fellowship, and hope for a combat veteran after returning from Iraq with PTSD.

Veteran retreats taught him how to kayak, ski, and forgive himself.
thewarhorse.org/veteran-retr...

Air Force general had dreams of playing in the NFL - The War Horse Air Force four-star general started his military career with dreams of playing football for the Air Force Academy and joining the NFL.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Gen.(Ret.) Larry Spencer was considered one of the best high school players in Maryland and dreamed of playing in the NFL. But there was a catch. thewarhorse.org/football-dre...

Life lessons from a Marine father: Find meaning through endurance and denying the pain - The War Horse A Marine father uses endurance, discipline, and running to teach life lessons to his Air Force son

War Horse reader Jim Carden was inspired to write a song based on Michael’s Reflection. Listen to it here:

thewarhorse.org/marine-fathe...

Army soldier struggles with guilt after IED killed his friends in Iraq An Army soldier struggles with guilt after skipping a meeting in Iraq. On the way to the meeting, two of his friends were killed by an IED.

Nearly 20 years later, a soldier still grapples with his decision. ‘Their deaths were a failure. My failure.’
thewarhorse.org/soldier-frie...

Stories of Black people's military service For Black History Month, The War Horse highlights the proud and complex history of Black people's service in the military.

Black people's stories have often been overlooked in the nation’s historical record and narratives about military life.

In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting their stories to help enrich our understanding of war, sacrifice, identity, and community.

thewarhorse.org/black-people...

Veteran fights to save emotional support chickens An Iraq War veteran fights to keep his emotional support chickens who help him cope with PTSD at his Dayton, Ohio home.

Veterans lean on emotional support animals to help cope with their PTSD, but there are challenges to keeping them
thewarhorse.org/veteran-figh...

Michael Johnson is a 2025 War Horse Fellow. The War Horse Writing Seminars provide a space for service members, veterans, and military family members to share their stories.

Life lessons from a Marine father: Find meaning through endurance and denying the pain - The War Horse A Marine father uses endurance, discipline, and running to teach life lessons to his Air Force son

My father believed trauma and discipline would result in success and a stronger livelihood. And so he enlisted. Years later, I did, too.
thewarhorse.org/marine-fathe...

Explore our new and improved War Horse website!

This update is a promise to continue holding the powerful to account, bring underreported military stories to light, and lift the voices of the military community.

All while staying ad and paywall free thanks to the generosity of donors like you.

I Carried Death’s Shroud With Me From Afghanistan. But I Do Not Fear It An Army and Air Force veteran uses lessons learned from deploying to Afghanistan to cope with death, fear, and cancer.

In the B-hut, Humvee, or hospital. In a flak vest or gown. I would die or I wouldn’t.
thewarhorse.org/veteran-afgh...

Coming soon: A new War Horse experience!
(Don't worry, our stories will remain paywall and ad-free!)

For some veterans, psychedelics are a last hope—and a dangerous gamble After war and addiction, he chased relief across the border. What followed was complicated.

After war and addiction, he chased relief across the border. What followed was complicated.

From our friends at @thewarhorsenews.bsky.social:

After 30 Years in the Military, an Army Colonel Asks: Who Am I Without the Uniform? After 30 years in the military, an Army colonel searches for mission, purpose in retirement

My family was happy to have me home, but they couldn’t feel the weight of what I’d lost. The Army had been more than a job; it was my compass. thewarhorse.org/army-colonel...

A Veteran’s Search for Healing Led to an Ibogaine Trip and an Epiphany: ‘I’ve Got to Let It Go’ A veteran travels to Mexico twice for psychedelic treatment to help him heal from the traumas after serving in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.

A common motivation among veteran participants has emerged at a clinic in Mexico offering psychedelics: The talk therapy and prescriptions offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs proved ineffective. thewarhorse.org/veteran-ibog...

A Veteran’s Search for Healing Led to an Ibogaine Trip and an Epiphany: ‘I’ve Got to Let It Go’ A veteran travels to Mexico twice for psychedelic treatment to help him heal from the traumas after serving in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.

Marc Dervaes went to Mexico for a brain-bending, existential jolt from a psychedelic drug that desperate military veterans are hoping will relieve their trauma.
This story was supported by the @pulitzercenter.org thewarhorse.org/veteran-ibog...

A Veteran’s Search for Healing Led to an Ibogaine Trip and an Epiphany: ‘I’ve Got to Let It Go’ A veteran travels to Mexico twice for psychedelic treatment to help him heal from the traumas after serving in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.

Marc Dervaes journeyed to Mexico for a brain-bending, existential jolt from a psychedelic drug that more and more desperate military veterans are hoping will relieve their trauma. Then he went a second time. thewarhorse.org/veteran-ibog...

Curing Insomnia with Magic: How One Veteran Finally Got a Good Night’s Sleep A soldier struggling with insomnia after an Iraq deployment finds writing helps him sleep. He later publishes a novel

I was in Iraq in 2004. Every time outside the wire was a heart-pumping exercise in hypervigilance, nervousness, anger, and fear. I brought that home with me. thewarhorse.org/soldier-inso...

Women Have Served in Combat Roles for a Decade. The Pentagon is Reopening the Debate Pete Hegseth has directed Pentagon leaders to review fitness, training standards which could adversely affect women in combat roles

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the military to reexamine the standards under which women have gained entry into combat roles. thewarhorse.org/military-sta...