Do you ever journal or have some other way you keep a history of all your experiences in the military and after?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 19:02:08 -0500

If you do, what method do you use? How long have you been keeping it?

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 6 at 2017 7:15 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 19:15:42 -0500

I have two journals, one of my year in Infantry School and the other about my tour of duty in Vietnam. I published both on Smashwords where I offer them free of charge. I charged for both when they were first published (and made a few dollars) but decided it was more important to make them readily available to students who were being taught from propaganda that was published in the news media during that time. About three thousand copies of them have been downloaded to date and it's always fun to find book reports posted on the Internet by high school students.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 6 at 2017 7:31 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 19:31:06 -0500

I kept a OD green memo book full of leadership wisdom. It was passed to me by a veteran friend of my Dad, with the promise that I would pass it on to one of my kids if they served or a deserving junior officer.

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Nov 7 at 2017 5:34 AM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 05:34:08 -0500

Vivien, I wish I did, however, I did when I worked counter narcotics I had to maintain a work journal
after a certain number of years I burned them.

Response by MSgt Larry Oliver (Ret.) made Nov 7 at 2017 8:43 AM

MSgt Larry Oliver (Ret.) — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 08:43:04 -0500

I kept a few journals of deployments, one being Saudi Arabia (Khobar Towers, 1996) and a few others that were determined to be a little too inclusive. I do have the KT experience if anyone is interested.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 7 at 2017 8:51 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 08:51:27 -0500

1991 A BAUNCH OF POETRY, I just wrote a book called THE MIRROR with will launch BLACK FRIDAY.

Response by SN Vivien Roman-Hampton made Nov 8 at 2017 10:46 AM

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 10:46:05 -0500

I have kept journals since I was about 11 years old and I continue to write. I don't write on a daily basis but I try to write weekly.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Nov 8 at 2017 11:24 AM

SFC Dennis A. — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:24:43 -0500

I have never kept a written journal, it is all in my head. Unfortunately the book is getting shorter everyday.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Nov 8 at 2017 11:50 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:50:41 -0500

Keep journals during significant events... backpacking trips, travel, road trips. Also do photography of same & some poetry.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Nov 8 at 2017 1:43 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 13:43:12 -0500

I started a journal while I was in high school and kept it up through my first deployment to Iraq, but stopped shorty after I PCS'd to my second unit as I felt "nothing important or of note" was going on. I took it up again several years ago, but to my regret I've had to try to recall everything from that gap time; including the events & details of my second deployment.

I started out with notebooks, but with for my second round now I instead type everything out on my computer due to my atrocious handwriting and the that it's easier to figure out how I want to write things as well as revise my writing without having to start from scratch.