




![]() Hollywood, definitely not the creative hub it once was, judging by the movies they have been putting out, rather the sequels and remakes they have rehashed on us over the past few years. Every new sequel and remake I see, I wonder why they don't take a stab at some of the military movies from decades past. Considering our country has been at war for the past decade, it seems to me that much of America could relate to these military classics remade with amazing clarity and even in 3D. For the Full Article Visit www.Maxim.com/DirtyBriefs ![]() Now before you start the hate-emails, I love this movie and am in no form or fashion saying it needs redoing because of the original quality. That said, why not make a new, updated version that takes place during the current conflicts. One of the reasons this didn't make the list on Maxim.com was because of the fact it was an extraordinary film and since Kubrick is no longer among the land of the living, it would be a hard case to find someone with his fine-line crossing genius to remake this incredible experience that is Full Metal Jacket. However, we feel this would be a great idea for Hollywood to take a shot a remaking, as long as they found the right person for the Director's job....perhaps Stone? ![]() Again, the same reason this one was cut from the official top-ten list was the fact that this movie is ranked among the greatest-ever in terms of a war film. This film, separated in three acts, could easily be modernized into the war in Iraq or even in Afghanistan. For our idea we would place the time during the height of the Iraq conflict, right around the time that some of the American troops were being captured. The main idea of the film is what happens to men after they have gone through the horrors of combat, the debilitating changes that occur. This updated version could be a great tribute to the invisible wounds of war and the psychological effects that it has. ![]() Most of our generation probably has never seen this film, however, when I was growing up, my grandparents made watching this film a Christmas tradition and I still watch this every Christmas Eve. A great movie and has a military-theme behind it. The plot starts in Europe during WWII where the General of the division is heading out of combat and to a staff position, to which he hates as he is a front-line commander and prefers to be with his troops. After the end of WWII, two soldiers (Bing Crosby and Danny Kay) partner up and become huge stars and then find out that the retired General is having trouble running his Inn located in scenic Connecticut because of the lack of snow that season. They head out there and set up a huge show, inviting all of the old troops from the General's old unit and, you guessed it, the ending scene has snow falling and all is well. Christmas and the military, great for the whole family and a sure-bet for the holiday season, seems like easy-picking for Hollywood in our opinion. ![]() The last on our list that didn't make the list is the classic, Gone With The Wind, now who doesn't remember that one? This classic deserves a remake, not an entire reworking, but simply stick with the story and make a modern version. We can think of plenty of actors and actresses who would love nothing more than to play Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. With the modern technologies we have, imagine the amazing battle scenes and the destruction of the old plantations, the background could be amazing in its detail. We would love to see this remade, though perhaps try and keep it to a more manageable 2 hours instead of the lengthy 4 as we know how this generation is, anything over 2 hours is either Church, Court or your serving time. So, come on Hollywood, what do you say? For the Full Article Visit www.Maxim.com/DirtyBriefs
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![]() Weapons have always been a facination with me, the ability to destroy from a distance. Some may say this is unhealthy and I am in need of some psychiatric care (no doubt as the VA and my wife agree), however, show me anyone that doesn't love breaking shit from time to time. In fact, go into your kitchen right now and find an old plate, go outside and toss that bugger as hard as you can on a hard surface and then tell me how it makes you feel. Relieved? A bit satisfied maybe? Well, times that by 100 and that is the feeling you get when rocking an automatic rifle on full-auto, it simply feels great! Not because you're a psycho or want to burn the world down to the ground but because somewhere in the Human brain, it just feels good to break shit sometimes. With that in mind, I compiled a list of my favorite weapons, weapons that I would love to receive for Christmas or for shits and giggles, but receive nonetheless. In addition, through researching these monsters, I found some kick-ass photos to go with them and a YouTube video or two. So, sit back, relax and watch the fun! (Caution - For those with senstive ears, language reality ahead) For My High-Powered Weapons List - Visit Maxim.com/dirtybriefs![]() As our nation has passed the 10th anniversary of our entrance into Afghanistan, a lot has changed since then and we thought we’d give a quick rundown of where you might want to avoid if you’re thinking of say planning a family vacation to the historic land of Afghanistan. As Iraq has calmed dramatically over the past couple of years, the exact opposite has transpired in the land where Empires, nations and communist Russia have all been brought to their knees, an area slightly smaller than Texas. To accompany the full article on Maxim.com, here are a dozen or so images of that Paradise of which has turned into the 6th level of Hell over the past couple of years. God Bless Our Troops who willingly (well, who can say no to a Sergeant Major, right?) serve on these front lines to ensure our security and safety back home. Say a little prayer for them as you thumb through these images, brought to you by dvidshub.net and your very own, Doc Parsons. To Read the Full Article on Maxim.com/DirtyBriefs, Click HERE ![]() www.Maxim.com Being a super-fan of military aircraft all our lives, we wanted to put together a short list of the fixed-wing aircraft on station today, in the collection of our Navy and Air Force. These airframes are the best the U.S. has to offer in terms of offensive aircraft, and have saved the lives of literally thousands of men and women on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as during the NATO operations in Libya this past spring. We searched the web for the stats that set each of these bad-ass toys apart and compiled a list for your reading pleasure. We hope you like our choices. To Read the Full-Article on Maxim.com Visit - HERE ![]() As many of you know, I was invited to be the military contributor for Maxim.com and recently I wrote an article detailing the stories of past Medal of Honor recipients. This week, I focused on the stories of 6 men from the Vietnam War. These men all had one thing in common, other than winner our nation’s highest honor; they were all Combat Medics, or the naval equivalent, Hospital Corpsman. In my research to showcase the amazing feats of some past Medal of Honor winners, we stumbled across the story of a certain Private First Class, Kenneth Michael Kays from Mount Vernon, Illinois. His story is both extraordinary and extremely heartbreaking. In my original article for Maxim.com, I only reported on the story behind why he was awarded this high honor, however, there is more to his story that I decided to share here, on the Graffiti of War Blog because of what the story focuses on, PFC Kays’ struggle with PTSD and this project’s vision to raise national awareness for those currently struggling with this invisible wound. Here is his story. ![]() Doc Kays PFC Kenneth Kays was born in Mount Vernon, Illinois in the years after WWII and by the time he was 18, the war in Vietnam was continuing to rage on and the draft was inevitable for Kenny. However, Kenny was completely against the war in Vietnam and like many men against the war, he fled to Canada to avoid the draft. Only after his father, a veteran of World-War II pleaded with him to return, to fulfill his duty, did Kays return and was drafted as a conscientious objector. His status as an objector placed him as a medic with the 101st Airborne Division and he was assigned to the storied 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. By the middle of 1970, Kenny found himself knee-deep in the hell of Vietnam fighting for his life and those of his brothers-in-arms. As the medic of his platoon, his men were his mission, and his bravery and courage in face of certain death earned him the Medal of Honor but cost him physically and even more mentally. To read the full citation, visit www.maxim.com/dirtybriefs. ![]() Kenny returned to duty and served the rest of his enlistment, never mentioning his courageous actions. After he was released, President Nixon invited Kenny to the White House to bestow on him the highest honor a soldier can earn, the Medal of Honor. Kays, with long hair and a beard, not the typical soldier-type and many of his platoon mates never even knew it was him. He returned to life, but normalcy evaded Kenny as he was forever plagued with the invisible wounds of his experiences. His physical wounds healed, though the scars and loss remained, but his mental wounds continued to fester. Kays was in and out of mental institutions and struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. The hell this man had seen had never left his mind. He continued to relive the experiences from that spring day in Vietnam and nothing, it seemed, would take away his survivor guilt or the pain that he experienced. ![]() His community was no help either, the lack of respect he received from older veterans from World War II and the Korean War, they claimed he wasn’t in a war but simply a conflict. Others simply thought of him as strange and a dope addict, dismissing him as just another weirdo. Eventually, his habits got him in trouble with the law which further degraded him and without the help of others, the respect of his peers or the direction of a veterans organization, Kays continued his downward spiral deeper and deeper into the hell that is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was kept out of jail by a conditional release to his elderly parents; however, this was not the treatment he needed. ![]() His family life was deteriorating as his parents were afflicted lingering illnesses. By 1981, his mother Ethel took her own life after suffering a long-term illness which left her aged husband, John Kays, to care for their mentally ill son. Their life together, father and son, was beyond troubled and strained as John was suffering a long physical ordeal with cancer. Kenny was becoming unhinged by his fathers continued complaints of agony and at one point suggested he shot himself and be done with it, to which his father complied and took his own life in 1985.Kenny continued his downward spiral and self-medicated with drugs and alcohol having continued odd outburst and increasingly violent behavior, classic symptoms of PTSD. He withdrew more and more and by 1991, during the Gulf War, he told his neighbor he simply couldn’t go on this way. By Thanksgiving that same year, Kenny Kays, had reached the end of his rope, completely alone and utterly despaired, he took his own life over the holiday. ![]() This is what happens to many of our nation’s heroes then and now. They are forgotten as our nation’s collective attention span rivals that of my three-year old. What was sure to unite us is forgotten in weeks or days. The man that is our hero and makes all the headlines is a drunk and a drug-addict just months later, forgotten and alone. These men and women risked their lives in the service of their country to protect their brothers and sisters-in-arms. They were willing to give their all, even if they didn’t agree with the politics, like the story of Kenny, they fulfilled their duty, gave their all and went above and beyond for those who needed them. The least we can do, as citizens of this nation, is to ensure that stories like that of Kenny or that of Ira Hayes, another Medal of Honor winner who became invisible just like the wounds he suffered from. We, as Americans, as fellow human beings should not rest until we ensure never again will another hero, another veteran who served this nation suffer as Kenny did, as Ira did, never again will our veterans suffer alone and without help. This is our duty as citizens and should be our mission as compassionate human beings. I challenge our nation, our people to be resolved to ensure their care is assured, no matter what the cost. They never took cost into account and neither should we. Take up this cause, the cause of our heroes to never again suffer alone, never again. For more information on Kenneth Kays visit this link or search for Troubled Hero by Randy Mills |
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