Brian Mockenhaupt

Staff Sergeant Anthony Anderson’s mission to name and shame people who pretend to be military heroes

From studying tree rings to creating intricate computer models, scientists are trying to understand why flames behave the way they do.

When a blaze takes an unexpected turn, a thin aluminum shelter is a firefighter's last resort. 

Last June, 19 firefighters lost their lives trying to control a blaze near Yarnell, Arizona—the highest death toll for firefighters battling a wildfire in this country since 1933. What went wrong? Is it time to reconsider our approach to fighting fire?

The inhabitants of Gettysburg, who hid in their homes as snipers exchanged fire within the town, were called out to clear bodies after the battle. Today, America's wars are more distant.

Teaching Afghan soldiers to play in sync

To thwart the Taliban, marines in Helmand province are teaching the locals to read the Koran.

How the Army is trying to capture the lessons of war

Maybe the wounded man was an innocent farmer. Maybe not. For the American soldiers, determining the truth seemed nearly impossible.

In September 2009, the second platoon of Charlie Company arrived in Afghanistan with 42 men. Ten months later, nearly half had been killed or wounded, mostly in the Arghandab Valley—a key to controlling southern Afghanistan. Now these 82nd Airborne troops were getting ready to leave the Arghandab behind. They had one more dangerous job to do: a joint mission with the untried artillery unit that would replace them patrolling the fields, orchards, and villages they called the Devil’s Playground.

For one close-knit National Guard Unit from Arkansas, Afghanistan hits home.

A soldier who served two tours in Iraq explains why this Oscar-nominated film does not give a realistic portrayal of war

A new computer game lets army officers practice counterinsurgency off the battlefield.

For wounded civilians at a U.S. military hospital in Afghanistan, the gatekeeper is God.

What today’s veterans can learn from tales of the Trojan War

A Chinese car maker promising affordable, gas-free driving stakes its claim at the Detroit Auto Show. But it still has something to learn about presentation.

Why did Congress cut back on its plan to give soldiers additional compensation in recognition of their extended service under stop-loss?

Former infantryman Brian Mockenhaupt reports from the Twin Cities where Iraq Veterans Against the War are holding their own convention.

To fight today’s wars with an all-volunteer force, the U.S. Army needs more quick-thinking, strong, highly disciplined soldiers. But creating warriors out of the softest, least-willing populace in generations has required sweeping changes in basic training.