Veterans Day culminates our celebrating 250 years of our U.S. Army, on June 14th, U.S. Navy, on October 13th, and will be celebrating the U.S. Marines Corps on November 10th, 2025. Ever since Americans that put on the uniform and laced up their boots, these men and women have filled the ranks of these services along with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Air Force. Ever since 1775, we served our country not as conquers but as liberators even before the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776.
We join to defend the basic truths– We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. When we joined some of us in our senior year in high school, like two guys did discuss our future during our lunch period at the local McDonald’s on JFK Boulevard in North Little Rock, Arkansas during November of 1978.
The Powerful Force of Gratitude and Appreciation
Gratitude and appreciation are two of the most powerful passions that we can process and express toward others. On Veterans Day, we have the honor to express both our gratitude and appreciation for those that raised their right hand to take an oath of service that doesn’t have an expiration date to entering the most powerful force for liberation of others. Ever since June 14th, 1775, we that served did not as conquers but defend and brought liberation to others.
Like millions of men and women that raised their right hand and put on the uniform of the U.S. Military, we did it to serve those ideas that forms the basis of two of our nation’s most secret documents that we took an oath to support and defend. Those ideas that were drafted by our Framers are as relevant today as they were over 250 years ago. This is the reason why young men and women for 250 years have served in the Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood that Started in September of 1973
On Veterans Day I recall a friendship that was forged in 1973. The is one friendship that I hold dear with Donovan Briley, my high school classmate that we have known since 7th grade. Donovan was a friend that I had known since 7th grade at Central Junior High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
We met for the first time in a locker room and later on the football field in the early days of September in 1973. He was the quarterback, and I was one of the running backs, called ‘Sparky’ due in large part to my stocky build.
It started in a locker room, where a bunch of young guys suited up for the first day of junior high school football practice at Central Junior High School, that was waiting for the coach to make his entrance into the locker room. Some of us had never played organized football before, and this was a entirely new experience for some of us.
Coach Tyler, an Army Veteran himself and Staff Sergeant, known for his hard-nosed, no-nonsense approach to coaching, rolled out a fire hose on the floor of the locker room in front of us with line positions marked on it with position. Tight End, Tackle, Guard, Center and the same on the other end that were labeled on the fire hose. This is basic Football 101.
Coach Tyler carefully described each position to us and the responsibilities on each side of the ball had to a bunch of wide-eyed young guys trying to grasp what skills we had to have for each of those positions being described. After we went through calisthenics and sprints, then we broke out into offense and defense squads, based on our physical skills, strength, and ability assessed by the coaching staff during tryouts that summer.
We, on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage, ran through various drills trying out for various perspective positions on the offensive squad. Since I was short, stocky, thus my nickname ‘Sparky’. I was singled as one of the five running backs because I could catch, and secure the ball, and the defense line couldn’t see me once the offensive line stood up after the snap.
This one tall kid was selected as Quarterback, Donovan L. Briley, for his skills of agility and speed. Briley ran like a deer and could throw accurate passes on the run, doing bootlegs left or right, and was tough as nails, thus his name ‘Bull’.
Coach Tyler huddled us up with the offense squad calling the first scrimmage play “Draw fake 85 Hold.” This was a draw play where Briley, Bull, QB, would fake a hand-off to me (FB) and drop back for a slant pass to the Right Tackle, position No. 5, in a slant.
Coach Tyler looked squarely at me and asked me, “Boatright- Do you know your assignment”? I replied, “Yes Sir, fake a hand-off and run-off right guard position.” No! Coach Tyler replied, “You are to fake a hand-off, then hold your position to provide protection for Briley in the backfield by blocking for him; don’t let anyone touch him!” Coach continued by adding, “I was going to tell you to squat, but for you I don’t have to.”
Blocking isn’t the most glamorous or even flashy thing one could do, like a running off the Right Guard position where I would have an opportunity to get some payback on an unsuspecting linebacker. But it is essential to protect those behind you, especially the QB’s. And I certainly didn’t want to run bleachers after practice was over for not following instructions.
Our Senior Year in High School
During our senior year in high school, Donovan Briley and I had 4th period physics class together in the science building located at the far west end of campus. I would always park my CJ-7 Jeep on the side street, just yards from the rear entrance to the Science Building. There is a reason for my strategic parking position.
After 4th period Physics Class, we would sneak out for lunch and go to McDonald’s on JFK, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, for a Quarter Pounder and Fries with tea; unfortunately, McDonald’s isn’t there any longer on JFK. There was a good reason for us going to McDonald’s, we were watching our weight. We wanted to have the calories that we were going to burn off during practice and during our strength and conditioning training.
Our U.S. Army Military Enlistment
During one of our lunch breaks in October of our senior year, we discussed our futures, where I was planning on joining the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer (MOS 12-Bravo) with the 326th Battalion after graduation. After a few weeks, Donovan decided to join me and enlist as well, but wanted to become a chopper pilot. We both joined during November of our senior year taking the oath of service like millions have done. I would like to commend those young men and women that are enlisting into the U.S. Military Service since the new year, 2025.
Few years after advanced training at Fort Belvoir, VA and deployment on Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in October of 1983, I was training at Fort Campbell, where I injured both knees and right hip during a training jump where I received a medical discharge. Soon after my Medical Discharge, I attended college where I earned my Engineering Degree.
Chief Warrant Officer Donovan Briley last Mission
On Sunday, October 03rd, 1993, CWO-3 Donovan ‘Bull’ Briley was piloting on the first of the two (2) HU-60 Black Hawk helicopters on a special mission in Somali. Both Black Hawks were hit by a RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) fired from the ground by the Somali Militia rebels during what was Operation Gothic Serpent. The original mission was called Operation Restore Hope.
CWO-3 Donovan L. Briley was killed soon after the Black Hawk was downed by the RPG. The accounts of this Special Operation where Rangers and Delta Forces joined to apprehend General Mohamed Farrah Aidid. This is very well documented in the movie Black Hawk Down based on the book by the same title written by Mark Bowden, a great field journalist. I could only watch it once at the theater, as I previously stated, but could never bring myself to watch the movie again since its release in December of 2001.
Donovan Briley was part of the 160th Night Stalkers that he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two (2) Bronze Stars, two (2) Purple Hearts, two (2) Air Medals with “V” devices, two (2) Air Medals, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
The 160th Night Stalkers are a very elite force that operates with U.S. Navy SEALS, U.S. Army Rangers, DELTA Force, Green Berets, and other special forces.
Operation Restore Hope & Operation Gothic Serpent
This Mission that Briley was involved in was Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia to provide critical aid and food to starving civilians, at first, but the mission changed later, in what we call Mission Creep. The movie Black Hawk Down was based on this mission creep, called Operation Gothic Serpent.
One thing about the U.S. Military service personnel, they don’t question orders, we just figure out how to accomplish the mission even with limited resources and political strings attached and restrictions, that we refer to as Rules of Engagement.
There is something that you will learn about our Veterans, when you sit down with them for a cup of coffee, and that is their-never quit attitude, despite the odds or obstacles that they will face. Basically, these Veterans are those common individuals that we pass in the street that endure the crucible of life that forms their enduring metal when they are called upon to become the tip of the sword, our Excalibur. This is why they, Veterans, make great associates in a company. One thing about Vets, we will figure out a way to get ‘er done attitude.
I will always remember my friend and brother, CWO-3 Donovan Briley, and hope I can live up to just a part of his standards and courage of his metal that he exhibited. There are more untold stories by Veterans out there like my friend’s story, and we just need to take the time to listen to or read about them. That’s how we can honor their service personnel over a cup of coffee and just listen.
If you see a Purple Heart, Bronze or Silver Star
If you see a Purple Heart, Bronze or Silver Star on a license plate, either shake their hand or just throw them a salute if they are in a vehicle parked at a traffic light. The Silver Start is one medal right below the Medal of Honor.
On Veterans Day– For those women and men that put it all on the line in our military, protecting us, we owe it to them the time to listen to them, even if it is over a cup of coffee, to their stories. The way we can honor those that served- is to Honor them by just knowing what they did? By listening to these Veterans, you can honor and appreciate their service at the same time. And in the case that they have passed, read about their lives and their service, another important part of our mental health is READING. I write and cover sports because it is a way that I can deal with my subconscious mind.
I encourage everyone to read and write as a form of meditation that even if it isn’t meant to be published. Even if you never wrote one paragraph before, just start. You will see significant health benefits from both reading and writing.
I deal with my memories by writing a series of books that are on KINDLE that helps me sort out my pass and put it in contest where I can remember and honor those memories. If you are a VET dealing with your past, don’t buried your past, but confront your pass with CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) that can consist of taking part in sports like golf, exercises, and especially hobby like I do with my welding. The effectiveness of these is that it deals with the subconscious part of our mind where these memories are buried.
For additional health and fitness resources to achieve MAHA, PLEASE check out my books on KINDLE in E-Book and Paperback:
The Catabolic Diet & Fitness Program to turn your body into a Calorie-Burning-Juggernaut to drop weight and inches off:
Part of my Catabolic Diet & Fitness Program is my Six Pack Exercises for lower back Issues:
If you have lower back pain, these exercises should be used in your daily workouts.
Golfers Sync-Preset Strike-Zone to hit more Fairways and Greens to lower your Score and Handicap by taking your golf swing from the batter’s box to the Tee box.
Below is one of my Videos that a local TV Station Produced for their SPORTS ZONE Show:
The Excalibur Athletes Forged Performance for Parents of Homeschooling Children who wants to include an Athletics into their children’s curriculum:
Joshua’s Gauntlet of Divine Providence, the history on how Israel became a country and retained its identity through exiles, wars where the people of Israel were facing unimaginable odds and won the peace:
The Sayeret Warriors of Rephaim: Sayeret Matkal is one of Israel’s most Elite Secret Commando Rescue, Reconnaissance, and Black Ops Units in the World like their Raid they executed on Entebbe in 1976:
OPERATION DOG TAGS: Defender’s Oasis Garrison Tactical Athletic Geared Sports for PTSD Military & First Responders
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been used to help athletes dealing with slumps and people that are dealing with PTSD’s for multiple reasons. Physical therapy that includes athletic fitness and sporting activities in team sports setting are great techniques to address these symptoms of PTSD’s or even slumps in performance. There are other benefits in having a Health and Fitness program that even includes Yoga and cardio-aerobics with strength training for your general health and well-being. This includes developing skilled hobbies:
All my books are on KINDLE in E-Book and Paperback, please shop on KINDLE to improve your health and fitness to have an Age-Defying Lifestyle. You can’t purchase your health or fitness; you can only invest in Your health and fitness where you treat your health and fitness like a 401(k) Plane. Even over the age of 60, I still have an Age-Defying Lifestyle.
