Author Archives: anotherwarriorpoet

About anotherwarriorpoet

Mathew Bocian served as a Captain in the United States Army with the Stryker Brigade and was deployed to Mosul and Tal'Afar in 2004 - 2005, and to Baghdad for The Surge in 2007 - 2008. He left the Army in 2012 and now uses his poetry as a way to heal from the traumas of war, while attempting to express to readers the realities of war. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, and holds a master's from the Graduate School for Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.

History & Mystery: Returning a WWII Veteran’s Dog Tags

Posted on February 25, 2018

This is a blog post that I have been slowly writing my entire life. It is difficult to explain but there really are two stories here to tell.  I didn’t really know where all of this would take me, but … Continue reading →

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The Ones We Left Behind

Posted on August 30, 2017

I initially drafted this for another Veteran blog as a joint venture that really never panned out; I think that site is now defunct, so I am reclaiming my post because it was a good one, and I’ve missed it. … Continue reading →

Posted in War Stories & Vignettes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Independence Day: Enjoying Your Freedom? Don’t Thank a Veteran…

Posted on July 3, 2017

Independence Day for Americans is a day where we signify the birth of a nation; the start of the grand experiment known as democracy and the establishment of a set of systems and values that would go on to define … Continue reading →

Posted in (Uncategorized & Random) | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Every Form of Contact

Posted on February 23, 2017

It seems like my old buddy H.R. McMaster is back in the news, now as our new National Security Adviser.  Here’s hoping my interactions with him now will be different than when I did so in 2005 in Tal’Afar.  I … Continue reading →

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Twelve

Posted on February 17, 2017

Twelve: the hours in the day Which my heart still beats Reminding me that I made it out When you never did.  

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Book-Bound in Sweat and Blood, Replayed in the Theaters in Their Heads

Posted on December 27, 2016

I haven’t had time or energy to post much recently as work has been crazy-busy, and we’re putting in a lot of hours. But something recently came to my attention that I could not let rest only in my head, … Continue reading →

Posted in War Stories & Vignettes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Addiction (part 2)

Posted on November 11, 2016

Continued from Additcton (Part 1) We had already got our fix that day. An overdose perhaps, But that did not stop Them from providing more; Nor us from enduring it. Coming down, after several Hours-in, we were rolling home When … Continue reading →

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Addiction (part 1)

Posted on November 11, 2016

You never knew you Needed it until they gave It to you. Young and naive Maybe you might have dreamt of it; Pretended it. You might have asked for it; Sought it, prayed for it Imagined it, feared it. But … Continue reading →

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A Special Veterans Day Pages From My Pocket: Post-Deployment Dream List

Posted on November 10, 2016

I’ve neglected to write entries for the “Pages From My Pocket” series for several weeks now. Work has been ridiculously stressful and busy, and by the end of a commute and dinner, I grow weary. And then writing becomes hard. And since … Continue reading →

Posted in War Stories & Vignettes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Life gets in the way 

Posted on November 5, 2016

I haven’t posted anything in over a month now. Though I had plenty to say and write about the Pages From My Pocket series, as well as other quips, tales and thoughts – life has just gotten in the way.  … Continue reading →

Posted in (Uncategorized & Random) | 3 Comments