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If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?
Psychometry, the ability to read information from objects.
What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?
I always wanted to have a singing voice and a second career as a musician.
When writing descriptions of your hero/ine, what feature do you start with?
Their physical characteristics in relation to their surroundings. I want the reader to be able to visualize in their mind’s eye what the character looks like as the majority of person-to-person communication is visual.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I have to fight my panster tendencies when writing about actual events.
Did you learn anything from writing this book? If so, what?
That is such a broad question. In my battle book journals as I completed an event, we often conducted an After-Action-Review. Visually this process could be likened to a football team reviewing play tapes to discuss team & individual responsibilities. The process we followed in war and training was to first discuss what was supposed to happen. Then discuss what did happen and how we might improve.
The story of America’s longest war is complicated and difficult to convey, unless you were there. Dennis Woods was there. By following his stories in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can sense the enormity of his combat experiences. Originally written for his daughter, Black Flag Journals is taken from the author’s nine battle book journals. It covers his time from the fall of the Twin Towers through his last combat tour.
Black Flag Journals contains not just stories from the first war of the new century, but a day-by-day record of events that other veterans may use to relate their own experiences. All who enjoy real life stories, and followers of history will connect with this first person account of America’s longest war.
Enjoy an Excerpt
The flight we were on this morning was an ordinary, run-of-the-mill resupply operation. Its purpose was to service Afghanistan’s numerous small camps and bases. What it carried, though, was not ordinary or run-of-the-mill. What we were delivering was an unusual allotment of artillery ammunition and GELON mounts. Part of my mission on this trip was about to be completed. However, once in the air, I was given a new defensive challenge to solve.
About the Author: 
CSM Woods combat tours include;
Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada, 82d Airborne Division.
Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia – Iraq, 82d Airborne Division.
Operation Desert Fox 1998, Qatar, 5th Group Special Forces.
OEF 2 Afghanistan, 82d Airborne Division.
OIF 1 Iraq, First Armored Division.
OIF 6 Iraq, First Armored Division.
OEF X Afghanistan, 173D Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
OEF XIII Afghanistan, 191st Infantry Brigade
CSM Woods civilian education includes a Master of Education, (training & leadership) from North Central University, Prescott AZ, and a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior, Albany, New York.
Military education includes the United States Sergeants Majors Academy class # 58, Army force management course, Jump Master, Drill Sergeant, US Army Recruiter, Infantry Small Arms Master Gunner, Artillery Master Gunner, Amphibious Warfare leaders’ course (USMC), Anti-Armor Leaders course, Machine Gun Leaders course, Artillery Mechanics repair course, Small Arms repair course, Nuclear Biological Chemical defense, and all levels of air load planning and hazmat certification USAF.
CSM Woods awards include; one Distinguished Service medal, one Legion Of Merit,( 5) Bronze Star Medals, 5 Meritorious Service Medals, 4 ARCOM, 4 AAM, 1 Humanitarian service medal, 2 Armed Forces Expeditionary medals, Afghanistan and Iraq service medals. German Jump Master Wings, Qatar Jump wings as part of 5th Group, Netherlands Jumpmaster wings. Other awards include; Department of Defense “Inventor of the year” (2003) with 45 separate inventions. CSM Woods saved the United States Government over one Billion Dollars through cost avoidance. He is also the first recipient of the GRUBER award for an outstanding field artillery professional.
CSM Woods is credited by the US Army Smart Ideas program as the inventor of:
• The 105mm Howitzer night direct fire sight system M913 GELON.
• The 155mm towed Howitzer night sight system.
• The dual use day/ night direct fire sight reticule.
• The Dual optic MILES Laser trainer.
• The Urban Assault kit (PALADIN) improved crew protection, 155mm system.
On his most recent tour to Afghanistan, CSM Woods pioneered the first use of artillery training rounds in combat as a form of scalable fire support designed to limit civilian death and collateral damage. He is the author of, ‘Black Flag Journals One Soldiers Experience in America’s Longest War’, and numerous magazine, newspaper articles, including training pamphlets concerning Artillery, night vision, and combat operations.
Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Koehler Books
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Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for hosting Black Flag Journals; One Soldier’s Experience in America’s Longest War. My name is Dennis Woods, I’m currently on a CBS reality TV production set in Hawaii. With a shifting production schedule on this project I won’t be available at all times. As a result, I’ll check in throughout the week to answer any question you may have.
I loved the excerpt.
Thank you for the comment Sherry, the event that excerpt precedes was an inflection point in my war experience and our national response. The Taliban and AQ were using Pakistani border patrol and civilians as human shields. That action was countered by using thermal optics on artillery systems in a long range direct fire weapon. The result was an increase in public safety as they were removed without hazarding civilians.
Great post – thanks for sharing!