Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Articles written by Tom Cole Marine Retired


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  • Camping With Cole

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer|May 1, 2025

    How To Build A Fire Fire: it is a living breathing entity with the ability to help or destroy everything it touches. Just like any living thing fire requires three things to sustain it;air to breathe,food (fuel) to consume, and a spark of life (ignition). I think we'd all agree that there are many ways to light a fire. This article will explore the plethora of ways to get your pyro on. Let's Start With Air! We breathe air every day. It's all around us. Without it we will die. The same goes for... Full story

  • Chuckwagon Box For Stop-And-Drop Camping

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer|May 1, 2025

    Over the years I've done many camp-outs and I'm always looking for easier ways to pack gear. The Camping Chuck Wagon Box is a great idea for those who do stop & drop camping as it is easy to make, transport and move around. It keeps your gear in one place and can be a real-life saver when camping. As usual I am a big fan of Inventory Lists which I suggest you keep on the inside of the door of the box in a plastic document sleeve with an extra blank paper for restocking, additions or updates. Her... Full story

  • Eating Well OnThe Backpacking Trail

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Festures Writer|May 1, 2025

    Backpacking is always a great experience in one way or another. There are those times when it can get a little wet or dry, cold or hot or just downright “bug-annoying”. But for the most part it’s ALWAYS an adventure. How comfortable you are is about your gear and how well you pack, but over the years I have found that two things make for a really GOOD backpacking trip. Those two items are a good pillow to sleep on and good food. When I backpack, I don’t bring a lot of clothing. I prefer to fill... Full story

  • WHEN I GOT HOME

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer

    WHEN I GOT HOME . . . By Tom Cole, Retired Marine And Vietnam Vet Special Features Writer When I left for the Vietnam war, I was an impressionable young man of 21 who wanted to see as much of the world as possible. Call me naïve, call me crazy. But at that time as a young Marine, I wanted to go to and experience Vietnam and the war raging there. Many people didn’t want to go and took major steps not to even entertain the thought of going there and serving in the war, but that wasn’t me. So,... Full story

  • VIETNAM VETERANS RECOGNITION DAY

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer

    Many people feel that it’s the politicians or protesters of war who hate war the most. This, even though the vast majority of them have never experienced war firsthand. This is SO not true. It is the warrior who hates war most, for they have experienced it, seen it, smelled it, tasted it and hopefully lived through it! March 29th we celebrate Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day recognizing those who served in and during the Vietnam War. At VFW Post 3513 there will be a celebration on April 30th. I... Full story

  • A Few Of Many Viet Nam Books Are Recommended

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer

    Editor's Note: There is no end to the list of recommendations re: books on Viet Nam. However, our Special Features Writer, Viet Nam veteran and retired Marine - Tom Cole - gives us a start with some of his favorites: • Apocalypse Now • Bat 21 • Boys in Company C • First Blood (Rambo) • Full Metal Jacket • Forrest Gump (I just threw this one in • Good Morning Vietnam (Robin Williams) • Go Tell The Spartans • Hamburger Hill • Platoon • The Deer Hunter • The Great Santini • The Green Berets (John W... Full story

  • Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer

    Tom Cole - Stories from the War in Vietnam Many people feel that it's the politicians or protesters of war who hate war the most. This, even though the vast majority of them have never experienced war firsthand. This is SO not true. It is the warriors who hate war most, for they have experienced it, seen it, smelled it, tasted it and hopefully lived through it. March 29th we celebrate Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day recognizing those who served in and during the Vietnam War. At VFW Post 3513,... Full story

  • "Red Dawn"

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer|Oct 1, 2024

    In this time of political upheaval, global unrest and uncertainty many people today speculate that we may be heading towards WW III or a civil war. In many ways it seems like we're headed that way, but could we already be readying this conflict or prep'ing for it? Could be! Let's take a look. Weapons Of Today The weapons of today are very technical; however, many are overlooked. Everything is weaponized. . Communications companies are being bought up by billionaires on both sides of the politica... Full story

  • Ann Margret Risked Her Life For The Troops

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer

    Ann-Margret is gorgeous, vivacious, and talented in so many ways. Singer, song writer, actress, dancer: she had it all. She was every man's girl next door and every man's wish - a dream girl, every man's beauty to come home to. But, she was SO MUCH MORE. Ann-Margret Olsson was born April 28, 1941 in Valsjöbyn, Jämtland County, Sweden, emigrating to the United States in 1946. Ann-Margret has been a U.S. citizen since 1949. Star of stage, screen and television with many, many awards to her n...

  • All Of The Services Have Nicknames

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Western Outdoor Times Special Features Writer|Nov 1, 2023

    All of the services have nicknames for the other services and their members. It’s all part of the well-intentioned harassment we provide each other free of charge. For example, Navy personnel are referred to as ”squids”, “ducks” or “Marine chauffeurs”. Army as just mostly “grunts boys”. Air Force as “airdales” or “bus drivers”. Space force As “space cadets”. Marines as “soldiers of the sea”, “leathernecks”, “jarheads” and “Devil Dogs”. But, where do these come from? NAVY: Squids & Ducks are ass... Full story

  • Strong Country, Weak Leadership

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features - Opinion Writer|Aug 1, 2023

    The United States of America is without a doubt the strongest and most powerful nation in the world. No nation has the financial power, the military power, or the nuclear power of this nation. BUT, we are weak. The political divisiveness of our politicians has always weakened this country and I don't care which side you're on. Granted the "Left", "Doves", "Progressives" - whatever you want to tag them as - weaken our country and spend their time and our precious tax payer dollars foolishly by... Full story

  • Duties of a Chaplain

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, AZBW WOT Special Features Writer|Jun 1, 2023

    In years past being a Chaplain in any service organization was usually pretty simple. You would do the standard prayers at meetings, blessings at dinners, the 7 o'clock toast, provide counseling to people for mostly mundane events and just generally help out people around you. It involved helping families of veterans to occasionally put to rest their loved ones, which were often rare events. And may I mention that Chaplains are, for the most part, ignored by the hierarchy of most organizations;... Full story

  • VFW 3513

    Marine Corps Birthday Celebration

    Tom Cole Marine Retired, Special Features Writer

    Publishers Note - With all that is going on in our world today I wanted to highlight one of the good things. We are looking forward to the next one. Now that he was tasting the freedom that American's took for granted, .... Independence by Dana Fuller Ross These marines never took that freedom for granted. Welcome home. Thank you for your service. You Are Invited To The Ball That Honors 247 Years The 'Corps – soldiers of the sea, green amphibious monsters who will attack from the foam of the o... Full story

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