NBtM VBT: Black Flag Journals

 

Black Flag Journals: One Soldier's Experience in 

America's Longest War

by Dennis Woods 

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GENRE: Memoir 

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 BLURB:

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.

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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.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

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 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.

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