Mark R. Folse
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mrfolse.bsky.social
Mark R. Folse
@mrfolse.bsky.social
Husband, father, historian, USMC Vet (OEF & OIF), USNA Asst. Prof

Views and opinions are mine alone

Author of The Globe and Anchor Men
https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700636259/
One of the cool things about being back at USNA is teaching Marine Corps History again. Here's my HH-385 book list.
October 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Leveraged the wonderful Sondra Duplantis at the US Naval Academy Museum today to bring naval history in the age of sail to life for my HH104 Students.
September 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here?
June 25, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Folse
I was grateful to contribute insight on oral history projects with talented oral historians—Angela Riotto, Jessica Sheets, and Kate Tietzen-Wisdom—from Defense Security Cooperation University, Marine Corps, and CMH, respectively.
May 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Folse
My Afghanistan war book THE HARDEST PLACE is approaching its four-year anniversary.

Since I’ve mostly migrated from Twitter to Bluesky, over the next few months I’m going to recreate here a long thread of photos that many readers have enjoyed scrolling through as an accompaniment to the book.
February 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Looks like a piece of me went to Mobile after all 😄

#SMH2025
March 28, 2025 at 9:12 PM
👊🇺🇸🔥
March 26, 2025 at 11:36 PM
This almost 3y/o boy is kicking our asses this morning
March 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Kind of an overkill way to ask, Rob, but yes, I will go to waffle house with you in Mobile
February 19, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Folse
The U.S. Army appears to have received its first unlawful order. On the left is yesterday's implementation guidance banning the use of pronouns — which clearly violates Sec. 522 of the 2024 NDAA on the right.
February 5, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Folse
Defense Department cuts diverse heritage observances while having an extensive and well-documented record of paying billions of dollars to sports teams and leagues to stage elaborate displays of patriotism before every game www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Pentagon puts end to all heritage month observances in military
www.stripes.com
February 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by Mark R. Folse
These people weren't elected, they're not Senate-confirmed and they're not even filling Schedule C positions. Who is even paying them? Why is security even allowing them in the building? Where are House and Senate Democrats? This is effectively a government takeover.
January 31, 2025 at 8:43 PM
U.S. Army museums have been directed to cancel any and all events, social media posts, and references to cultural awareness months going forward. That includes Black History Month, which starts tomorrow.
January 31, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I've flown in and out of Reagan at least a dozen times. Never did the possibility of colliding with a helicopter occur to me.
January 30, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Mark R. Folse
Historians are the most important people in America right now. Find some. Follow them.
January 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
No armor, no air, no MAGTFs. Just light infantry fully integrated into the Navy. This isn't institutional development, it's cutting off the USMC's nose to spite China's face
January 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The president is politicizing and attacking an episcopal minister for preaching mercy and respect for human dignity. This is the new "Golden Age of America"?
January 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
"The Marines are going soft" crowd will love this one.
In quiet shift, Marines allow mixed-gender DI teams to train recruits
A typical integrated team will have three DIs of one gender and a fourth of the opposite gender, with most featuring three male instructors and one female.
www.militarytimes.com
January 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
2025 off to a good start! Two positive reviews of my book "The Globe and Anchor Men" in the latest JMH issue.

kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700636259/
January 8, 2025 at 9:52 AM
It's this Oxford Don's birthday. Born 3 January 1892, Professor JRR Tolkien spent his life crafting one of the most popular mythologies of the 20th century: the Silmarillion, the Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings. He passed away on 2 September 1973
January 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Nosferatu rocked. Bill Skarsgard is the new king of horror.
December 31, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Comfort and joy. Merry Christmas everyone.
December 26, 2024 at 12:23 AM
Didn't get to watch a single play, but Go Navy!
December 15, 2024 at 12:34 AM
Over a century ago the military used highly gendered appeals to recruit. The differences between the services' appeals were subtle but important, with the variations reflecting not only key cultural elements of each branch, but American views on what it meant to be a man.
November 23, 2024 at 1:30 PM
I started reading this series at 38 and finished it yesterday. Took mental notes on how she provided enough detail to spark your imagination without bogging the narrative down. I agree with Stephen King when he called these books "a lot of fun. Pure story."
November 22, 2024 at 3:13 PM