Sig Christenson
@saddamscribe.bsky.social
I’m a journalist with 43 years in the business, and I’ve reported extensively in Iraq and some in Afghanistan. I’ve covered the military and veterans for the San Antonio Express News and Hearst Newspapers since 1997.
'An incredible hero': Ray Falke, decorated veteran of two wars who talked down heroics that included flying w/a crazed drunken recon plane pilot, is dead a few weeks shy of his 99th birthday. We recount the tale of his career in the Navy and Air Force. {{Gifted}}. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Ray Falke, San Antonio veteran of two wars, downplayed his own heroics
Falke served in World War II and Korea and won the Distinguished Flying Cross for aerial heroism. But he insisted his achievements were no big deal.
www.expressnews.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:42 PM
'An incredible hero': Ray Falke, decorated veteran of two wars who talked down heroics that included flying w/a crazed drunken recon plane pilot, is dead a few weeks shy of his 99th birthday. We recount the tale of his career in the Navy and Air Force. {{Gifted}}. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
The feds have gone after a Washington Post reporter in hopes of uncovering her sources. We wrote in November about concerns retired generals and others have of the administration targeting them because they're critical of the president. Our story's gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared.
Under military law, generals who speak out could be prosecuted for "contemptuous" statements about the president. "I have worried about retribution," says one.
www.expressnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:36 PM
The feds have gone after a Washington Post reporter in hopes of uncovering her sources. We wrote in November about concerns retired generals and others have of the administration targeting them because they're critical of the president. Our story's gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Like a rock band, he's big on giving names to his travels, this one the “Arsenal of Freedom” tour. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth isn't so hot about telling the public when he drops into town. He spent Monday morning in San Antonio. www.expressnews.com/business/art... via @expressnews
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spent Monday morning in San Antonio. What we know
He’s on his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which was to include Monday stops at SpaceX Starbase and Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.
www.expressnews.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Like a rock band, he's big on giving names to his travels, this one the “Arsenal of Freedom” tour. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth isn't so hot about telling the public when he drops into town. He spent Monday morning in San Antonio. www.expressnews.com/business/art... via @expressnews
Luv Ya Blue, old friend, 'til the end: Mike Renfro still says he caught it, even 46 years after Houston Oilers' heartbreak in Pittsburgh. 'That could have propelled us to the Super Bowl, you just never know how it would have all played out, ...' www.expressnews.com/sports/texan... via @expressnews
Mike Renfro still says he scored, even 46 years after Oilers' loss in Pittsburgh
Mike Renfro has found success in the horse racing business, but he can't ever escape The Catch That Wasn't in the Oilers' heartbreaking loss to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.
www.expressnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Luv Ya Blue, old friend, 'til the end: Mike Renfro still says he caught it, even 46 years after Houston Oilers' heartbreak in Pittsburgh. 'That could have propelled us to the Super Bowl, you just never know how it would have all played out, ...' www.expressnews.com/sports/texan... via @expressnews
The instructors at Lackland are still yelling at recruits, but it's not what you think and probably not what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants. He thinks boot camp got too soft and wants to make it 'scary, tough.' How far can he go? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
The instructors at Lackland are still yelling at recruits, but it's not what you think and probably not what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants. He thinks boot camp got too soft and wants to make it 'scary, tough.' How far can he go? www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
The air conditioner is on at the moment, but tomorrow night it will be the heater. Here's a look at our crazy, almost unprecedented 'winter' weather in Texas: Warm today, but a strong cold front will arrive by the weekend www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-... via @expressnews
South Texas weather: Warm today, strong cold front coming soon
High temperatures are expected to be near 80 degrees again today, but a strong cold front will swing through South Texas by late Friday.
www.expressnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:48 PM
The air conditioner is on at the moment, but tomorrow night it will be the heater. Here's a look at our crazy, almost unprecedented 'winter' weather in Texas: Warm today, but a strong cold front will arrive by the weekend www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-... via @expressnews
Two GIs injured in Venezuela raid recovering at San Antonio military medical center. Five other soldiers who participated in Operation Absolute Resolve suffered injuries but have already returned to duty. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Two U.S. soldiers injured in Venezuela raid recovering at BAMC
Five other soldiers who participated in Operation Absolute Resolve "suffered injuries but have already returned to duty," a Pentagon spokesperson said.
www.expressnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Two GIs injured in Venezuela raid recovering at San Antonio military medical center. Five other soldiers who participated in Operation Absolute Resolve suffered injuries but have already returned to duty. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Two special ops soldiers are recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center after being wounded in Venezuela operation. Others flown into San Antonio last weekend were treated and released. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Two U.S. soldiers injured in Venezuela raid recovering at BAMC
Five other soldiers who participated in Operation Absolute Resolve "suffered injuries but have already returned to duty," a Pentagon spokesperson said.
www.expressnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Two special ops soldiers are recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center after being wounded in Venezuela operation. Others flown into San Antonio last weekend were treated and released. www.expressnews.com/news/article...
'We're empowering drill sergeants to instill healthy fear in new recruits,' Pete Hegseth says. He thinks boot camp is soft and wants it to be 'scary, tough,' w/shark attacks, bunk tossing, swearing and DIs putting 'hands on recruits.' www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:37 PM
'We're empowering drill sergeants to instill healthy fear in new recruits,' Pete Hegseth says. He thinks boot camp is soft and wants it to be 'scary, tough,' w/shark attacks, bunk tossing, swearing and DIs putting 'hands on recruits.' www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants basic training to be ‘scary.’ To hear him talk, he even wants to bring back forms of hazing that haven’t existed in decades. A number of generals believe that’s a big mistake. One lawyer told me ‘he has Marine envy.’ www.expressnews.com/news/article...
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants basic training to be ‘scary.’ To hear him talk, he even wants to bring back forms of hazing that haven’t existed in decades. A number of generals believe that’s a big mistake. One lawyer told me ‘he has Marine envy.’ www.expressnews.com/news/article...
GIs wounded in Venezuela attack flown to San Antonio. The specials ops folks aren't saying anything, but we know they are at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Army's flagship hospital. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
GIs wounded in Venezuela attack flown to San Antonio
Neither the Defense Department nor BAMC are providing details, but a flight tracker cites CNN as saying 'a handful' of GIs suffered bullet, shrapnel wounds.
www.expressnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:47 PM
GIs wounded in Venezuela attack flown to San Antonio. The specials ops folks aren't saying anything, but we know they are at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Army's flagship hospital. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Some special ops troops wounded in Venezuela attack were flown to San Antonio. They're now resting at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Pentagon's flagship military hospital and Level 1 trauma center. BAMC is also home to DoD's sole burn center. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
GIs wounded in Venezuela attack flown to San Antonio
Neither the Defense Department nor BAMC are providing details, but a flight tracker cites CNN as saying 'a handful' of GIs suffered bullet, shrapnel wounds.
www.expressnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Some special ops troops wounded in Venezuela attack were flown to San Antonio. They're now resting at Brooke Army Medical Center, the Pentagon's flagship military hospital and Level 1 trauma center. BAMC is also home to DoD's sole burn center. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough' and hands on. The armed services turned away from that rough style of indoctrination after a string of hazing scandals, some of which led to deaths and suicides. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough' and hands on. The armed services turned away from that rough style of indoctrination after a string of hazing scandals, some of which led to deaths and suicides. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Au Revoir, Brigitte Bardot: 'These women, of a passing generation, expected nothing from anyone, and gave little grace in return. I wish they had known how to be gentler — with the world, and with themselves.' www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
Opinion | Au Revoir, Brigitte Bardot
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Au Revoir, Brigitte Bardot: 'These women, of a passing generation, expected nothing from anyone, and gave little grace in return. I wish they had known how to be gentler — with the world, and with themselves.' www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/o...
The U.S. Supreme Court was right to block Trump's deployment of Texas Guard to Chicago, and what a waste of time and money. The feds spent millions to deploy hundreds of guardsmen in October who were restricted to training and doing nothing. www.expressnews.com/opinion/edit... via @expressnews
Blocking Trump's deployment of Texas Guard to Chicago was the right call
Deploying Texas troops to Illinois was a massive overreach and a waste of money.
www.expressnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The U.S. Supreme Court was right to block Trump's deployment of Texas Guard to Chicago, and what a waste of time and money. The feds spent millions to deploy hundreds of guardsmen in October who were restricted to training and doing nothing. www.expressnews.com/opinion/edit... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp's too soft and wants to make it 'scary, tough.' He says, 'Yes, they can shark attack, they can toss bunks, they can swear, and yes, they can put their hands on recruits.' Generals, lawmakers worry he's gone too far. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp's too soft and wants to make it 'scary, tough.' He says, 'Yes, they can shark attack, they can toss bunks, they can swear, and yes, they can put their hands on recruits.' Generals, lawmakers worry he's gone too far. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough,' but much of what he'd like to see isn't done anymore and at least one thing isn't even legal. Generals and retired JAGs we talked to worry he's crossing the line. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants it to be 'scary, tough.'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring back an older, rougher kind of basic training where drill sergeants "instill fear" and "put their hands on recruits."
www.expressnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Pete Hegseth thinks boot camp got too soft. He wants to make it 'scary, tough,' but much of what he'd like to see isn't done anymore and at least one thing isn't even legal. Generals and retired JAGs we talked to worry he's crossing the line. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Elon’s company town is like a secret municipality: Musk’s Texas space city again sues Paxton over public information requests www.expressnews.com/business/art...
Musk’s Texas space city again sues Paxton over public information requests
Starbase has filed at least four lawsuits against the Texas Attorney General’s Office over its rulings that information should be released.
www.expressnews.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Elon’s company town is like a secret municipality: Musk’s Texas space city again sues Paxton over public information requests www.expressnews.com/business/art...
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier: “This is so far beyond the pale,” Mr. Weiser, the attorney general, said. “No one has thought to do this because it is so clearly against our constitutional system of government.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/u...
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier
www.nytimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier: “This is so far beyond the pale,” Mr. Weiser, the attorney general, said. “No one has thought to do this because it is so clearly against our constitutional system of government.” www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/u...
Fort Hood OBGYN formally charged with 54 counts of visual indecent recording, Army says www.expressnews.com/news/crime/a...
Fort Hood OBGYN in custody, formally charged with 61 counts of misconduct
Maj. Blaine McGraw faces 54 counts of indecent visual recording. An Army investigation identified at least 44 alleged victims, most of whom were patients when the violations occurred.
www.expressnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Fort Hood OBGYN formally charged with 54 counts of visual indecent recording, Army says www.expressnews.com/news/crime/a...
In a world of lies, core values still matter. Retired Gen. Donald Cook, who led the Air Force's training command, explains it here. 'Integrity is simple: doing what's right when no one is looking or doing the harder right than easier wrong.' Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/local/m...
'Core values' in question at Lackland
As the first of a series of basic training instructors prepares to go on trial this week...
www.expressnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:40 AM
In a world of lies, core values still matter. Retired Gen. Donald Cook, who led the Air Force's training command, explains it here. 'Integrity is simple: doing what's right when no one is looking or doing the harder right than easier wrong.' Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/local/m...
We’ve followed this story for a reason: The potential losses are the worst since Brooks City-Base was realigned in 2011. Here's what we know: Many soldiers at U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South are likely moving to Fort Bragg. I’m guessing most. Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Many GIs at Army North, Army South likely moving in Hegseth-ordered merger
San Antonio could pay a high cost for the merger of three commands ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A "majority of functions and majority of duties" will move to Fort Bragg.
www.expressnews.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
We’ve followed this story for a reason: The potential losses are the worst since Brooks City-Base was realigned in 2011. Here's what we know: Many soldiers at U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South are likely moving to Fort Bragg. I’m guessing most. Story is gifted. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a...
Nobody with the Army or city (and forget about the congressional delegation, which has nothing to say) wants to talk numbers. Maybe no one yet knows, but one thing is clear: Many GIs at 2 Army commands in S.A. are likely moving to Fort Bragg. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Many GIs at Army North, Army South likely moving in Hegseth-ordered merger
San Antonio could pay a high cost for the merger of three commands ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A "majority of functions and majority of duties" will move to Fort Bragg.
www.expressnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Nobody with the Army or city (and forget about the congressional delegation, which has nothing to say) wants to talk numbers. Maybe no one yet knows, but one thing is clear: Many GIs at 2 Army commands in S.A. are likely moving to Fort Bragg. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
{{{BREAKING}}} A top official at a DoD language school that teaches English to foreign troops, including many from Islamic countries, has quietly resigned after a probe into posts bearing his name — one calling for gunning down Muslim protesters. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
Air Force official quits after scrutiny of anti-Muslim social media posts
Randall Conrad was the top civilian at an Air Force language academy in San Antonio that teaches English to foreign military personnel, many of them Muslims.
www.expressnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
{{{BREAKING}}} A top official at a DoD language school that teaches English to foreign troops, including many from Islamic countries, has quietly resigned after a probe into posts bearing his name — one calling for gunning down Muslim protesters. www.expressnews.com/news/article... via @expressnews
My paper recently ran a story, "Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump." Some didn't want to go on the record w/me, and one today pointed to Pete Hegseth saying DoD would investigate Sen. Mark Kelly. It's all about retribution. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews
Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump: They're scared.
Under military law, generals who speak out could be prosecuted for "contemptuous" statements about the president. "I have worried about retribution," says one.
www.expressnews.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
My paper recently ran a story, "Why retired generals are staying silent about Trump." Some didn't want to go on the record w/me, and one today pointed to Pete Hegseth saying DoD would investigate Sen. Mark Kelly. It's all about retribution. www.expressnews.com/news/texas/a... via @expressnews