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fobhaiku.bsky.social
Charlie Sherpa
@fobhaiku.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.3K following 710 posts
Read my books: http://amzn.to/36pzbf9 Freelance editor, writer, poet, humorist. OEF veteran by way of BFE. Admin: The Aiming Circle. Opinions & jokes my own. https://linktr.ee/randysherpabrown
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fobhaiku.bsky.social
Proud to have new stuff in this year's "Proud to Be" anthology! One is a poem involving a military retirement and a urinal. The other is a micro-essay about recovering my old 12-inch G.I. Joe action figure!

Purchase on-line via Submittable:
thelaurelreview.submittable.com/submit/29787...
Cover of "Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. 14" depicts a military pilot wearing woodland camoflage, making adjustments and flipping switches. Text reads: "Look what just landed!"
November 13, 2025 at 6:39 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
“Come and take it!”
November 4, 2025 at 2:03 AM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
You are too kind! I was fortunate to have met the poet at a U.S. Air Force Academy war-writing conference in September 2018!

(And, yes, a favorite book for me, too!!!)
October 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Originally wrote this haiku for Tom Ricks' "Best Defense" blog at @foreignpolicy.com. Seems appropriate to re-post today.

Background story & all 7 haiku:
www.fobhaiku.com/2018/07/from...

Also printed in "Twelve O'Clock Haiku: Leadership Lessons from Old War Movies & New Poems":
amzn.to/3ShSDCr
September 30, 2025 at 2:57 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Me: "Not going to touch that most-recent fascism with a 12-inch ..."

Also me:
Parody of popular gun-rights image depicts subway sandwich in sepia tone, under which the Greek words "Molon Labe" ("Come, take" or "Come and taken them") are presented. The image references the 14AUG25 arrest of a Department of Justice employee in Washington, D.C. for allegedly assaulting law enforcement personnel with a sandwich.
August 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Scuttlebutt suggests not.

“Scuttlebutt Goes to War": The 1943 picture book is the true story a dog who is wounded in World War II, and adopted by sailors and Marines. Scuttlebutt gets his name from the wheeled apparatus he uses to get around temporarily, having been injured.
July 18, 2025 at 11:25 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Today’s was movie matinee: “The Crossing” (2000 TV movie)
July 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Sunday afternoon war movie matinee: “The Train” (1964). French resistance fighters led by Burt Lancaster attempt to stop a train of priceless artwork from being evacuated to WW2 Germany. Director: John Frankenheimer
Movie poster for “The Train”
June 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Here's your weekend safety brief: "Attack! Attack! Attack!"

Challenge coin by Iowa's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division

Scale Jersey-barrier “Kilroy was Here” challenge-coin holder by linktr.ee/warmurals

#gijoe #knowingishalfthebattle #veteranslife #kilroy #kilroywashere
Picture of 3-3/4-inch G.I. Joe action figure "Scoop" combat information specialst, holding 1980s-sized video camera and wearing goggles and helmet. Scoop is placed in front of a 3D-printed "Jersey barrier" with an incised "Kilroy" graffito. The barrier is designed as a military challenge-coin display. In the photo is a coin from the Iowa's 2-34th Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division. Designed by soldier-citizen and painter Marvin Cone during WWI, the "Red Bull" emblem is a red buffalo skull inset a black Mexican water vase called an "Olla." The division motto is "Attack! Attack! Attack!"
June 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
"Welcome to FOB Haiku: War Poems from Inside the Wire" by Randy "Sherpa" Brown.

Cover art by @aaronprovost.bsky.social

- Print: amzn.to/2n7zOIg
- Kindle: amzn.to/3acccrT

Intended to create moments of conversation among military veterans & civilians.

About the author:
linktr.ee/randysherpab...
Text reads: "All this has happened before, all this will happen again." Book cover of "Welcome to FOB Haiku: War Poems from Inside the Wire" features pencil sketch of Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected ("M-RAP") truck.
June 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
"The 12-Day War"
Photo dated May 1, 2003 depicts U.S. President George W. Bush giving a "thumbs-up" sign in front of a banner that reads "Mission Accomplished." More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_Accomplished_speech
June 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
"A plan to fail or a fail to plan"?

It's a bad mission with bad optics and bad consequences if/when things go wrong. It is spending our capital and goodwill. And Joe, as always, gets to pay the price. #civmil
U.S Army poster from the 1980s depicts a soldier in combat gear, and reads, "Battle Staff Officer: Remember ... everything you plan and write must be executed by this man. He and his buddies will be the first to pay for your mistakes. Do your job well—futures depend on it."
June 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Fun travel fact: Sherpa's Tactical Magic 8-ball is not permitted on civil airline flights.

"We asked the Magic 8 Ball and it told us … Outlook not so good!' [TSA] jokes on its website. For Checked bags: We asked the Magic 8 Ball and it told us … It is certain!"

www.cntraveler.com/story/what-i...
Novelty "Magic 8 Ball" fortune-telling toy is painted in green, brown, and black camouflage pattern. Novelty "Magic 8 Ball" fortune-telling toy is painted in green, brown, and black camouflage pattern. Image depicts toy displaying the message: "Reply Hazy, Try Again."
June 3, 2025 at 12:41 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Stunning 2-page spread by @ryanhowe.bsky.social and @wastedwings.bsky.social ! The original "True War Stories" Kickstarter even offered this as an actual postcard!

Was this the artistic inspiration for the War Poetry Postcard Project (WPPP)?! Contest ends May 3, 2025!
linktr.ee/warpoets
2-page spread from "True War Stories" comics anthology mimics a mid-20th century tourism postcard. The stylized text reads, "Greetings from Sunny Panjshir—the Valley of Lions." Other panels depict the life of Ahmed Shah Massoud, who resisted invasions by both the Soviets and the Taliban. Art by Ryan Howe. Colors by Kelly Fitzpatrick.
May 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
"True War Stories" anthology from Image Comics includes “In the Valley of Lions”—the story of how Sherpa attended a tourism seminar in Afghanistan!

Words: Randy “Sherpa” Brown @fobhaiku.bsky.social
Art: Ryan Howe @ryanhowe.bsky.social
Colors: Kelly Fitzpatrick @wastedwings.bsky.social
Interior comics panel by Ryan Howe and Kelly Fitzpatrick depicts a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter landing in a goat pasture in Panjshir Province, Afghanistan May 2011. Comics montage by Ryan Howe and Kelly Fitzpatrick includes depictions of Iowa National Guard soldiers of the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division, as well as scenes from Afghanistan. The latter include boys playing soccer, and a membrer of the Afghan security forces casually conversing with an Iowa soldier.
May 1, 2025 at 2:31 AM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
“True War Stories”!
imagecomics.com/comics/relea...

“Fifteen true tales of American servicepeople overseas are brought to life in graphic novel form—from the hilarious and the heartwarming to the heroic.”

Editor: @alexdecampi.bsky.social
Editor: @deadlyhausfrau.bsky.social
Cover: Richard Johnson
Picture of white male standing in front of a wall of new comics, holding "True War Stories" comics anthology. The man wears a yellow Iowa State ballcap and brown travel vest over blue Hawaiian shirt. Photo inset: An interior comics panel depicts a white male wearing a brown tactical vest, blue shirt, and yellow Iowa State ball cap.
May 1, 2025 at 2:31 AM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Endorsed. UNCLASS for widest possible dissemination. Deploy wisely.

shewantstheisrd.myshopify.com/products/cle...
"Vault-Boy OPSEC" sticker depicts U.S. Secretary of Defense Hegseth parodically rendered in the style "Vault-Boy" character from the videogame "Fallout." He holds a green bottle and is giving a "thumbs-up" hand signal. The quote reads, "We are clean on OPSEC."
April 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Tonight’s war movie: “Dark Star” (1974)
Movie poster for “Dark Star” (1974) depicts astronaut riding spaceship like a surfboard
April 21, 2025 at 1:19 AM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Then: "Be Cool, Stay in School"
Now: "Mr. Roboto says 'Let's tax the penguins!'"

youtu.be/IYpRV_Z25-g?...
Screenshot from '80s "Be Cool, Stay in School" PSA video by Council for Basic Education, Washington, D.C. depicts cartoon penguin ("Duke"?) against photograph of other penguins.
April 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
"Ever since I entertained my platoon mates with King Harry's inspiring St. Crispin's Day speech [...] I've enjoyed sneaking poetry into the conversation. Perhaps more soldiers would appreciate poetry, were they to realize the inherent poetics of military life."

www.fobhaiku.com/2025/04/list...
Photo depicts three U.S. Army drill sergeants in "shark attack" mode, shouting motivations to an individual struggling to push a weighted sled. The caption reads, "Listen up, Maggots! It's NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!"
April 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Literary project (ends May 3, 2025) centers "wars" both overseas & at home! Co-sponsors: Collateral Journal & @middlewestpress.bsky.social!

Subsidized by entry fees, 3x finalist poems will be produced & distributed to ALL participants as designer postcards!

More info at link:
linktr.ee/warpoets
Image of olive-colored U.S. Army issue ammunition-box with handle; a poem titled "how to write a war poem" and "War Poetry Postcard Project" logo are superimposed on the ammo container. The WPPP logo is a blue eagle with wings outspread, carrying an ink pen in its claws. The eagle is superimposed on a red gear- or cog-shape, symbolizing interconnection. The poem by Randy "Sherpa" Brown reads, in its entirety: Write what you know Write what you’ve seen Write your friends Write your enemies Write your rights Write your wrongs Share your war— Listen to others’ Everyone has their own battles, but no one should fight alone
March 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Good reminders. Stay the course.
Slide titled "a quiet professional professes through haiku", No. 6: your moral compass should be red-light readable for work in the dark Image depicts book cover of "Twelve O'Clock Haiku: Leadership Lessons from Old War Movies & New Poems" by Randy Brown. Cover shows bird's-eye-view of a U.S. B-17 "Flying Fortress" during a WW2 strategic bombing mission.
March 25, 2025 at 10:53 AM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
WAIT—WHAT?! Very pleased to learn that my Afghan war-tourism story "In the Valley of Lions" is going to press again as part of an Image reprint !!! Art: @ryanhowe.bsky.social! Color: @wastedwings.bsky.social! Edit: @alexdecampi.bsky.social & fellow Army veteran Khai Krumbhaar!
Author mimics "Kilroy was here" pose from behind an original hardback printing of the "True War Stories" anthology. The book is open to a 2-page spread drawn in the style of an illustrated tourism postcard. The "postcard" reads: "Greetings from Sunny Panjshir: The Valley of Lions," and depicts scenes of Afghan history. Story by Randy "Sherpa" Brown, art by Ryan Howe, Color by Kelly Fitzpatrick.
January 30, 2025 at 9:37 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
"The new phone books are here!!!"

(Waves at @shmof16.bsky.social)
Hand holding 2025 "Japanese Woodblock Prints from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston" calendar up to winter sky; bare trees are in the background.
January 14, 2025 at 10:14 PM
fobhaiku.bsky.social
Sergeant major says
winter gear not authorized.
Snow falls on Bagram.

#warpoetry #fobhaiku

www.fobhaiku.com/2016/01/wint...
haiku is presented on a photo of two deployed U.S. airmen attempting to clear the snow off the tarmac, using only light snow shovels. They are not wearing coats or gloves. In the background, an A-10 "Thunderbolt II" jet is parked.
January 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM