Dear Military History: Hold My Bourbon

Captured this look, then used Arvin App to style it.

Quotes, Footnotes & Righteous Rage — The Remix

Hold my beer doesn’t really pair with my love of bourbon, whisky, or a good Old Fashioned with a dark cherry.

I prefer to march through the forgotten chapters of military history powered by caffeine, bourbon vindication, and just a dash of scholarly revenge. Or, if you’re in the mood for controversy: Who dares descend into this rabbit hole of military history, sass, and citations?

I frequently get asked who this blog or my research is for, so let me clarify that.

Let's be real—this blog is part love letter, part war cry, and a historical mixtape of all the stories that got left behind. I'm diving deep, flipping dusty pages, and asking the questions no one wanted to explore—especially those individuals who told me Military spouse history is "Ridiculous."

So this blog is for me and ...

My fellow historians — the nerds with footnotes, the lovers of dusty archives, and the ones who get high off primary sources.

Female veterans and military spouses — My sisters in camo and chaos, combat boots and heels. You've walked the walk and survived the spouse groups, briefings, TDY, deployments, relocations, and potlucks — this space is for you. You are not alone today or in History.

Military scholars and gender researchers — if you're seeking stories that didn't make it into the official textbooks or past the margins, pull up a chair. Let's dig into the nitty-gritty and uncover the uncomfortable truths.

Students, educators, and curious minds — if you've ever wondered, "Wait, women and spouses did WHAT in the military?" —WELCOME, friend. You're in for a ride.

Finally, the doubters—the ones who told me I didn't "get" or "understand" Military History, the ones who called my research on military spouse history ridiculous. Thank you. No, seriously. You fueled me to pursue a master's degree in Military History, this blog, and an obsession with finding the women, the military spouses, and the stories you ignored.

I raise my bourbon to you all– Cheers!

Welcome to the end of whispers.

Loud, proud, and peer-reviewed — just how history should be.

~Mel