Blake Stilwell

Blake Stilwell is a former Air Force combat photographer with degrees and experience in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations and Middle Eastern Affairs. Instead of using any of that, he (eventually) became a writer. His work has appeared in Recoil Magazine, Military Times, Coffee or Die, Skillset Magazine, and more. Blake is based in Ohio but is often found elsewhere.

Email: Blake.Stilwell@Military.com

Latest Articles

Gene Hackman portrayed the real-life Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton in "Bat*21." (Tri-Star/Sony Pictures)

Legendary Actor and Marine Corps Veteran Gene Hackman Dead at 95

Gene Hackman, the beloved star of stage, movies and television who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the turbulent years...

Jon Bernthal as Marine Corps veteran turned vigilante Frank Castle in "The Punisher." (Marvel Studios)

Jon Bernthal's 'The Punisher' Will Return in a New Disney+ Solo Special

Amid the onslaught of new Marvel movies and TV series that have premiered in the years since 2019's "Avengers: Endgame"...

Gene Hackman in the "French Connection."

Famous Veteran: Gene Hackman

Two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman, a Marine Corps veteran, has died at age 95. He was one of Hollywood's busiest and...

"Brothers After War" is in theaters on February 28, 2025. (Perseverance Productions)

Why Gary Sinise Wants Every US Service Member and Veteran to See 'Brothers After War'

The Gary Sinise Foundation made the largest-ever donation to Vet Tix to ensure veterans and their families can see the new...

Comedian Jerry Lewis, featured in "From Darkness to Light" a documentary screening at the Atlanta Film Festival. (Atlanta Film Festival)

5 World War II Documentaries Worth Watching from the 2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

The annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is in full swing, and this year’s showcase includes a lineup of compelling movies...

Audie Murphy recreates his Medal of Honor action for the 1955 film "To Hell and Back," adapted from his autobiography. (Universal Pictures)

More Than 80 Years Later, Audie Murphy's Medal of Honor Action Is Still Like Something Out of a Movie

Audie Murphy's one-man fight against the Nazis in Europe might seem like something straight out of a modern action movie, but...

'Race Against Terror': CNN's Jake Tapper Details the Extraordinary Investigation into an Al-Qaida Fighter's Murder of US Troops in Combat

The case was essentially a murder investigation. The suspect was in custody, and he'd even admitted to the killings; all...

Kevyn Major Howard as Rafterman in "Full Metal Jacket." (Warner Bros.)

'Full Metal Jacket' Actor and Military Advocate Kevyn Major Howard Dead at 69

Actor and philanthropist Kevyn Major Howard, best known for his role as Marine Corps combat photographer "Rafterman" in...

Christoph Waltz as "The Jew Hunter" Standartenführer Hans Landa in "Inglourious Basterds." (Universal Pictures)

The 10 Best War Movie Villains

To leave a lasting impression, villains not only have to present a real challenge to the hero, but they also have to evoke...

Belgians still place fresh flowers at the Eric Fisher Wood Memorial in Meyerode, built at the site where his body was found.

The Son of an American Legion Founder Led a Guerrilla Campaign of Terror Against the Nazis

By today's standards, Eric Fisher Wood Sr. would probably not have joined the National Guard, let alone join two armies to...

Doug Hegdahl survived two years in Hoa Lo by playing dumb. But he was one of the most important POWs ever sent there. (U.S. Navy)

'The Unlikely War Hero': The Youngest and Lowest-Ranking Vietnam War POW in the Hanoi Hilton

Author, historian and Vietnam veteran Marc Leepson's new book, "The Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage...

Anywhere between 400-1,000 women fought in the Civil War as men.

How Women Enlisted as Men to Fight in the Civil War

American women would not be welcome as full-time military members until 1948, but those who really, really wanted to fight...

Mark Matthews saw combat with the 10th Cavalry in the American West and on Saipan during World War II.

The Oldest-Ever Buffalo Soldier Enlisted in 1910 and Lived to Fight in 2 World Wars

Retired 1st Sgt. Mark Matthews was a soldier who saw the U.S. Army evolve from horse-mounted cavalry to diesel-driven...

Anthony Mackie and Danny Ramirez visited Nellis Air Force Base, where Captain America himself joined Pararescuemen from the 58th Rescue Squadron for an unforgettable jump out of an Air Force HC-130J Combat King II. (Marvel Studios)

Watch Air Force PJs Teach Anthony Mackie to Fly Ahead of the 'Captain America: Brave New World' Release

It's probably no surprise that Captain America loves the troops.

Piotr Glowacki is legendary boxer Tadeusz Pietrzykowski in 'The Champion (of Auschwitz).' (Iron Films/Galapagos Films)

The Best Military Movies and Shows Streaming Right Now on Netflix

If you're looking for the best war movies on Netflix, we're here to help you stop the scrolling, move past the algorithm and...

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Doug Collins, President Donald Trump's pick to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs

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Charles Robert Smith’s former neighborhood at Paddington Place

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