Fist Blades

07/12/2025

RIP Bo Bohanon! You were a legend among US Army FiST’ers. Legend has it that you called the first ever fire mission using a drone, taking out IED makers in Iraq and saving countless US troops. They used footage of it as an exemplary example for other FO’s to learn from. Most of all you were always there to talk and if it wasn’t for you FiST Blades wouldn’t exist. I’ll miss our talks buddy! Till Valhalla!!

11/10/2023

I've been working on a digital memorial in honor of US Army Forward Observers. Originally the FIST community of Veterans were going to pool together items from their time in service to go into a rotating exhibit at the new US Army National Museum. However, the museum director decided they have too much in the archives and she didn't want it to be years before the public would ever see anything from this niche group of elite soldiers who played a pivotal part in multiple conflicts in the last 22 years. Field Artillery is known among the Army as King of the Battle and Fire Support Specialist are the gauntlet grasping lightning bolt of the FA. This is a rough collection of some of the photos and graphics FO's shared a few years ago when someone from the Army History Foundation got excited about the idea of a rotating FO exhibit. Being that its Veteran's Day I thought it appropriate to give a glimpse into a world that most people will never know exists. Forward Observers are well trained to hide out in plain sight so you may walk right past one of us once in your life and never know they were once part of the most deadly force on the battlefield. Our motto is "Rockhard Fisters" because we are known as the rock of the Field Artillery. The barracks most of us started our training in is known as Charlie Rock and thus the origin of being as tough as rocks. Ironically, it is the same barracks shown when Paulie Shore goes through basic training "In The Army Now" movie from the nineties.

This is a (placeholder) "works in progress" and eventually I plan to come up with a good idea for an exhibit of some kind because the world should know about the story of these few young, brave and fearless warriors.

07/08/2023

Exactly 21 years ago this month, thirty FO’s were unleashed on the world. Trained by the best of the best, we were King of the Battle. On an Army of One scale we were the most lethal military force that ever existed. Capable of summoning over twenty forms of fire, from Naval gunship to mortars! We were 1/22 Charlie Rockhard FiST’ers!

07/04/2023

Happy Independence Day!

06/23/2023

“Black Magic” is a very old school 13-Foxtrot term that meant all the computers and everything electronic was taking too long, unavailable, failed completely. The FO would have to do advanced calculations on the fly. Known as shooting from the hip! With 155mm Howitzers this was highly discouraged but some Forward Observers supporting SF had no choice but to perform Black Magic!!! In those split seconds They Were the Computer! 🪄💀🦊👊🇺🇸

06/18/2023

Splash out!

06/18/2023

06/18/2023

“Black Magic” is a very old school 13-Foxtrot term that meant all the computers and everything failed. The FO would have to do advanced calculations on the fly. Known as shooting from the hip! With 155mm Howitzers this was highly discouraged but some Forward Observers supporting SF had no choice but to perform Black Magic!!! 🪄💀🦊👊🇺🇸

04/03/2023

First ever Thirteen Foxtrot inspired Ai generative artwork. Feedback in comments please! Would you buy these on T-shirts and embroidered moral patches? 👊🗡🇺🇸

08/27/2022

Such a sad loss today for the Veteran and FiST community! I had the honor to get to know Paul Monti over the last few years. He called me back in 2019 and told me these three principals that his son Jared lived by since I was looking for a quote to engrave onto a knife to donate to the Ft. Sill Field Artillery School - Monti Hall. Paul told me that his son was not too big on quotes but that there are three principals he lived by that he always talked about in speeches about Jared.

1.) Always Try You Hardest!
2.) Never Give Up!
3.) Always Do The Right Thing!

To say that that some of us walked in the footsteps of giants like Jared Monti is an understatement. We went through some of the same FO schools but Jared was a legend among legends and his story will never be forgotten! Paul touched so many people by spreading Jared’s story. I will make sure that I find a place for this knife to be on display so as many people as possible can see it and that the Monti family story can be shared. Thanks for being there for so many of us from a Lost Generation that served shortly after 9-11. Rest easy Mr. Monti

02/17/2022

Fist Blades Jumpmaster knives! Get em’ while their hot!

02/17/2022

Come and get your Fist Blades Kukris! Before their all gone!!