Skip to content
DUFFEL BLOG

Free military brief. No CAC required.

For more than a decade, we've deployed pitch perfect satire to service members around the world.

Join thousands of troops, veterans, and defense insiders who read Duffel Blog before breakfast.

“A must-read for national security nerds.”

—The Daily Beast
Subscribe form

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

14years publishing
4,200+dispatches filed
17,000+readers briefed

The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 123 · Thursday, 15 October 2026

Veterans

Vetbro apparel company pivots from stupid shirts to aggressively homoerotic ones

AI deemed ‘too smart’ to replace infantry

Hegseth opens up new TradWife MOS

Three editions a week, paid for by our subscribers

Vol. 15 · No. 123

Worldwide edition

Reader supported

Delivered 3× weekly

America's most trusted military news source

Duffel Blog

Established 2012 · Deployed worldwide

Vol. 15 · No. 123 · Deployed worldwide

Thursday

15 October 2026

1205 Zulu

Next edition Friday

← Front page
Veterans · Page 2

Meet the WWI veteran who started ‘trench warfare coffee company’

Filed · 1550

Editor’s note: The following article originally appeared in the September 1918 Duffel Blog. The author die weeks later of the 1918 influenza pandemic.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Army Sergeant James Thomas has always been a step ahead of his peers, and now after returning home from the “Great War,” he has his sights set on a new venture never before tried in the veteran community - starting a coffee bean company.

That's right, Doughboys! After serving as an infantryman in the 106th Infantry Regiment, this Yankee Doodle is starting the "Trench Warfare Coffee Company" following six month in France and two doses of Hun mustard gas!

"Right after we broke through Hindenburg Line and took it to Krauts, I thought: Could really use cup of joe. STOP" Thomas said in a telegram interview. "Came up with this crazy idea. STOP. Start veteran-owned coffee biz! STOP"

Also on this page

Your Cart

Your cart is empty

Browse the shop to find something you like.

Continue Shopping →
Subtotal

Add more for free shipping.

✓ You qualify for free shipping!