'In ancient times when people lived in caves and thatched huts, men looked to other men to fashion weapons they could use to hunt and to defend themselves and their families against hostile enemies. These stone club and flint arrow makers were the first defense contractors." -T. H. Henning, From "Memoirs of a Defense Contractor," Chapter Fourteen, Epilogue

Corporate divestitures, acquisitions, mergers and the feast and famine nature of defense contracts have taken their toll on thousands of people. Yet today, you will find defense contractors side by side with our soldiers, sailors,...

"In medieval times, stone castles dotted the countryside of Europe. They attracted itinerant merchants and craftsmen who would wander from castle to castle selling their labor, products, and services. When wars occurred between the castle rulers which resulted in one castle taking over another, it was a common practice of the time to plunder the castles treasures, take prisoners, and scatter the occupants of the enemy castle throughout the countryside. Today, corporate castles of steel and glass dot the countryside of many modern nations. Itinerant professional college students and workers...

"When ancient Rome dominated the known world in the beginning of the first century, the Roman military established outposts on the borders of its territories to serve as guardians of the empire. Soldiers stationed at the Roman forts on the fringe of the empire would often marry local women in the villages around their post. Sometimes they would be recruited by their new families, the barbarian enemies of Rome, to serve the barbarian tribes own interests. Early first century monks from suppressed secret religious societies and pagan priests would also try to recruit the Roman soldiers to join...