A FACE ON THE FLAG, excerpt 5

“What shapes the relationships of veterans? Horgan tells us their stories, their challenges, and their friendships, all woven into a tight novel. Giving half of his royalties to support veterans is a nice bonus.”  

Patrick O’Leary, USMC veteran      Board Member, Hershel “Woody” Williams                 Medal of Honor Foundation

“Kevin has done it again. A masterpiece which shows how soldiers, sailors, and Marines set aside squabbles, share with each other the hardships and dangers, and assist in bearing each other’s burden.”   

Ed DeVos, LtCol US Army (ret)                             Author of The Last 100 Yards

A FACE ON THE FLAG, Horgan’s third novel, is a tribute to veterans and the friendships they carry through life. Vets young and old will find someone they know in A FACE ON THE FLAG.

Note that 100% of author royalties during the advance sale period until November 12th, 2020 will be donated to veteran support groups and charities. Check out the website and make your purchase today! www.kevinhorganbooks.com 

EXCERPT 5:

I kept looking at Arlo’s gait. He seemed like he was walking normally, but his right calf was a prosthetic from the knee down. He didn’t swing his leg like a pirate but bounced like an athlete. If I wasn’t staring at the fake leg, I would have never guessed he had one. Arlo wasn’t nearly winded, and I don’t believe Billy ever tired of exercise. If they were waiting for me to chime in, they would have to wait until we camped.

“I was a gunner. Routine movement, wasn’t even a patrol. We never saw any indication of an IED, and two guys lost teeth from the concussion when they landed. We were lucky, for the most part.” Arlo paused.

“Losing your leg doesn’t seem too lucky,” Billy said without irony.

Arlo chuckled. “No, I guess it doesn’t. A real fluke. Unsecured weapons and unnecessary equipment caused a crazy ricochet chain in the Bradley. I went up in the air, straight up, I still remember thinking to just keep hold of something, you know?” He breathed deeply, twice. “When I came down, a sharp hunk of metal cut through my shin bone. Then the vehicle bounced again, and my leg was hanging by a flap of skin. I knew I was injured but I didn’t know how bad until Shaw, my buddy, started puking.”

“Oh my God.” I stopped walking. We all did.

“You got that right, Clem. You have no idea what disgusting is until you see someone puking, with blood and teeth, all over the place and he can’t talk and can’t communicate. I actually asked him if he was all right, and he grabbed the bad end of my leg. Tried to put it back, man, I’ll never forget it. His front teeth are missing, he’s heaving, and I’m still trying to scramble up to the 50 cal, outside. In my mind I was pulling the trigger and raking everything in sight.” Arlo paused again, wiping his brow with a bandana.  The Governor on his chest rose and fell.

“There were two vehicles behind us, and I could hear shouting and the LT was right there, then the medic, and we were scrambling to get out, to see who was hurt and how bad. My leg just dangled from the skin and we thought the guys inside were in real bad shape. After the all-secure, I sat on a hunk of the Bradley like I owned it. Someone gave me a cigarette. I never smoked in my life. The medic had applied a quick compression tourniquet. They were all over me, all about my leg. All about my leg.”

Arlo looked into where the sun should have shone and smiled. “All good, now, you know? I thank God how lucky I am. Surrounded by real professionals, great soldiers. All of them. They saved my life.”

Note that 100% of author royalties during the advance sale period until November 12th, 2020 will be donated to veteran support groups and charities. Check out the website and make your purchase today! www.kevinhorganbooks.com