The War Journal

Shortly after I arrived in country, I received a care package from Christie Mitchell. The package contained a handwritten letter, some junk food, foot powder, a Fleetwood Mac cassette for my yellow Sony Walkman, and an empty hard bound black book with a blue pen. In the letter, Christie asked me to write about my time in the war so when I got back, she could experience it for herself through my eyes.

Throughout the deployment, I chronicled my experiences to capture the trials and tribulations of combat. I didn't know at the time how they would reveal critical life lessons that would shape my identity and impact my life. 30-years later, during the darkest point in my life, I read the journal and was able to understand how the death of a friend, betrayal of a woman, and the solitude of combat shaped my future.