Showing titles in Military Families

When Ron Zaleski returned home from his service to the Marine Corps in 1972, he was plagued by feelings of anger and guilt. As an act of penance, in 2006 he walked barefoot across the Appalachian Trail, where he learned self-forgiveness, empathy, and found a purpose greater than himself. In 2010, he upped the stakes and walked barefoot from Concord, MA to Santa Monica, CA. He traversed over 3,400 miles without shoes, all the while carrying a sign that read "18 Vets a Day Commit Suicide!" and a petition for military personnel to receive mandatory counseling.

‘TIL THEN OUR WRITTEN LOVE WILL HAVE TO DO is a compilation of the love letters written by my father to my mother during his deployment in World War II. They began in May, 1944, and span a year, telling of his duties, and impressions of the times. To his letters, I have added an introduction, chapter notes and photos.

Journey back through time to discover remarkable accounts of parents who waved off their sons and daughters, never knowing if they would ever see them again. One mother saw no less than ten of her sons between the ages of eighteen and thirty-seven, dispatched to the frontline in the First World War. The biggest “real” band of brothers that ever served their country, but to discover how many made it back and who this dear lady was, you will have to listen to the rest.

American Heroes on the Homefront gives a unique perspective on the situation our nation faces and the qualities of those who protect us, as well as the true impact of their sacrifices on their families and loved ones.

This book argues that the elements that contribute to healing war trauma - including safety, connection, community, dialogue, mutual respect, diversity, and compassion - can help build a stronger nation. But this message comes with a warning and a challenge not just for caregivers, veterans service organizations, governmental departments, Congress, and the White House, but for all Americans. War creates incalculable suffering - not only among those on the front lines, but also among those left behind.

In Mission Entrepreneur Jen Griswold, veteran, CEO, and mentor, shares the journey that led her from 20 years in the military to over $20 million in annual sales. As a wife and mother with a full-time career, Jen watched her peers as they experienced the struggles of keeping their careers afloat while managing family, relocations, and the demands of a busy life. The lessons she learned from her time in the military can be applied to start-ups, to help you launch your business, build wealth, and find happiness.

The Force behind the Forces is a collection of seven true stories of eternal love, courage and sacrifice. Written by an army wife, Swapnil Pandey, this book brings to light moving stories of unimaginable valour in the face of broken dreams, lost hopes and shattered families. It proves that bullets and bombs can only pierce the bodies of our soldiers, for their stories will live on in the hearts of these brave women forever, women who have dedicated their lives to the nation, without even a uniform to call their own.

When RIP first deployed for Desert Storm, his baby daughter, Vicky, was three months old. RIP wrote heartfelt letters to her for posterity, not knowing if he’d get to see her grow up but wanting to tell her of his hopes and dreams. She grew into a teenager before he retired, and he wrote to her about dealing with life’s curves.

What did it mean to be a hero in 1944? What does it mean today? On the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, these are the questions we ask ourselves as the world faces resurgent nativism, deep social divisions, and rising xenophobia. It’s no exaggeration to say that the gravity of our crises today echoes back to the crossroads of 1944. Finding St. Lo presents us with two distinct voices from the past.

My Vietnam places the listener into the boots of a grunt roaming through the blood-ridden jungle. Experience the turmoil, inside and out, that was the life of a young soldier as he counted the days to return to "the world", hopefully alive.

The experience of the Vietnam War is almost impossible to grasp - the fear, smell, pain, and camaraderie. Boys were turned into men, men were transformed into soldiers, and then from soldiers to warriors. These warriors had wives who shared in their transformations. Some marriages were strengthened, while for others men and their families were left emotionally and spiritually battered. Focusing in on a singular company’s experience of war and its eventual homecoming, Andrew Wiest discusses the shared experience of combat and both the darkness and resiliency of war’s aftermath.

Badass is a general term used to describe behavior that is fearless, authentic, and compassionate. A badass does not give up. Badasses will always push themselves for the better, no matter how hard it gets. This book is a tribute to Jean-Luc Nash, a true badass with a big heart. He was a West Point graduate, Army Ranger, Special Forces Officer, 82nd Airborne Commander, and Defense Attache. What people like Jean-Luc Nash do is essential to protecting our country. This allows people like you and me to create, write, pursue our interests - whatever they are - and have the opportunity to make something of ourselves.

Author Joanne Steen tackles the subject that terrifies parents of military personnel - the death of their son or daughter on active duty. In short, accessible chapters Gold Star parents find thoughtful explanations and trustworthy advice for coping with military grief. Steen weaves together realistic examples with voices of other Gold Star parents, connecting the listeners to the wisdom of those parents who have walked in their shoes.

This is a story of pain, loss, and hope. Our son was killed on foreign soil, and in an instant our world was forever changed. Just as yours would be. Chronicling the life of only one of the currently 7,000 Gold Star families from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, When Our Blue Star Turned Gold takes the listener from the early morning hours of his final and fatal battle to the ongoing journey of staff Sgt. Bryan Burgess’ family.

A true life recounting of true events that make up the lives of the author and his mother. Events told in detail and, in the genre of memoire-fiction.

“H.E.A.R.T. of a Warrior” is an excellent listen about a Samoan woman who faced many adversities. However, she is still standing beautifully. Highlighting how she takes people through a journey, showing where strength and resilience perfectly describe the beautifully authentic warrior she is today. This extraordinary book delivers an inspirational, powerful, and loving message that will leave people feeling ready and motivated to face life's challenges. This book reveals a resilient woman with a humble and loving heart who fought for a deserving life and fought every battle unafraid.

This is an autobiography about a man from New Jersey born in 1947. Following his graduation from high school in 1965, he enlisted in the Marines and went to Vietnam. Home and honorably discharged before turning 21, he meandered for a few years in the time of the anti-war movement and psychedelic drugs that were the late '60s and early '70s. He found his feet in aviation with his first introductory flight. He immediately knew piloting an airplane was what he wanted to do. His involvement in the drug culture led to incarceration and jeopardized his future, though.

In an attention-grabbing story, author Karl P. Monger shares his experiences as a United States Army officer, including the transition trials he experienced when he left the Army and sought to find purpose in civilian life. Despite government programs and 40,000 nonprofits dedicated to veterans, transition from the military remains a veteran’s greatest challenge. Monger highlights a common sense approach for veterans to gain control over their transition and shows how communities can help them achieve lives of hope and purpose.

After 45 years of marriage, celebrated author and poet Abigail B. Calkin explores the complicated relationship she has with her husband who served three tours of duty in two different wars. Raw, riveting, and engaging, Calkin recounts how war and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shaped their marriage and family. Told in prose and poetry, The Soul of My Soldier is a vivid exploration of the history of war on family, the extended and significant impact war has on loved ones, and how war affects deployed military personnel far beyond their tour of duty.

Soldier and Spouse and Their Traveling House puts a witty spin on the dynamic of newlywed husband and wife trekking across two continents during their first three years of marriage. Who heads this household? The thrill-seeking soldier? Or the sensible spouse? Come along with this twenty-something military couple on their off-duty weekends as they dash in and out of trouble from the Emerald Isle to cruising down the Nile and many places in between-Western Europe, the Baltic, North Africa, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean.