Note to Veterans

This book is dedicated to you, the men and women of the military who are Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

You and your families have sacrificed so much for the freedom that we enjoy.

I want to show you the great appreciation that we have for what you have done. I speak both as an individual and also on behalf of the citizens of this great country of the United States of America. We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I understand that when you return home the adjustment back to “normal” life is often a difficult one. This book can help with that adjustment.

It is by no means a cure all for the problems that you may face. But it is certainly a step in the right direction. The simple, conversational style should lend itself to be read quite easily. It has clear messages and exercises that will help you learn the lessons.

By following the recommendations taught in this book, anyone can change for the
better. It is not the end but the beginning of a life long process of personal growth.
Hopefully this book will be a catalyst for more learning and more change. The
possibilities are endless.

If you or your group would like to sponsor books for other Veterans, please contact me.

Note to Sponsors

If you or your organization would like to give books to the Veterans, you can arrange for bulk purchases and volume discounts by contacting me.

My goal is to get a copy of this book into the hands of every Veteran returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are Veterans’ organizations that operate in the local community and there are also those that operate on a national basis. You can designate the specific organization that you would like to support.

If you prefer you can designate the specific geographic area such as a county or state that you would like to benefit. Or you may want to give the books to a national organization to go wherever they are needed most.

If you would like to have a custom book made for your company, please contact me. Custom books could include a special cover with your company’s information or a foreword written by someone in your organization. There are many possibilities.

Note from the Author

Many people ask me why I have such a heart for the Veterans. There are many reasons. First is that I grew up in Canada after World War II and there was a great national spirit of appreciation for the sacrifices of the people who had fought in both WW I and WW II. Millions of people had died in those wars and it was hoped that they were the wars to end all wars.

Second, Remembrance Day is very significant in Canada with almost everyone wearing a red poppy in remembrance of the fallen. This was started after WW I to honor the dead of that war. The red poppy is used because the flower bloomed on some of the worst battlefields of WW I. Also, it is a symbol of the blood that was shed during the war.

However, the main reason is that I grew up with a Father who was a Veteran of World War II. I remember our home as a crazy place to live. Life did not make sense to me. My father was very miserable and unhappy most of the time. He was severely strict with discipline but very inconsistent in what the “rules” were from day to day. It seemed that his “rules” changed all the time but he never told us what they were, we were just suppose to always know and follow them.

My Father was drunk a good deal of the time that I was growing up. This made him even more unpredictable. Finally, at the age of 49 he committed suicide.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was not known at that time so people just lived like that and didn’t know any difference. Who were the victims of my Father’s war experience? Obviously my Father was a victim. Also, my Mother suffered greatly as she was raising two children while living with my Father’s crazy behavior. And then there was my brother and me growing up in this dysfunctional environment and trying to learn about “normal” life. It took me years of therapy and working at personal growth to deal with the problems resulting from my childhood. However, they have defined me as a person and will always be a part of who I am until I die.

I don’t want to see another Veteran or family suffer in this way.

While living in San Francisco as an adult I worked with the homeless for many years. I was shocked to discover that many of the homeless were Veterans of Vietnam. All over the country there are still many men suffering the effects of the Vietnam War. Many of those men suffer with similar conditions to my Father plus the common addiction to drugs. In addition, suicide has been a real problem for the Vietnam Veterans who weren’t able to adjust back to “normal” life.

Now the ranks of the homeless are being filled with Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. These men and women have experienced things that no human being should ever have to witness. They all need our help and our support. I personally pray for them. Getting my book into the hands of every Veteran is my way of showing them that I care and love them.