Military Memoir Review

Iraq in My Eye: Memoirs of a Navy SEAL
By Chuck Bravedy
ISBN: 1-4241-7689-1
Review by Heather Froeschl



Every day since the war in Iraq began, Americans are shown what the media is allowed to share about the statistics, the causes, the costs, the plans and the hopeful outcome. But do we really know what is going on; do we understand what the war is like? Chuck Bravedy shares his understandings from a veteran’s point of view in “Iraq in My Eye: Memoirs of a Navy SEAL.”

Who knows better what the war is like than someone who has been deep in the thick of it? To understand this military action, one might sit back and let the media tell you what to believe, or you might take a look at one man’s personal experiences. Bravedy starts the book with descriptions of his Navy SEAL training and what it takes to make it through this endurance test of the highest form. SEALs get respect, no doubt. And then begins his assignment in Iraq. Trained for nighttime covert operations, Team 3 was forced into the daylight and in plain sight for the insurgents to recognize; they were vulnerable. Quickly adapting to the surroundings and demands placed upon them, the team began flushing out insurgents and detaining them to gather information. The daily reports we see on IEDs is nothing compared to what is going on. The understanding Bravedy shows of reasons behind the placement of these devices is one most American’s could not have. The drive for making money to survive is great. Most Americans would also be clueless to the fact that detained insurgents are paid for their time to compensate for “wrongful detainment.” Most are set free rather than face any judge, only to be watched yet again by our servicemen for suspicious behavior. It is a vicious cycle. Bravedy goes deeper into the mindset of the terrorist and what instigates and propagates their behaviors. From this understanding he has formed his opinions of how we should be progressing and what America’s role should be.

From the heart of a Navy SEAL, we can begin to see the whole picture. Many might not agree with Bravedy’s ideas and political stance but it is an option to have understanding of the subject at hand. A short memoir of a portion of one man’s life as well as political commentary, “Iraq in My Eye: Memoirs of a Navy SEAL” will leave readers thinking.

Terrorist Fear Fiction Review

Reaching Home
by Ron Breazeale
ISBN-10: 1931642060
Review by Heather Froeschl

What do terrorists hold over us? Is it their weapons, their knowledge, or is it our own fear? They elicit terror, and when we allow ourselves to be afraid, we give them power. Our fears can control our lives in many ways. In Ron Breazeale's novel, "Reaching Home," we are brought face to face with the fears that many of us cling to.

Dr. Lee Brazil left the south for the open arms of Maine. He's raised a daughter, and lived life, despite his own demons of fears. While back in the south, doing research for a book in Pine Grove, Tennessee, and a meeting of SOMAP - Save Our Mountain and Our People, Lee falls victim to an accident at the Pine Grove Lab incinerator for nuclear waste. This accident is mistakenly believed to be a terrorist plot and Dr. Brazil is taken into protective custody. The fallout sickness not being enough to deter him, Dr. Brazil escapes and hitches a ride in the back of a truck hauling port-a-johns. Thus the journey begins, and develops into a discovery of how people will help a stranger, and how they either live by or face their fears.

Things get quite heated when a second incident occurs at Pine Grove. The FBI is looking for Brazil, and a terrorist cell is being tracked in Boston. Emotionally, Lee is dealing with old feelings of lost love, nightmares of terrors, and an unquenchable thirst to return to Maine. Will he make it home? Will the real terrorists realize their terrible quest?

Breazeale's novel is an enticing, captivating read. Set in the very near future, the book rings true with many current public fears. This work of suspense also holds deeper messages of love, life, and understanding our demons. The plot is tight and well planned, and the characters are undeniably human. Easy to read and impossible to put down, "Reaching Home" is bound to be a great hit!