I am glad a book like this is out there. The haunting truth about this industry, is that there is absolutely no support mechanism for the families of contractors.
With the military, there are all sorts of resources available to the families of soldiers, all with the intent of helping wives or husbands and the families through long and tough deployments. Or worse yet, helping families during times when their loved one has been hurt in time of war. With contractors, there is nothing.
Often times, families just create their own support mechanisms and do what they can to survive. The one real benefit with contracting is that guys can just go home if things get too rough for the family. That and deployments are usually shorter.
Another factor of contracting, is the families of third country national contractors. Often these contractors are in Iraq or Afghanistan for years and not months. They too must create their own family support mechanisms back home, in order to support such long deployments. Yet again, these contractors could go home to deal with problems, but the jobs they fill are highly competitive and most guys and gals who are contractors fear losing their job more. Hence why you have folks who work for such long deployments.
So with that said, I would like to present to the readership a book written from the perspective of the families back home. Like the military family, the ups and downs and yearning for loved ones far away is just the same for this community. If you have a wife or girlfriend or family who would like to read a book about what to expect as a family member of a contractor serving overseas, this is it. I have not read the book yet, so I will not give it a thumbs up or down, but I will promote such things, just because there isn’t anything else like this out there. If any of the readership has read the book or has something to say, feel free to share in the comments. –Matt
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This book is being dedicated to all of those brave men and women who have sacrificed home and country to work inside Iraq or Afghanistan during a time of conflict. You have worked alongside our military, and I thank you for your valiant efforts. To the families left behind, I applaud your bravery and selfless dedication as you supported your loved ones in their decision to go. ….I also wrote this for him, he will have a more cohesive and complete picture of what this journey has been like for me …back home with him gone.
Summary
Many Americans only know military contractors from the little they have read in the media, which hasn’t always portrayed a pleasant picture.
Now, Linda J Johnson is bringing to light the real story behind her family’s sacrificing for their country in this capacity. She believes her story reflects thousands of American families who have been involved in the deployment of a loved one in support of our troops!
Faced with a job shortage on the Island of Kauai; Linda’s husband responded to a recruitment ad for a military contractor and his decision changed their lives forever. Since 2005, Linda began writing a journal to capture what he and their youngest son was seeing out on the battlefield, as well as what she was seeing in the changing of America. That journal became her new book. Through drastic ups and downs, Linda and Richard persevered with faith and pride in his work and in the U.S., constantly battling the negative attitude portrayed by the MSM towards military contractors and the war.
Learn what their lives are like when Living in the Shadow of the Iraq Conflict. Richard returned home in August of 2009 after having served four consecutive years as a military contractor in Baghdad, Iraq.
About The Author
Linda J Johnson received her doctorate in Christian education in 1999. She also holds certification as a CISD (critical incident stress debriefor) counselor. She is an ordained minister and an internationally endorsed community services chaplain with the Church of God, Cleveland, TN.
Currently, Linda resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she contributes to the community as a substitute teacher and has headed up the 9/11 project for Awakening America. She has welcomed home her husband of thirty-two years and they are pursuing this project together as they tour and speak and sign books across the country.
Contact Linda J. JohnsonContact Linda J Johnson to book speaking engagements, book signings, or purchase author-signed copies. Leave your contact information in the body of the message.
Book website here.
Buy the book here.