Trigger, a baby goat…

greeted me as I walked in the door of the barber/ beauty shop.

“Don’t bother the customer, Trigger”, Helen said, while completing a lady’s blow-dry.  

As soon as I sat down, Trigger started butting my leg.

“Where did you get this critter, Helen?”

“Well, his mother had four of them, but only nursed two at a time. Trigger and his sister were not able to get enough milk to make it. We lost his sister and I got to Trigger just in time to rescue him”, Helen responded. “With me feeding him by bottle every couple of hours, it looks like he is going to survive.”

I picked Trigger up and started holding him.

“You want a goat, Jerry? I got three available”, Helen said.

“I can’t imagine what Laura might say if I walked in the door with a pet goat.  But I don’t think it would be that positive”.

My mind raced to a GI who picked up a stray puppy in Afghanistan and brought him back to base. Despite misgivings, the commander could see how the critter helped improve morale and gave a reluctant “OK” for the soldiers to keep him. Over time, the dog became the pet of the entire unit and did wonders to perk up the morale of young soldiers. The little guy reminded them of home, and diverted their minds from the horrors of war, if only temporarily. 

Then one day, the dog, traveling on patrol, was killed in a battle skirmish. There is no way to describe how this incident affected morale. Grown men were crying in the combat zone as if one of their best and closest friends had been lost.

In a measure of reflection, that is exactly what happened.

This story will appear in one of my future books.

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If you enjoyed this blog, please like and share it with your friends on social media to help spread the word about Combat Survivor Heroes. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to local veteran causes. 


Be among the first 1,000 people to receive an advanced, signed copy of Angels on the Battlefield. You can contact me for details by clicking the button below.

If you are interested in a signed copy of our first published book of combat survivor stories, When Heaven Visits: dramatic accounts of military heroes, you can also click the link below. For a discount on your purchase, leave a review of the book on Amazon, take a screenshot of your review, and email it to combatsurvivorheroes@gmail.com.

 

contact me

               

Details of the two wonderful veteran causes we support can be found on the Resources page of the Combat Survivor Heroes website. 

 

Above: Jerry nuzzles Trigger the goat.

 

 

Talk about a hero…

Patrick fits that description like a leather glove. After meeting his mother, at an author’s club one evening, she leaned over and calmly said:  “you may want to talk with my son Patrick. He served in Iraq, and has just returned home. Perhaps he will share some of his experiences with you”.

WOW! 

What young Patrick shared calmly with me, caused me to gasp a few times and just about took my breath away. Hopefully, Patrick shared with his mom, some of the breath-taking, horrible stuff he shared with me.

Typical of the young volunteers joining the Army these days, Patrick maintained his sense of self-deprecating humor, while unfolding graphic, breathtaking words I recorded.  His first story, “Pit of Hell’, contained in our first book, When Heaven Visits, describes seven horrific days, being fired on hourly by goons who well knew US forces needed “permission” to return fire. Well, let me stop right there.

Patrick’s second account was unimaginably nauseating. Patrick’s description of finding “The Torture Room” will shock the reader. Patrick’s ability to survive Pit of Hell and Torture Room, with a measure of sanity is unbelievable!

Today, Patrick, busy making custom knives and metalwork, sells his impressive line of products online. “My goal to own his own business is approached with the same determination which allowed him to survive the horrors of war in Iraq.

God Bless you, soldier brother!  I hope you make a million.  

**********

If you know a veteran who would like to share their story with me for a future book, just ask them to visit the contact page of my website, or click the button below. 

If you enjoyed this blog, please like and share it with your friends on social media to help spread the word about Combat Survivor Heroes. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to local veteran causes. 


Be among the first 1,000 people to receive an advanced, signed copy of Angels on the Battlefield. You can contact me for details by clicking the button below.

You can also use the link below If you would like a signed copy of my first published book of combat survivor stories When Heaven Visits: dramatic accounts of military heroes. For a discount on your purchase, leave a review of the book on Amazon, take a screenshot of your review, and email it to combatsurvivorheroes@gmail.com.

 

contact me

               

Details of the two wonderful veteran causes we support can be found on the Resources page of the Combat Survivor Heroes website. 

Cover Image: Patrick with Author, Jerry Barnes

Claude Saunders…

a gem to meet and listen to, this 93-year-old hero quietly shared his inspiring story of marine service in two combat zones.  First, Claude served at Iwo Jima, arriving near the end of this bloody conflict and remaining with most of his marine company (about a hundred men) to clean up.

In our time together he said, “Jerry, it took months and months to gather up the discarded Japanese and American arms, and equipment after this battle. The abandoned arms were so extensive, it filled an entire Landing Vessel, over two hundred feet in length, to full and overflowing. We later took the ship to the Chinese Nationalists, then unloaded her, under constant duress, as Chinese communists fired on us”.

“From there, the Marine Corps sent me to Korea where I later fought in battles in and around the Pusan Reservoir during the early stages of the Korean War”.  

Claude’s story will appear in our third book, to be published in 2022. For more information on future books, sign up for our Friends of the Author newsletter. We will be announcing some exciting contest giveaways and other promotions for the second book,  Angels on the Battlefield.

*******

If you enjoyed this blog, please like and share it with your friends on social media to help spread the word about Combat Survivor Heroes. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to local veteran causes. 


Be among the first 100 people to receive an advanced, signed copy of Angels on the Battlefield. You can contact me for details by clicking the button below.

If you are interested in a signed copy of our first published book of combat survivor stories, When Heaven Visits: dramatic accounts of military heroes*, you can also click the link below.

*For a discount on your purchase, leave a review of the book on Amazon, take a screenshot of your review, and email it to combatsurvivorheroes@gmail.com.

 

contact me

               

Details of the two wonderful veteran causes we support can be found under the Resources page of the Combat Survivor Heroes website. 

 

Above:  American hero, Claude Saunders

 

Leo LeCasse…

is a true American hero. We write about this terrific man in our next book, Angels on the Battlefield.  Shot down three times, while flying B17s over the combat zones of Europe, Leo escaped all three times.

The ability to speak “passable French”, along with English, helped him as he ran for his life, over days, to find friendly territory. 

“On one occasion, German boots came within six feet or so of my outstretched hand”, Leo shares in the book. Leo flew thirty-six missions over active combat zones. 

Read more about Leo when our second book publishes soon. 

*******

If you enjoyed this blog, please like and share it with your friends on social media to help spread the word about Combat Survivor Heroes. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to local veteran causes. 


Be among the first 100 people to receive an advanced, signed copy of Angels on the Battlefield. You can contact me for details by clicking the button below.

If you are interested in a signed copy of our first published book of combat survivor stories, When Heaven Visits: dramatic accounts of military heroes*, you can also click the link below.

*For a discount on your purchase, leave a review of the book on Amazon, take a screenshot of your review, and email it to combatsurvivorheroes@gmail.com.

 

contact me

               

Details of the two wonderful veteran causes we support can be found under the Resources page of the Combat Survivor Heroes website. 

 

Above:  American hero, Leo LeCasse

 

Douglas and Gloria…

are long-time, childhood friends of mine. We attended the same school in the Virginia town of McKenney and attended the same Baptist Church. Like your author and his dear wife, Doug and Gloria have been married for more than fifty years.

While visiting together one Sunday morning after church Gloria and I were chatting when the subject of the next book of combat survivor stories came up. “When do you expect to complete the next book?” Gloria asked me.

“I am about half done with the thirty stories and hope to finish in the next six months or so”, I replied.

Gloria turned, looked in Douglas’ face, and said: “Honey, you really ought to tell Jerry your story. I know it is painful for you, but the kids and grandkids need to know what Papaw did in the war”. 

Already knowing that Douglas did not want to relive his painful memories of combat service in Vietnam, I looked at Douglas who quietly said: “Jerry, when you have a chance, please stop by the house and I will share the stories I have been holding so long”.

That painful story of combat, fear of injury, and death, along with the heart-wrenching loss of a dear friend, is entitled, Humble Hero. It will appear in our next book:  Angels on the Battlefield.

God Bless you both, Doug and Gloria. It is my privilege and honor to write your account. 

**********

If you know a veteran who would like to share their story with me for a future book, ask them to visit the contact page of my website or click the button below. 

If you enjoyed this blog, please like and share it with your friends on social media to help spread the word about Combat Survivor Heroes. A portion of all book proceeds is donated to local veteran causes. 


Be among the first 1,000 people to receive an advanced, signed copy of Angels on the Battlefield. You can contact me for details by clicking the button below.

You can also use the link below to order a signed copy of my first published book of combat survivor stories When Heaven Visits: dramatic accounts of military heroes. For a discount on your purchase, leave a review of the book on Amazon, take a screenshot of your review, and email it to combatsurvivorheroes@gmail.com.

 

contact me

               

Details of the two wonderful veteran causes we support can be found under the Resources page of the Combat Survivor Heroes website. 

Cover Image: Douglas and Gloria. Above: Author,  Jerry Barnes and wife Laura.