Overview

Mayfield served as a combat engineer twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan, completing more than 300 missions clearing routes, and detecting and removing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from roadways for safe travel by U.S. forces. In his debut book, Mayfield transports his audience from the comfort and safety of their lives to the raw and unpredictable cruelty of war, death, and destruction. His story both enlightens and uplifts readers as he goes back to his time in war zones as a bomb disposal operator in a battle of wits with the enemy where losing could have meant death. He makes a conscious choice to move forward with his life in spite of the tragedies he has had to face. ""This is my story of what it's like to survive an explosion and go back to work the next day, over and over, until it physically became impossible to continue,"" said Mayfield, who earned two Purple Heart medals, an Army Commendation for Valor, and a Bronze Star. ""I had to come to grips with going from powerful, agile, and intelligent to slow and sometimes very weak and confused after so many IED hits. And now, I'm finally at ease, even proud of, the mess I am today because I earned my scars and lessons. I want my words to help others who suffer."" Now retired and living in the greater Salt Lake City area in Utah, Mayfield continually looks for ways to serve others and give back in his community. ""Ward put his life on the line, and this book is a true testament to both his and his bomb removal teams' strength and determination in the face of tremendous odds,"" said Chris Schafer, CEO at Tactical 16 Publishing. ""His courage and dedication on the battlefield and today are such great reminders that there are men and women like him everywhere putting their lives at risk to protect us and our way of life.""

Full Product Details

9781088078389

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Over the years, friends and family have asked what living through combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and the resulting injuries is really like. My answer is usually something dismissive like ""it was mostly a pleasure"" or ""absolute lunacy"" and a casual smile. While true, I've responded that way because to detail war so the person I am speaking with truly understands what it was like for me, is incredibly painful. But I wanted to share myself with those closest to me and needed to try to get my most personally influential experiences and resulting perspective changes down on paper. This is my take on some of the lessons good ole Uncle Sam gave me, and how I continually choose to live with them. So even if my brain injuries take over at some point down the road, at least future me will have a reference to know what the hell happened. Perhaps it'll help friends and family, maybe even help total strangers understand just a small example of what survivors of war look like on the inside.""

Over the years, friends and family have asked what living through combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and the resulting injuries is really like. My answer is usually something dismissive like it was mostly a pleasure or absolute lunacy and a casual smile. While true, I've responded that way because to detail war so the person I am speaking with truly understands what it was like for me, is incredibly painful. But I wanted to share myself with those closest to me and needed to try to get my most personally influential experiences and resulting perspective changes down on paper. This is my take on some of the lessons good ole Uncle Sam gave me, and how I continually choose to live with them. So even if my brain injuries take over at some point down the road, at least future me will have a reference to know what the hell happened. Perhaps it'll help friends and family, maybe even help total strangers understand just a small example of what survivors of war look like on the inside.

Author Information

Ward Mayfield is a retired Army Staff Sergeant who is weirdly uncomfortable with the realization that authors write their own bios in 3rd person. He served in the 321st Engineer Battalion as a Combat Engineer completing over 300 missions during three tours. Those tours took him twice to Iraq, and once to Afghanistan. His primary job was route clearance, the detection and removal of IEDs from public roadways. Among awards received are two Purple Heart Medals, an Army Commendation for Valor, and a Bronze Star. Ward is currently living out his retirement in the greater Salt Lake area.

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