Dung in My Foxhole: A Soldier’s Account of the Iraq War, and His Post War Struggles with Injury and Ptsd Thru Poetry

From Master Sergeant (MSG) Gordon L Ewell’s initial entry into Military Service, his 24 year career has been marked with distinction through many notable accomplishments. He has graduated from over 30 Army Resident Schools. He has been recognized for his outstanding initiative, care for his fellow Soldiers and as one who would do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission, or help a Soldier in need. During his service in Iraq, MSG Ewell performed 59 challenging and dangerous missions. He was further recognized by the Corps staff as the Multi-National Corps “Subject Matter Expert,” in Route Clearance. MSG Ewell led over 33% of the missions he was on in Iraq. He was recognized to be unparalleled in his physical stamina and toughness complemented with superior technical and tactical capabilities. This was clearly demonstrated on the battlefield when his efforts under heavy enemy fire were unrivaled, which earned him a Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. During his Combat Missions, on six separate occasions, a vehicle he was in was blown-up by Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s). He was Medically Retired in February 2010, due to the Physical and Mental severity of his Combat Injuries. “I have assembled some simple poems, some written before I went to War, some while I was there, and some when I returned home, severely injured. I have also included a section of totally random thoughts that I refer to as “Gordy-isims” (my nickname is “Gordy”). I thought if this book was able to help just one person suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to be able to try to share and “release” their own demons, it will have been worth it. If my little book is able to help anyone understand what someone suffering from PTSD is going thru, it will have been worth it. If it is able to help a counselor, or Peer Facilitator to help reach out to someone suffering from PTSD, it will have been worth it. For me, the experience of putting this book together and confronting some of my own demons has been worth it.” (Gordon L Ewell) This book is his personal account of the Iraq war thru poetry. It is a personal account, thru poetry, of the Triumphs and Heartache of struggling to recover from Physical and Mental wounds received while fighting the War on Terrorism in Iraq.