This is not a story about heroism.
It is a story about what happens after the applause fades, after
the retirement ceremony ends, and after a life built on order,
mission, and identity abruptly dissolves.
For two decades, I lived inside a system that told me who I
was, what I was worth, and where I belonged. The Marine
Corps gave me structure, brotherhood, and purpose. It also
gave me trauma I did not know how to name, process, or
survive once the structure was gone.
When I retired, I believed I was prepared for civilian life. I
was wrong.
What followed was a slow, often invisible collapse marked
by untreated PTSD, alcohol dependence, marital breakdown,
and a series of decisions made while operating far below my
best self. Some of those decisions were mine alone. Others
were shaped by systems that respond to trauma with
procedure rather than understanding.
This book is written in hindsight, but not with the comfort of
distance. The events recorded here still carry weight.
At DAB Books, we strive to provide a diverse selection of literature that caters to all readers. Our goal is to foster a love for reading by making quality books accessible to everyone.View all by Preston Judd
