Vision of Glory: One Soldier's War

As David Ryan watches the 9/11 attacks during high school math class, he knows—no matter what—he will defend his country. His desire to join the military isn’t a new one. He’s dreamed of it since childhood, when he looked to military men, both in history and in his family, as heroes.

David envisions a life of military glory and achievement, of helping others, and bringing peace. He follows the footsteps of some of the military’s greatest figures to West Point and, upon graduation, is sent to the Sunni Triangle, the flashpoint of the Iraq insurgency.

As David’s tour begins, however, his childhood dream ends. What he encounters in Iraq is nothing like he’d envisioned, and he becomes painstakingly aware of the harsh toll exacted by a mounting sense of futility and foolishness. With this realization comes his most difficult fight: what to do with a broken dream.

Vision of Glory: One Soldier’s War is a brutally honest account of David’s journey. An extraordinarily informative and insightful memoir, it’s sure to open the public’s eyes to the true feelings that our country’s veterans are screaming to a deaf public.