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September 11 Attacks
Ryan sees how the Twin Towers fall just a couple of hours away from his high school. He asks himself if he doesn´t protect his country,who would? -
MEPS
Ryan went to the Military Entrance Processing Station in Albany.Here Ryan took eye, heart and other physical tests. This was his first step to enlist in the military. -
Graduation Day!
After going through Red,White and Blue Phase Ryan graduates and gets to return to his family. He then decides to do Hometown Recruiting and gets to know a Ranger, who has been in the war before. -
The Call
After Ryan goes to the AU, he receives the call saying that he is being deployed to Iraq. He doesn't enroll in college and decides to propose to his High School girlfriend. -
Fast Wedding
Ryan married Heather because he loved her and wanted to make sure if he died she will received a letter and some benefits.The army doesn't care if you have a girlfriend so marrying Heather before leaving was important to Ryan. It was a small ceremony with family and friends. -
Between Continents
On December 1st, the entire battalion packs into a giant plane. The plane´s first stop is in Germany to refuel. The destination is Kuwait City in Kuwait, a small country next to Iraq and Sudi Arabia. -
New Year! New Bunker!
After they arrived at the new camp in Iraq, Ryan had to stay for an hour under a bunker.The camp was attacked by mortars and the closest safe area was the bunkers.Days after he was moved and he didn't have to hide I the bunker anymore. -
¨You got the May leave you wanted¨
The Army gives 2 weeks ¨leaves¨ while in convoys and Ryan gets the one he was hoping for.He waits hours for a plane that would take him back to the camp in Kuwait City -
Back to the Camp
After a few weeks Ryan goes back to the camp in Iraq.He feels really bad because Heather just moved and she will have to take care of all the boxes and he feels like his is abandoning her again. -
The Death of a Fellow Soldier
James H.Conklin died just days away from his birthday..His platoon friends remembered him and Ryan wonders about what could happen if he died and how his family could react to the news.He cries during his funeral even though he feels he shouldn't. -
Not so ¨Happy¨ Birthday
Ryan riminds himself of his birthday during Conklin´s funeral. He was thinking about how Cocklin´s dead was so unexpected and so close to Cocklin´s and his birthday -
"Ghost Of War" is published.
After Ryan’s university teacher assigns an Essay about something being stroyed, Ryan write a 8 page long essay about his experience in the Army and how his innocence was destroyed during those years. He finds that writing is his way of helping himself to cope with PTSD and with the help of the teacher he wrote his story.
