A Long Way From Home: Our Time in Iraq and Afghanistan

by Christian Warren Freed

9/11 changed everything.
I'd already been in the army for a decade and was planning my next move. My daughter was just born 3 days earlier. We brought her home the night of the 10th. I woke up in time to see the first plane hit. Then the second. Despite what the news anchors were saying I knew one thing. We were going to war. The phone call came a few minutes later. Get your shit. It's time.
So began a five year phase of my life with the XVIII Airborne Corps. Three deployments, first to Afghanistan and then back to back in Iraq. It was the culmination of a decade of training, anticipating, and expecting. It came like a whirlwind. A hammer blow that would forever shape and change who we were. For the men and women who deployed to those long wars, we bore witness to events no human should be forced to, fought in battles for the very soul of decency.
Historians might argue we fought for our countries, but I know the truth. Yes, we proudly served our nation in one of the most distressing periods since WWII, but we all fought for one For the soldier to our left and right. War is Hell, but we went anyway.
A Long Way From Home is my story, just a small part in a wide world, and a compilation of stories from others I served with. It is a human story. One filled with tragedy, heartbreak, and triumph.

246 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2013

About the author

Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. more years ago than he would like to remember. After spending more than 20 years in the active-duty US Army he has turned his talents to writing. Since retiring, he has gone on to publish over 25 military fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as his memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, a children's book, and a pair of how to books focused on indie authors and the decision making process for writing a book and what happens after it is published.

His first published book (Hammers in the Wind) has been the #1 free book on Kindle 4 times and he holds a fancy certificate from the L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. Ok, so it was for 4th place in one quarter, but it's still recognition from the largest fiction writing contest in the world. And no, he's not a scientologist.

Passionate about history, he combines his knowledge of the past with modern military tactics to create an engaging, quasi-realistic world for the readers. He graduated from Campbell University with a degree in history and a Masters of Arts degree in Digital Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He currently lives outside of Raleigh, N.C. and devotes his time to writing, his family, and their two Bernese Mountain Dogs. If you drive by you might just find him on the porch with a cigar in one hand and a pen in the other. You can find out more about his work by following him on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianFreed
Twitter:
@ChristianWFreed
Instagram: www.instagram.com/christianwarrenfreed/

Website: https://christianwfreed.com/

Join his mailing list for new releases, updates, and upcoming events: http://subscribepage.com/warfighterbooks


Books by Christian Warren Freed

The Forgotten Gods Tales
#1 Dreams of Winter
#2 The Madman on the Rocks
#3 Anguish Once Possessed
#4 Through Darkness Besieged
#5 Under Tattered Banners
#6 A Time For Tyrants
An Hour of Wolves- short story

The Northern Crusade
#1 Hammers in the Wind
#2 Tides of Blood and Steel
#3 A Whisper After Midnight
#4 Empire of Bones
#5 The Madness of Gods and Kings
#6 Evens Gods Must Fall

The Histories of Malweir (all stand alones)
#1 Armies of the Silver Mage
#2 The Dragon Hunters
#3 Beyond the Edge of Dawn

Immortality Shattered
#1 Law of the Heretic
#2 The Bitter War of Always
#3 The Land of Wicked Shadows
# Storm Upon the Dawn

The Children of Never (stand alone)
Where Have all the Elves Gone? (stand alone)
One of Our Elves is Missing
The Lazarus Men (stand alone)
Repercussions: A Lazarus Men Agenda #2
A Long Way From Home: My Time in Iraq and Afghanistan 2002-2006
Coward's Truth: A Novel of the Heart Eternal
Tomorrow's Demise: The Extinction Campaign
Tomorrow's Demise: Salvation

Reviews

[Arcoma Gonzalez Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling story

Very gripping, lots of personal reflection about right and wrong, should or should not. No one is unscathed in war.

[Eric Auld · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has had a taste of this authors experiences, I can say that this book really hit home for me. If you are curious as to what a deployment during war time is really like, or looking for a something relatable as a veteran yourself, I can truly recommend this title as one to read!