Friends for Life is a story about the experiences and recollections of two women who were strangers brought together through the yearlong deployment of their soldiers during the Iraq War. Patti, the mother of Army medic Jon, and Jennifer, sister of infantry soldier James, forge a dear and lifelong friendship as their soldiers fight to stay alive in one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq. The story begins separately with the Patti and Jennifer's recollections of the day their soldiers deployed to Iraq from Ft. Lewis, Washington. As the book progresses, their separate stories of Army life grow together as their soldiers deployment continues. During the journey, tragedies occur and survival tactics are learned by the soldiers on the battlefield and the loved ones at home. The shared experiences, frequent communications, and constant support for each other grow into a sweet and lasting friendship. This story is a unique, non-fiction, war story, through the eyes and emotions of a mother and sister. Though the two women were separated by many things, including thousands of miles, age, and interests, they were drawn together by shared terrors and overwhelming desire to communicate with and send comfort to their soldiers. The Iraq war is a modern war. This book demonstrates the positives and negatives for the families of modern soldiers. Communication is instant, yet, timing is unpredictable. Often, those at home know more about recent events than the soldiers in the battles themselves do. Portions of this book contain actual Instant Messages with the soldiers, offering a window directly into the thoughts, words of expression, family closeness and anguish that was always present during the deployment. The book also serves as a guide to Soldiers families for surviving a deployment.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Many books have been written about the Iraq war, from a Soldier's first hand experience to a military wife's journal. This is the first book I have read told from the view of a mother and a sister. A Soldier is trained for battle, a wife has many more resources at her disposal, a mother in Arizona and a sister in Indiana often have nothing to help them understand what their loved one will experience or how to even get the answers they might need throughout a military deployment. Friends for Life is a story of two women who despite time, age and distance were able to find the love and support they needed to survive and thrive during their respective loved one's year long deployment to Iraq. Friends for Life affirms, despite the horrors of war and the fear that lives in the heart of every Soldier's loved one, that sometimes something as beautiful as a lifelong friendship can be found. The story they tell will touch the hearts of military and non-military families everywhere. A must read for any family member who is unsure of what to expect when their loved one deploys. --H.S. Bartel, Schofield Barracks, HI
This book is a must read for anyone who has any interest in what soldiers and families sacrifice for our freedoms. This story is written by two women, a mother and a sister of two soldiers who served in the Iraq War. These women, complete strangers before the war, became Friends For Life through this experience. The book allows those of us who have never experienced the terror of having a loved one in harm's way to have a glimpse of what happens to the families and the soldiers who are serving our country. The resource lists alone would be worth the price of the book. --Dr. Evelyn Brister
This book is a must read for anyone that has been touched by the war in Iraq. It provides insight into the thoughts and feelings of those left at home while their loved ones served in the Gulf. --R.R. MackInday
This book is a must read for anyone who has any interest in what soldiers and families sacrifice for our freedoms. This story is written by two women, a mother and a sister of two soldiers who served in the Iraq War. These women, complete strangers before the war, became Friends For Life through this experience. The book allows those of us who have never experienced the terror of having a loved one in harm's way to have a glimpse of what happens to the families and the soldiers who are serving our country. The resource lists alone would be worth the price of the book. --Dr. Evelyn Brister
This book is a must read for anyone that has been touched by the war in Iraq. It provides insight into the thoughts and feelings of those left at home while their loved ones served in the Gulf. --R.R. MackInday
About the Author
Jennifer MackInday lives in Bloomington, Indiana, with her husband and son. She attended Indiana University and has spent much of her career in advertising and marketing. Jennifer is a freelance writer and the owner of several successful enterprises, the latest of which is Sandy Island Press, publishing company for Friends for Life. Jennifer believes her faith in God guides and comforts her through all things. She enjoys gardening, reading and cooking. Author of several pieces for magazines and periodicals, this is Jennifer's first book. Patti Donahue splits her time between Amado, Arizona, and Sandy Island in Ontario, Canada. She has been married for over 30 years and has three grown sons to whom she credits her inspiration along with her love of her Savior Jesus and the desire to share the free gift of Salvation. Early in her career, when asked to list her priorities, Patti quickly stated, "God, Family, Career." With that philosophy as her guiding principle, Patti has successfully balanced her family life and career as a corporate Director. Having worked more than 16 years in Mexico, she often describes herself as a true NAFTA woman. Friends for Life is her first published work.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Got it right,
By Hereford "HE" (Arizona) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Friends for Life: Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq (Paperback)
I think you've done a good job of describing the home front and provided much useful information for the next generation of those-who-stand-and-wait. Have a son who was in the Deuce Four and now serves with another unit in Iraq.Find it interesting that the blurb for your book has now decided the batallion was "infamous." I have never seen anything at all that suggests they did anything to earn that designation. I particularly admired your chapter on CPT Jacobson and his family. Deuce Four Dad
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unique perspective from a mother's point of view,
By War Stories Reviewer (Upper Arlington, Ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Friends for Life: Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq (Paperback)
This book provides a unique point of view on a modern war. It combines the emotional perspective of a mother and a sister. It chronicles how two young men became instant soldiers and entered the war in a city and at a time that was one of the most dangerous of the war. One of the things that made this war different was the constant access through technology. This book shares the sometimes daily communications available through instant messaging and email. This mixed blessing of being in frequent communication allowed these families to maintain a lifeline and provide frequent consoling and advice. It also meant that the dangers were all too real and in real time. This book also shows how people thousands of miles apart can forge close friendships when brought together by a common bond. If you're interested in the stories behind the war this book is an excellent way to understand the families and how they deal with the stress of having their loved ones in harm's way.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very well done -,
By Dru Tonies (Bath, OH) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Friends for Life: Strangers Brought Together by the War in Iraq (Paperback)
I never realized what goes on within a soldier's or his/her family's lives when they are serving our country. This book made you "feel" what they were going through. It was well written and you would read about the same incident through four different mindsets. Reading this book makes one feel closer to anyone in the service and the friends and families that are here worrying every day. Our servicemen/women still need our prayers and packages and we should never forget their sacrifices...good ideas in the book on how to continue supporting them in Iraq and Afghanistan and even here in the United States.
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