When Duty Calls (Paperback)

by Carol Vandesteeg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In this unique and wonderfully thorough handbook, a military wife and mom shares practical advice about preparing and dealing with deployment of a loved one. Carol Vandesteeg helps families learn what to expect as they prepare for deployment, how to communicate while separated, helping children through the separation, and reuniting at the end of the tour of duty. When Duty Calls also addresses the subject that's so painful to face: the possibility that the loved one may not return.

About the Author
Carol Vandesteeg was a military spouse for over twenty-four years; her husband recently retired from the Air Force and deployed several times during his career, so Carol knows by experience what military family separation involves. Carol earned her bachelor's Degree from Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama. She began freelance writing in 1995. She and her husband, Ren, live in San Antonio, Texas. They have two grown sons, Mike and Dan, who live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781442885
• ISBN-13: 978-0781442886
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,565 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great help!, April 1, 2002

By	Cynthia Vissers "gardenwife" (Jacksonville, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: When Duty Calls: A Guide to Equip Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Personnel and Their Loved Ones for Military Separations (Paperback)

I am new to the military and this book has helped prepare me for the unevitable deployment of my husband. I touches topics from when you first find our that he's leaving to if he doesn't come back to reunions. The author relates a lot of the topics to her own experience when he husband was called for Operation Deserst Storm with only 2 hours notice. There is also an eitire chapter that gives a bunch of useful resources. The book is written in a way that is is useful for whichever spouse is at home, or if both are deployed, or if you are a single parent. By no means can this replace the support group of other wives, but it sure helps you understand what is going on!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Confusing, June 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: When Duty Calls: A Guide to Equip Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Personnel and Their Loved Ones for Military Separations (Paperback)

I found this book hard to follow. It was unclear to me who the audience was, it switched back and fourth between talking to children, spouses and servicemen. As a wife, it was hard to relate to anything in the book because I didn't feel as if the book was meant for me to read. It does have some interesting information, but nothing you can't find elsewhere.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Start, June 30, 2003

By	Angela (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Duty Calls: A Guide to Equip Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Personnel and Their Loved Ones for Military Separations (Paperback)

I went overboard when we got the news that my fiance would be deployed to a war zone. Because I had only felt the emotions, I decided it was time to actually find out ways to cope. Although what I hoped to get out of this wasn't in fact what I got.... I was still satisfied. It provided basic information on deployment lingo and personalized stories of the author's deployment experience. The one thing I found unsatisfactory for me was that it focuses on all sectors of the military.... and for those involved, we know that the marines, army, navy etc. are all very different, so there were parts I skipped around.

This book helped to put my mind at ease and focus on the task at hand. Very few things were new to me, but having all the info in the same place gave me peace of mind knowing that I was actually doing something to prepare myself and understand what HE was going though, which is the most important part!