‘A Soldier’s Promise’ an incredible read

  Since its beginning in 2003, America’s war in Iraq has played a big role in our lives. “A Soldier’s Promise” by Sgt. Daniel Hendrex is an amazing book that teaches readers about some of the circumstances our American troops face while at war. 
  As readers, we feel pain as we read about the soldiers separating from their families prior to deployment.
  Hendrex, the storyteller, says, “It is the time when grown men struggle to find a way to say goodbye to wives, children, parents, fiancées, girlfriends, and grandparents. The emotions are unbearable. ... The unknowns are what drive us nuts. How long will we be gone? Will this be the time I get hurt? Will this be the last time we see our wives, our children, our parents? I dread these days and the images that accompany them: children looking up to parents for guidance, confused and tearful because of the fear and despair they sense; tough soldiers with swollen, red eyes trying to maintain composure; wives weeping so hard that their knees go weak and they need help to stand.”
  Readers learn about the many obstacles these soldiers experience, from facing the dreadful desert weather to the fear they feel while in the midst of combat situations.
  However, the story does not end when the soldiers return to the homeland. The struggle continues when Hendrex fights to keep his promise to Steve-O, which is to bring him to America. Steve-O is a brave, young Iraqi man who took risks to do what is right. Events in “A Soldier’s Promise” allow readers to witness two people save each other’s lives while saving countless numbers of others.
  This compelling book sends us a message of both hope and love. It is an absolutely incredible read, and I highly recommend it.