The Rest of Us
A Veteran's Memoir of Life After the Uniform
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About this book
Not a hero's story. An honest one.
Most military memoirs are about the war. This one is about what came after: the DD-214, the handshake, the good luck, and the years no one prepared you for.
The Rest of Us is J. Erickson's account of the quiet part of a veteran's life. The boy with nothing, the uniform that gave him an operating system, the collapse when it was gone, the kitchen floor, and the long climb back. It is written for the veteran at 2 AM looking for a reason, for the spouse lying awake next to someone they cannot reach, and for the son or daughter who stopped calling and never fully understood why.
It is not a cinematic story. It is a true one. And it ends where the author actually is now: not fixed, not perfect, but still here.
A short, plain resource section at the back points readers toward real help, including the reminder that help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer is always free.
This book is a memoir. It is not legal or medical advice, and the author is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
If any part of that sounds like you, or like someone you love, this book was written for you.
J. Erickson
Author, educator, former veteran service officer.
Read more about the author