My Incredible Journey as an Army Wife

A memoir -- 1967-1987

I was a 19-year-old, small-town, Oregon girl with dreams of finishing college and then buying a local farm with my husband where we would raise children, a garden, and pigs. But, the Vietnam War and Uncle Sam upended my life when my fiancé was drafted into the Army. Being young, adventurous, and in love, we married during his first leave.

After serving in Vietnam, my husband opted to become a career soldier. I followed him from camp to camp whenever feasible. During his 20-year career, I relocated 15 times and gave birth to three children during three different overseas tours on two continents.

We resided among civilians in German villages and traveled around Europe, exploring the terrain and visiting historical sites. We lived under martial law in a remote village 30 miles from the DMZ in South Korea. I write about the effects of anti-Vietnam War insults, racial and cultural biases, terrorist threats in Germany, North Korean infiltrators in South Korea, the restraints of the military, and the politics of Washington, D.C.

My story is about amazing adventures, raising children without roots, the effects of PTSD on the military family, and my personal growth. It wasn't all roses, but I cherish the opportunities I had and the camaraderie of the military community.

Available at www.amazon.com in print or ebook.

Following are reviews posted on Amazon:

“This is a very well written and moving story, about a small town girl who becomes an Army Wife and struggles to keep her family together while living on three continents over a 20 year period. She finds herself in all sorts of adverse situations, but always finds some redeeming value to the experience and makes the best of it. It's a book you can "live in" for a while: I ended up reading all 368 pages of it in one sitting. She has a good eye for detail, giving enough to create vivid scenes, but not so much you are overwhelmed with extraneous details.” By Scott C. Stevens.

“The descriptions of smells and environment cause one to feel a part of the varied circumstances Jerri found herself in. The isolation of military wives is described in accurate ways - being in a foreign country and isolated from close friends and family is a unique situation that many civilian women don't experience. As a military spouse one is often required to stand alone without support of husband or family,” By Paula

“An interesting and insightful book of stamina, courage, and dedication.” By Donna Wade