What It’s Like To Survive An IED Blast

The following is an excerpt from River City One: A Novel (Knox Press; Nov. 7, 2023).

I’m laughing now because I can still see him. He’s got his helmet on, the chinstrap dangling and tobacco spit coming off his lip. I tell you the right side of his face was blown up like a puffer fish. He kept himself grungy, so unclean that you’d think not even the bad guys would touch him. Maybe that’s why I liked him being nearby, because I thought it would keep me safe or something.

I was walking fourth in line that day and one place ahead of West, who was smack in the middle. “You’re in my world today, Sir — you know the drill.” He was the guy everybody

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