Black Flag Journals: One Soldier’s Experience in America’s Longest War
by Dennis Woods
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GENRE: Memoir
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BLURB:
The story of America’s longest war is complicated and difficult to convey, unless you were there. Dennis Woods was there. By following his stories in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can sense the enormity of his combat experiences. Originally written for his daughter, Black Flag Journals is taken from the author’s nine battle book journals. It covers his time from the fall of the Twin Towers through his last combat tour.
Black Flag Journals contains not just stories from the first war of the new century, but a day-by-day record of events that other veterans may use to relate their own experiences. All who enjoy real life stories, and followers of history will connect with this first person account of America’s longest war.
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INTERVIEW 11 Dennis Woods, Black Flag Journals, one soldier’s experience in America’s longest war
What are your favorite TV shows? It was House, now Law & Order SVU
What is your favorite meal? The married man’s answer is whatever she makes. The reality is that I’m easy to please so everything’s good.
If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about? The series I’d like to do was already written. So, for this question it’s screenplay scripts for the book series titled Casca. It opens on a scene of the crucifixion of Christ and the Roman Legion soldier named Casca who runs a spear into Jesus becoming covered in his blood. The act makes him an immortal soldier until the second coming of Christ. As a writing foil the author, Berry Sadler was able to place the character in any historical event he chose.
Is there a writer you idolize? If so who? That’s a shifting target as it scrolls from, Tom Clancy to Hemmingway to Bill Oreilly.
How did you come up for the title of this book? I chose the words Black Flag as in Islam black is the designated color for Jihad. That’s why a black flag is so prominent in many extremist execution videos. The line Journals was taken from the fact that my battle experiences were recorded in a series of 9 battle book journals that I kept for my daughter. The subscript One Soldiers’ Experience in America’s Longest War represents lawyer speak. I was still on active duty when I published so I needed clearance. While the process redacted a few things, it helped clear some legal obstacles. In full the title is Black Flag Journals, One Soldier’s Experience in America’s Longest War, Koehler Books publishing available on Amazon, B&N online, Books-a-million, Wallmart.com. Hard cover, soft, eBook & audioBook. As the books have been out for a while one can also find 1st and 2nd editions in thrift bookstores.
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Excerpt One:
The flight we were on this morning was an ordinary, run-of-the-mill resupply operation. Its purpose was to service Afghanistan’s numerous small camps and bases. What it carried, though, was not ordinary or run-of-the-mill. What we were delivering was an unusual allotment of artillery ammunition and GELON mounts. Part of my mission on this trip was about to be completed. However, once in the air, I was given a new defensive challenge to solve.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
CSM Woods combat tours include;
Operation Urgent Fury, Grenada, 82d Airborne Division.
Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia – Iraq, 82d Airborne Division.
Operation Desert Fox 1998, Qatar, 5th Group Special Forces.
OEF 2 Afghanistan, 82d Airborne Division.
OIF 1 Iraq, First Armored Division.
OIF 6 Iraq, First Armored Division.
OEF X Afghanistan, 173D Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
OEF XIII Afghanistan, 191st Infantry Brigade
CSM Woods civilian education includes a Master of Education, (training & leadership) from North Central University, Prescott AZ, and a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior, Albany, New York.
Military education includes the United States Sergeants Majors Academy class # 58, Army force management course, Jump Master, Drill Sergeant, US Army Recruiter, Infantry Small Arms Master Gunner, Artillery Master Gunner, Amphibious Warfare leaders’ course (USMC), Anti-Armor Leaders course, Machine Gun Leaders course, Artillery Mechanics repair course, Small Arms repair course, Nuclear Biological Chemical defense, and all levels of air load planning and hazmat certification USAF.
CSM Woods awards include; one Distinguished Service medal, one Legion Of Merit,( 5) Bronze Star Medals, 5 Meritorious Service Medals, 4 ARCOM, 4 AAM, 1 Humanitarian service medal, 2 Armed Forces Expeditionary medals, Afghanistan and Iraq service medals. German Jump Master Wings, Qatar Jump wings as part of 5th Group, Netherlands Jumpmaster wings. Other awards include; Department of Defense “Inventor of the year” (2003) with 45 separate inventions. CSM Woods saved the United States Government over one Billion Dollars through cost avoidance. He is also the first recipient of the GRUBER award for an outstanding field artillery professional.
CSM Woods is credited by the US Army Smart Ideas program as the inventor of;
• The 105mm Howitzer night direct fire sight system M913 GELON.
• The 155mm towed Howitzer night sight system.
• The dual use day/ night direct fire sight reticule.
• The Dual optic MILES Laser trainer.
• The Urban Assault kit (PALADIN) improved crew protection, 155mm system.
On his most recent tour to Afghanistan, CSM Woods pioneered the first use of artillery training rounds in combat as a form of scalable fire support designed to limit civilian death and collateral damage. He is the author of, ‘Black Flag Journals One Soldiers Experience in America’s Longest War’, and numerous magazine, newspaper articles, including training pamphlets concerning Artillery, night vision, and combat operations.
Twitter: @djwoodswrites
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dennis-John-Woods/e/B01KU91GFI%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15660793.Dennis_John_Woods
Koehler Book: https://www.koehlerbooks.com/book/black-flag-journals/
Amazon Buy Link: BOOK IS ON SALE FOR $2.99 DURING THE TOUR
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-flag-journals-dennis-john-woods/1124419537
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Black-Flag-Journals-Audiobook/B08MBHSQQ9
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
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