About this item
Every soldier has a war story.Steven Elliott's opens with the death of American hero Pat Tillman by "friendly fire" in Afghanistan -- when Army Ranger Elliott pulled the trigger, believing he and his fellow soldiers were firing on the enemy.Tormented by remorse and PTSD in the aftermath of Tillman's death, Elliott descended into the depths of guilt, alcoholism, and depression; lost his marriage and his faith; and struggled to stay alive. The war that began on foreign soil had followed him home.A must-read for veterans and their loved ones, War Story is an explosive look at into the chaos of war -- and the battle for life in its aftermath. It confronts some of life's biggest questions: Why do we choose to fight for a country or a cause? What happens when the cost of that fight overwhelms and destroys? Can we forgive and be forgiven? How do we find hope? At its core, War Story is a dramatic personal encounter with war and faith, love and tragedy, and ultimate renewal.
About the Author
Steven Elliott graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in international business from Oral Roberts University in 2003. Three weeks later he began army Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Like many others, Steven joined the military in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He successfully completed the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) and became a member of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. In November 2003, at the age of twenty-two, he was assigned to the same platoon as Pat and Kevin Tillman. In April 2004, Steven deployed to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. On April 22, in the midst of an enemy ambush, he was one of four Rangers who mistook Pat Tillman's position for that of the enemy and fired there. Steven is one of two Rangers considered likely to be responsible for firing the bullets that killed Pat Tillman (the source of the fatal bullets has never been conclusively determined) and is the only shooter to speak publicly about the incident and its aftermath. Steven served honorably and with distinction during his remaining years in the service and fulfilled his four-year term in 2007. Today, he is the president of Capstone Trust and Capstone Asia (????) in Olympia, Washington. He has served as a volunteer veterans court mentor and continues to speak about his experiences in an effort to advocate for change in how the unseen wounds of war suffered by those in uniform are recognized and treated. Steven and his wife, Brook, have two daughters, Gracie and Hazel.
