Behind the Rank, Volume 4

By Lila Holley

In the fourth installment of the Behind the Rank series, Lila Holley along with 11 new courageous coauthors share stories of their undying commitment to serving their country. Whether motivated by a hope for a new life, the drive to prove herself, or the need to provide, each of these women bravely decided to become service members, unable to pr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purposely Created Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781644842928

Lila Holley

Lila Holley has a heart to help her fellow Veterans. When Lila transitioned from the US Army after 22 years of service, she maneuvered through a battlefield of strong emotions that stalled her progress in the transition process. Lila wondered, If this was the norm among Veterans, why, then, is no one talking about it? She took it upon herself to start the conversation about the emotional transition Service Members encounter upon leaving the military. Lila shares her story of struggle and triumph in her book, Battle Buddy: Maneuvering the Battlefield of Transitioning from the Military. Lila offers a first-hand experience of the emotional transition Service Members can expect to encounter when they separate from the military. As the wife of a fellow disabled combat Veteran, and after raising two children in the military, Lila serves as a great resource for military spouses as well. Lila now enjoys "retired" life in Texas where she resides with her husband and daughter. She continues to serve her community by volunteering in a number of Veteran organizations and as the President of the Killeen Wealthy Sisters Network, a very active women's networking group. To learn more, visit www.LilaHolley.com

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BEHIND THE RANK, VOL 4

Published by Purposely Created Publishing Group™

Copyright © 2021 Lila Holley

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews, quotes, or references.

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Also available by Camouflaged Sisters

Camouflaged Sisters:

Revealing Struggles of the Black Woman’s

Military Experience

Camouflaged Sisters:

Silent No More

Camouflaged Sisters:

Leadership Through the Eyes of Senior

Military Women Leaders

Camouflaged Sisters Presents:

Behind the Rank, Volume 1

Camouflaged Sisters Presents:

Behind the Rank, Volume 2

Camouflaged Sisters Presents:

Behind the Rank, Volume 3

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my baby brother, Timothy Matthew Johnson, who always told me how proud he was of me, my military service, and the work I do with Camouflaged Sisters. He told me that I inspired him to create a similar platform for networking and collaborating with comedians in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tim lived life to the fullest! We called him Young Six Five because of his stature, and he had a smile that was as big as he was tall. He loved deeply and spoke honestly. His thoughts ran profoundly, and his impact was significantly powerful. I miss everything about Timothy, from his hugs, his laughter, his rhythm-less dancing, his hit-or-miss seasoning combinations when he cooked, to his corny jokes! My life has been enriched because of Timothy’s presence, and I know that he’s with me as I travel on this journey—because Love Never Dies.

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Table of Contents

Reflections from a Marine Mom

SMonique Smith-Person

Introduction

DUTY TO FAMILY

My Transition Journey

Dr. Chunita Vick

Innovator of My Own War

Debbie Young

The Making of a Soldier Through Inner Perseverance

Iasha K. Nichols

Crushed, Not Broken

Jennifer Tyes

My Last Cry—Unmasked and Free

Ashley Booker-Knight

A Life Outside of My Comfort Zone

Talisha D. Daggs

I Didn’t Sign Up for This!

Siobhan D. Cunningham

Could You Have Predicted Where You Are Today?

Olivia Chavez-Carroll

My Cup Is Still Half Full

Yolanda M. Winston

My Circumstances Couldn’t Defeat Me!

LaVerne Chester

An Open Letter

Tiffani K. Patterson

Meet the Visionary Author

Meet the Authors

Reflections from a Marine Mom

Daddy! Daddy, pick me up! I yelled, as my father walked in the room.

Hey, Simi, he smiled, as he picked me up.

After putting me down, my father dropped his duffle bag and sat down. I sat in front of him, waiting for the unique things he would bring home after going to base. Out of his bag, he pulled a beef steak MRE. Want to try this?

I eagerly said yes.

He cut open the pack and gave me a shiny metal spoon from his bag. I took one scoop. Ew!

We shared many of these moments when I was growing up, him telling me war stories and me sitting in awe. Those same war stories told to me, my father in turn told to my son.

Oh, Mom, look! Robert said to me while watching Soldiers run down our street for training.

We had a military base by our house, and every weekend we would see groups of perfectly uniformed Soldiers running in twos down the street.

Aren’t they so cool? Robert exclaimed, with a huge smile on his face and big moony eyes.

Yes, Son, they are.

My son was always a natural explorer. He loved hunting, fishing, and archery, to name a few hobbies. I never minded letting him explore the rough sides of life fulfilling the warrior in him. Robert had a wonderful relationship with my Uncle James, who became his uncle. Uncle, as we would call him, was an oddly happy yet stoic man who taught my son the beginnings of being a survivalist. Each weekend they would go to a local park or body of water to live off the land and be boys. At first it was just Robert, but as my son Alexander got older, he started to get a love for exploration and extreme living. Alex is my extreme sports child. You want to see a ball of energy flying down the street in his boxers in the middle of the summer? That’s my Alex. He is my horseback-riding, skateboarding, drag-racing son. He has the energy and strength of great warriors and a will to beat.

One day while still in high school, Robert said to me, Mom, I’m going into the military. I want to be a Marine.

I knew it was coming—some things you just know. I was nervous of course. I’d heard the stories and seen the pictures, but now my son needed my support. From then on, I took my sons to gun ranges, ATV parks, and shops to purchase age-appropriate gear. I wanted them to do what they loved and learn more about their passions. I wanted them to chase that feeling that we all get when we think of our dreams. As Robert went through high school, he talked to my father more and more about his journey as a Marine. My father loved telling his old Vietnam War stories to Robert and Alex.

As the end of Robert’s time in high school was approaching, I nervously yet confidently watched my son take the steps to becoming a Marine. After the day he went to the recruitment office and started signing papers, he came to me from time to time asking for various bits of paperwork and to make sure he still had my approval. As the days went on, he could put a replica rifle or handgun together and take it apart in a heartbeat; he could survive off the land for days. I loved watching him grow. By the time graduation came, Robert was ready to go.

That last ride to the recruitment office was It; all my children were there. We smiled, laughed, and cried. We all took the peace sign and made a star out of our fingers. I knew this was such a sacred, life-changing moment. I could tell Robert was nervous, but he didn’t want to show it. I told that recruitment officer, I gave you a good, strong man. You return him that way.

After taking a few more pictures and getting a few more hugs, we left. I could feel the motherly chain that connected us stretching some. From that moment on, every day I prayed a different type of prayer to God for my son. I prayed for his peace of mind and sanity; I prayed for strength and resilience.

Once we got Robert’s information, I wrote him as much as I could. Sometimes I would write letters not knowing what to say but just wanting to talk to him. The first month was hard, waiting for a reply, waiting for an answer. When the first letter came, my heart jumped. I told my other children about the letter, and they started writing to him too. It was so wonderful to see us ban together to give him support in these times. Some letters brought tears to my eyes. Just knowing the type of endurance he and others in that service had to have astounded me.

After a few months of exchanging letters, we finally got word of Robert’s boot camp graduation date. His father rushed down to Parris Island for his graduation. They spent some time together, and his father brought him home. At his 19th birthday party, Robert walked up to me with a grin on his face. So, Mom, remember how you always used to get us to clean up and fold our bedsheets tight on the ends? I used to be soooo mad about it, but guess who passed inspections first? Hahaha, me! Thank you for that.

Hearing him admit that was an affirmation I loved to hear. Robert ended up being the youngest to graduate in his platoon, and his photo was used on the National Marine website for some time. After staying home for a bit, Robert informed us that he was leaving once again. My heart fluttered in my chest. I