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This was the event that made Ryan realize what he was going to do in his future. It became clear that he would become a soldier.
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Ryan needed a reminder. Ground Zero was the perfect place to remind him of the reason for joining the Army.
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Ryan knew a girlfriend meant nothing to the Army. Yet in a way, the whole situation was just a lavish ceremony to say, "I promise to be here if you come home."
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It's the first day of Red Phase. It's important to Ryan because he joined exactly two years ago, so he can see his process from training camp.
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Ryan and the members of the EQ platoon celebrate New Years by squatting in a mortar bunker for an hour. They will spend the next two weeks like this in a combat zone.
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The first day of White Phase was when they all moved on. It was a great day of teamwork as well.
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Arond this time, Ryan learned his lesson about favors from a car bomb. During the explosions, someone helped Ryan find cover and he helped him when he fell down. That means they're even.
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This is Ryan and Heather's unofficial anniversary. Ryan found it to be the best news he heard through the entire tour. He gets to come home for two weeks and celebrate the anniversary of his first date with Heather.
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Ryan experienced the ultimate rush of overcoming the fear of the unknown. He faced the truth. He faced the devil.
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Haley being put down showed Ryan how much he's missing at home. He wished he could've been there to see her in her last moments.
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Ryan shed tears he didn't think deserved to be shed. He lost nothing in Jim Conklin's death, but in a way he lost everything. He cried tears for a fellow soldier, a brother he hardly knew.
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Ghost of War has been published!! An unflinchingly honest novel about Ryan Smithson's story in the Army and how far his faith has carried him.
