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The Twin Tower Attack
On this momentous day in hisotry there was a surly attack in the metropolitan area of New York City. There was debris falling off of both of the towers that injured or killed many American citizens. -
Ryan leaves for basic training
Ryan goes to ground zero, the area in New York in which the twin towers fell, with Heather. Ryan becomes embroiled emotionally and feels devitalized. This reminds Ryan why he wanted to join the army, to serve the families of the ones that were lost. -
Ryan returns from basic trainng
Ryan gets back from basic training and talks with Heather about possibly getting an engagement ring. Then Ryan gets a phone call and is asked if he is deployable. -
Ryan and Heather get married
When Ryan receives a notice that he will be deployed, him and Heather come to a decision that it is best if they get married. They want to get married so soon because Ryan wants Heather to be notified if something were to happen to him in Iraq. -
Mortar Attacks
One day while Ryan was walking to the chow hall in Abu Ghraib a "bird" flew over his head. Ryan thought that it was a bird but actually it was a mortar bomb. -
Ryan gets deployed
Ryan and his platoon get deployed to Kuwait City for three weeks. After being in Kuwait for three weeks Ryan and his platoon get moved to Iraq. -
Ryan is in Iraq
When Ryan arrives to Iraq, he expected it to be perilous. There was an inundant amount of children waiting on the sides of the road begging for food from the soldiers. -
The EQ Platoon gets letters from an elementary school
An elementary school in North Carolina writes Ryan and his EQ Platoon letters and sends them gifts in Iraq. This gives Ryan a sprightly feeling, although some of the letters are illegible it is very heartfelt. -
Ryan gets a two week leave
Ryan gets to leave war to go back home to his family and Heather for two weeks. During the interim of Ryan being home and leaving back for Iraq, Ryan and Heather go to Manchester, Vermont for their special getaway as an anniversary trip. -
Ryan starts his first semester in college
After returning home Ryan starts his first semester in college. Finally, Ryan and Heather start discussing about having children and settling down. Heather and Ryan also start saving up to buy a house. -
Ryan leaves Kuwait to go back home
Ryan says goodbye to his EQ Platoon as they are granted to return home. He leaves Iraq and travels back to Kuwait, from which he flies back home. -
Ghost of War is published
Ryan Smithson returns from war and writes his novel based on his experiences in Iraq. It is a true-story based on him as a 19 year-old coming out of high school encouraged to join the army from watching the twin towers being attacked on September 11, 2001.
