Summer 2007 - the Wyoming State Library

Author sends message of life after warWhen a soldier returns from war, “Johnny isn’t Johnny” anymore, saysdistinguished Vietnam War veteran and author Lee Alley.“People think when someone returnsfrom war, life just goes on. Peoplemust understand someone whose lifeis touched by war is changed,” says theauthor who is attending the WyomingBook Festival.Alley’s book, Back from War: FindingHope and Understanding in Life afterCombat, is a collection of personalstories about war and accounts fromseveral other people affected by war.Originally there was no intention forAlley to publish a book. He found afterreturning from war it was therapeuticto write down his thoughts. These“ramblings” became the foundation ofa book, once Alley realized how deepthe problems were for war veterans.“I thought if I can sit here and baremy soul so can other people. This isn’ta book about war, this is a book abouthealing,” Alley says.Alley says people were reluctant tocontribute. But soon people caught onto the book’s real message.“The goal of this book is to developa public awareness. Generally speakingpeople have no concept of what wardoes to people. Once you step your footinto combat or once combat effects youas a mother or father you’re changedforever,” he says.Alley has been called one of the mosthighly decorated Vietnam War veteransin Wyoming. He’s received the Army’sDistinguished Service Cross, Silver Star,Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts anda nomination for the CongressionalMedal of Honor. But as a veteran fromthe Vietnam War, he felt compelled tohide his accomplishments.“I didn’t want people to knowbecause there was so much negativitysurrounding the war,” he says.“You’re a soldier one day and thennext you’re a civilian. The army did agood job at turning me into a soldier,into a warrior, but they never took thetime to help me decompress. I couldn’tfind the switch to turn myself off.”Once Alley returned from war, heimmediately became a University ofWyoming student. Any college campuswas hotbed of anti-war demonstrationat the time.“It was not a fun place to be. Ibasically hid that fact that I was aveteran,” he says.But his book allows people to see theyare not alone in their post-war struggles.“All of a sudden people say, ‘wow, Ican’t sleep at night and I don’t like to goto the Fourth of July parade because ofthe fireworks. I thought I was the onlyone feeling this way,’” Alley says.In addition, Alley has received a lot offeedback from women, which he sayshe didn’t expect. Because their husbandsnever shared their struggles, the bookallowed women to really understand.Alley’s not sure if time has healed allwounds. When Vietnam War veteranswere younger they sometimes workedtwo, three or even four jobs to keepthemselves busy because they couldn’tsleep at night. But as the veterans growolder, their bodies can’t work at 100miles per hour anymore. This forcesveterans to deal with issues they havelong suppressed.“They always say time is on your sidebecause it will heal you. But in someways time has become an enemy formany veterans because time on yourhands means sitting down and dealingwith the past,” Alley says.He wants soldiers who are nowreturning from war to realize they’re notalone and to try to reconnect with thepeople they served with. Alley says theseare the people who truly understand.“We served our country, and weserved our country with pride. Theveteran community is a very proudcommunity, but I want people tounderstand when you look at a veteranyou’re not looking at Johnny cominghome, you’re looking at someone whohas done and seen things that have trulychanged them forever.”Speaking: 9:45 a.m., Saturday, Home &Garden/Non-Fiction TentBook signing: 11 a.m., SaturdayWyoming Library Roundup • Summer 2007