An Incredible Book: by Penny Johns

I just finished reading "Beyond The Green Zone Dispatches from An Unembedded Journalist In Occupied Iraq" by Dahr Jamail

This book took me over a month to read, I had to put it down and walk away several times. Dahr is the son of good friends, Gayle and Gerald Jamail, from the WWI/MKP Houston community. I have staffed with Gayle in South Africa, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Houston. When I was in Houston in January staffing WWL2 I stayed with Gayle and Gerald for a few days before and after the training.

I just returned from staffing in Houston last week, with both of them, a program called Vet's Journey Home. VJH was called Bamboo Bridge and now is VJH. It was created almost 20 years ago to help Vietnam Vets with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other feelings like grief, shame, and guilt. It now is open to all Vets including Iraqi Vets.

When I was in Houston last January, Gayle and Gerald told me their son Dahr had been an unembedded Journalist in Iraq and had just written a book. They are very humble parents and did not say anything more. I purchased the book in April and started to read it in preparation of staffing the VJH. My son Josh is in the Army, much of what I read was very difficult to accept, process, and believe, from a mother's view. I had to take week long breaks from the book at various times. This book has changed my life, opened my eyes and pushed me to do more. It was also confirmed by the stories I heard from veterans in person and testimonies by soldiers to our government subcommittees that I read on line.

Dahr is traveling around the world speaking to his experience so the ears of the world will hear what has been quiet for so long. He is a very courageous, committed man with a huge mission. To find out if he is speaking in your area go to: www.dahrjamailiraq.com


Many veterans of war carry emotions for years that they feel they can not talk about because no one will understand, or that due to an oath taken, they can not share. At Vets Journey Home they will have the chance to be heard and accepted for who they are. The veteran participants will have a circle of trained staff veterans and staff civilians who will offer a sacred space of confidentiality to release buried feelings if they choose. To refer a vet to the Vet's Journey Home (a free weekend workshop for any combat vet) go to: www.vetsjourneyhome.org. (Ed. Note: the website lists a registration fee of $300 with scholarships available). The next scheduled training is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 22-24 2008.

Vets Listening Sessions are being held in Wisconsin - information can be found at http://sites.google.com/site/vetslistening/

Please pass this on to everyone you know, become informed from all views before the next election.

Working Toward World Peace One Person At A Time,
Penny Johns
Delavan, WI 2003