Where War Ends - by Tom Voss & Rebecca Anne Nguyen (Paperback)

About the Book

The riveting story of an Iraq war veteran's on-foot journey across America, through his burdens of moral injury, and into personal healing and advocacy

Book Synopsis

An Iraq War veteran's riveting journey from suicidal despair to hope

Winner of a 2019 Foreword INDIES Silver Book of the Year Award

After serving in a scout-sniper platoon in Mosul, Tom Voss came home carrying invisible wounds of war -- the memory of doing or witnessing things that went against his fundamental beliefs. This was not a physical injury that could heal with medication and time but a "moral injury" -- a wound to the soul that eventually urged him toward suicide. Desperate for relief from the pain and guilt that haunted him, Voss embarked on a 2,700-mile journey across America, walking from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the Pacific Ocean with a fellow veteran. Readers walk with these men as they meet other veterans, Native American healers, and spiritual teachers who appear in the most unexpected forms. At the end of their trek, Voss realizes he is really just beginning his healing. He pursues meditation training and discovers sacred breathing techniques that shatter his understanding of war and himself, and move him from despair to hope. Voss's story will give inspiration to veterans, their friends and family, and survivors of all kinds.

Review Quotes

"A captivating personal journey . . . Tom Voss writes with compelling immediacy."
-- Brian E. Kinsella, cofounder and chairman of Stop Soldier Suicide

"The gripping tale of Tom Voss's fight, in and out of the warzone . . . will inspire countless others, leaving them with a sense of purpose and hope."
-- David Shulkin, MD, ninth secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs

"The authors tell Voss' story in clear, conversational prose, as if Voss were casually speaking across a dinner table. . . . An engaging mix of war story, travelogue, and motivational memoir, presenting the trials of a man with roiling emotions but no clear method of releasing them. As the journey goes on, his book becomes an unlikely look at the pain of everyday people in contemporary America, and particularly that of forgotten soldiers of forgotten wars. An offbeat and inspiring tale."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"Tom Voss attacks the truth in his story with a furious intensity, and there's an inherent beauty that it creates. I simply couldn't stop reading. . . . Tom is one of the most important spokesmen of our generation."
-- John Pinter, executive director of Team Red, White & Blue

"Well written, engaging, and thought provoking, Where War Ends is recommended for anyone who cares about veterans and would like to better understand their journey back from war."
-- Holly Arrow, professor of psychology, Groups & War Lab, University of Oregon

"At once thoughtful and uplifting, Tom Voss's story gives us insight into the challenges our returning soldiers face as they transition back into a society. Though immense, Tom's challenges are not atypical among those seeking to heal the moral injuries of war. By recounting his healing journey, Tom paints a vivid and hopeful picture of what is possible for those burdened by the scars of war and provides a road map to that healing place."
-- Mike Haynie, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, Barnes Professor of Entrepreneurship, and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Syracuse University

"Take a deep breath . . . and read this book."
-- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Tom Voss served as an infantry scout in the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment's scout-sniper platoon. While deployed in Mosul, Iraq, he participated in hundreds of combat and humanitarian missions. Rebecca Anne Nguyen, Voss's sister and coauthor, is a writer based in Charlotte, North Carolina.