I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen--My Journey Home - Softcover

Johnson, Shoshana

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1416567496 ISBN 13: 9781416567493

Publisher: Touchstone, 2011

Synopsis

SHOSHANA HOLDS NOTHING BACK in this harrowing account of an ordinary woman caught in extraordinary circumstances. She reveals decisions made by chain of command that may have led to her twenty-two-day imprisonment, describes the pain of post-traumatic stress disorder, and shares the surprising story of how a specialist in a maintenance company ended up on the front lines of war. Told with exceptional bravery and candor, I'm Still Standing is at once a provocative look at the politics of war and the unforgettable story of a single mom and soldier who became an American hero.

In March 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom made world headlines when a U. S. army convoy was attacked en route to Baghdad. Shoshana Johnson became the first black female prisoner of war in United States history.

About this title

Review:

""I'm Still Standing" is one hell of a story by one hell of a woman. Soldier. Single mom. Survivor. Shoshana Johnson is a true American hero. Her memoir is a compelling, inspirational read." -- Larry King

"Shoshana Johnson survived ambush, injury, captivity, and colleagues' deaths in the early days of the Iraq conflict with grit, dignity, and reflective grace. In "I'm Still Standing", she tells her story with the same moving and admirable qualities." -- Sheila Weller, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon -- and the Journey of a Generation"

""I'm Still Standing" is Johnson's brutally honest account of the horrors of battle, the deprivations of captivity, and, finally, the sheer jubilation of freedom. What makes Johnson's inspiring tale required reading for Americans, in and out of uniform, is her great heart. Its triumphant beat is felt on every page of this important book." -- Osha Gray Davidson, "The Phoenix Sun"

"Shoshana Johnson's story is unsettling, scary, powerful, and brilliant -- a story of a life-threatening milestone that must be told to benefit others, both women and men." -- Major General Irene Trowell-Harris, USAF, NC, Retired

"Shoshana Johnson is an American 'shero' whose story of tragedy and survival is an inspiration to many who have served and are serving in the United States Armed Forces. I am honored to have met Shoshana, my fellow veteran, and afforded the opportunity to read her miraculous story." -- Lucretia M. McClenney, COL, USA, Retired

"Johnson endured her captivity with courage and emerged with honor. With the help of former army reservist Doyle, she vividly, simply, and unpretentiously tells her tale." -- Publishers Weekly

" A well-told memoir of captivity and recovery." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

Shoshana Nyree Johnson was born in the Republic of Panama and moved to the United States with her family when she was a child. A second-generation Army veteran, she did not plan a career in the military, but became a JROTC cadet in 1991 and joined the U.S. Army in September 1998 while attending classes at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

On March 23rd, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Shoshana was in a convoy that was ambushed in the city of an-Nasiriyah. Wounded, she and five fellow soldiers were captured and taken as prisoners of war, making world news headlines. The POWs were rescued by U.S. Marines on the morning of April 13, and Shoshana returned to the U.S., retiring from the Army on a Temporary Disability Honorable Discharge in December 2003. Her awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and the Prisoner of War Medal. U.S. Army officials also identified Shoshana as the first female POW of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the first black female POW in U.S. war history.

Shoshana lives in El Paso, Texas with her daughter Janelle, her sisters Nikki and Erika, and two nieces.

About this edition

• Publisher: Touchstone
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1416567496
• ISBN 13: 9781416567493
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 296