Ward Mayfield

In March of 2014, at the ripe old age of thirty, Ward Mayfield retired from the army due to injuries sustained in combat in both Ramadi, Iraq (2007) and later in Nangarhar, Afghanistan (2010). His primary job was route clearance, the finding and rendering safe of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The two primary methods of finding bombs was either its safe detection and removal for later disposal or it blew up your truck with you still inside. The explosive and non standard nature of the job itself gave rise to many insane but true stories. Ward was told to “write a book” enough times that eventually, and coupled with the growing fear of someday losing memories thanks to Traumatic Brain Injury, he gave in and wrote a tome. So it was, a mildly brain damaged combat soldier compiled a personally powerful collection of moments into one, semi coherent story hoping to explain to friends and family exactly who and why he is.

Writing, through trial and error, became a great gift of personal growth and understanding. Ward is hoping to continue his career in writing. If not, he is really good at rolling around in the backyard with his dog and tooting the day away with his harmonica. Either way, he wins.