The Invisible Front: Love and Loss in an Era of Endless War
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The Invisible Front: Love and Loss in an Era of Endless War Hardcover – Deckle Edge, October 7, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
An Amazon Best Book of the Month, October 2014: If I were to tell you that this fascinating book chronicles the life of a war hero, you’d likely expect to be reading about a Patton-like figure barking out orders or a “Mark Owen” telling of the capture of Osama Bin Laden. But while Mark Graham was a lifelong soldier who saw more than his share of fighting, it is his actions off the traditional battlefield that make him impressive. (I say “traditional” battlefield, because the way author Yochi Dreazen depicts the complicated, violent life of soldiers pre and post deployment, you get the feeling an American army base is almost as horrific a theater of war—just one that’s more local.) Churchgoing Mark and Carol Graham were a typical lifelong Army couple: they lived on bases and had two sons and one daughter, all of whom were friendly, popular, patriotic kids who roomed together while students at the University of Kentucky; Kevin and Mark were both in ROTC and both planned to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. Kevin never made it: he committed suicide a few weeks after his graduation from officer training school; Jeff was blown to bits soon after his arrival overseas. What surely would have destroyed most families strangely fortified theirs; instead of quitting the army, which Mark briefly considered, he vowed to devote the rest of his career to “fixing” it. Realizing that some troops suffered wounds you could not see, he launched programs to remove the stigma of suicide and to educate leaders about Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Along the way he met with extraordinary resistance—from bosses and underlings (some of them women)—for being too “soft”; one particularly disturbing incident involved a fake “Hurt Feelings” questionnaire, devised by soldiers themselves, in which respondents were asked to declare themselves either a “pussy” or a “queer” or “a little bitch” for seeking help. Eventually, some of Graham’s ideas were implemented, but it was a case of too little too late; suicides and PTSD violent incidents continued to increase and eventually, he was forced out of the service. Still, the Grahams persevere, rejecting high paying consultancies in the private sector in favor of giving speeches and seminars around the country so that other families won’t suffer as they have. And if that doesn’t make them heroes, it’s hard to say what would. – Sara Nelson
Review
J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award Finalist
“[An] enthralling and enraging report about the Army’s traditional stigma about mental illness.”—Military Times
“A journalistic tale that shines a revealing—and a disturbing—light on the ongoing emotional legacy of America’s two most recent wars.”—Publishers Weekly
“What a moving book about a remarkable family’s heartbreak and courage. The Invisible Front blends compassion and hard-nosed reporting to tell an important story in need of all of the visibility it can get.”—David Finkel, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of The Good Soldiers and Thank You For Your Service
“This book begins fast and accelerates, telling an astonishing tale of contemporary America. When you read this book, you will likely come away feeling that General Graham and his wife Carol are American heroes—different types than we normally are told about, but true heroes still.” —Thomas E. Ricks, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Fiasco and The Generals
“Yochi Dreazen has always been a first-rate reporter, and now with The Invisible Front he has delivered a compelling narrative which will haunt and inspire you. This is a treasure.” —James Andrew Miller, author of Live From New York
“[An] enthralling and enraging report about the Army’s traditional stigma about mental illness.”—Military Times
“A journalistic tale that shines a revealing—and a disturbing—light on the ongoing emotional legacy of America’s two most recent wars.”—Publishers Weekly
“What a moving book about a remarkable family’s heartbreak and courage. The Invisible Front blends compassion and hard-nosed reporting to tell an important story in need of all of the visibility it can get.”—David Finkel, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of The Good Soldiers and Thank You For Your Service
“This book begins fast and accelerates, telling an astonishing tale of contemporary America. When you read this book, you will likely come away feeling that General Graham and his wife Carol are American heroes—different types than we normally are told about, but true heroes still.” —Thomas E. Ricks, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Fiasco and The Generals
“Yochi Dreazen has always been a first-rate reporter, and now with The Invisible Front he has delivered a compelling narrative which will haunt and inspire you. This is a treasure.” —James Andrew Miller, author of Live From New York
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By
N. B. Kennedy
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on September 24, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Mark Graham and his wife, Carol, lived an idyllic, if itinerant, life as an Army family. The charmed couple had three children, two boys and a girl. But tragedy struck after the two boys followed their father into the military: within nine months' time, their younger son Kevin killed himself while a college student and ROTC cadet, while older son Jeff was killed while deployed to Iraq.
Because of the different nature of their two sons' deaths, it becomes clear to the Grahams how differently -- and shabbily -- the military, and even the public, treats the so-called "cowards" who take their own lives, as opposed to the "heroes" who die in combat. Major General Graham and his wife make it their life's mission to educate the public about the pervasive culture of the military that makes it hard to identify and treat depression and anxiety, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. Not only that, but they aim to change the deeply engrained culture of the military itself, a rigid one that stigmatizes anyone who struggles with these demons.
Author Yochi Dreazen follows the family's story from its beginnings until the present. The family's grief is so deep that even today, while speaking in public, the Grahams will break down in tears. Their daughter, Melanie, describes what it was like as a teen to experience the loss of her brothers -- and to be the one who discovers Kevin. Through the stories of other military members who kill themselves or attempt to, the author paints a damning picture of the military's response to this growing epidemic of hopelessness and despair.
In Kevin's case, the military can't be entirely vilified. Mental health issues plagued both sides of the Graham family, predisposing Kevin to bouts of depression.Read more ›
Because of the different nature of their two sons' deaths, it becomes clear to the Grahams how differently -- and shabbily -- the military, and even the public, treats the so-called "cowards" who take their own lives, as opposed to the "heroes" who die in combat. Major General Graham and his wife make it their life's mission to educate the public about the pervasive culture of the military that makes it hard to identify and treat depression and anxiety, traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder. Not only that, but they aim to change the deeply engrained culture of the military itself, a rigid one that stigmatizes anyone who struggles with these demons.
Author Yochi Dreazen follows the family's story from its beginnings until the present. The family's grief is so deep that even today, while speaking in public, the Grahams will break down in tears. Their daughter, Melanie, describes what it was like as a teen to experience the loss of her brothers -- and to be the one who discovers Kevin. Through the stories of other military members who kill themselves or attempt to, the author paints a damning picture of the military's response to this growing epidemic of hopelessness and despair.
In Kevin's case, the military can't be entirely vilified. Mental health issues plagued both sides of the Graham family, predisposing Kevin to bouts of depression.Read more ›
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By
wogan
TOP 100 REVIEWER on September 22, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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The army has not changed in many ways from the days of the brown boot army that my father served in to the days of the black boot army that I served in. These days of the camo boots still have many of the same problems, despite the army's feeble attempts to address them. Yochi Dreazen does a good job in summarizing and presenting examples of those who have suffered in recent years from the policy that you cannot show weakness and most of all you cannot give into your emotions and depression. If you do, it means you are not a fit, top notch soldier and are weak.
There have always been forms of PTSD, but under different names. My father, nor I would have never thought of saying anything to a doctor or a chaplain or an officer about our fears or any other emotion and feeling. Again Yochi Dreazen explores that problem, especially in relation to the suicide rate. The statistics today are horrifying and are given in this book. At many times more men are killed by their own hand, than that of the enemy.
`The Invisible Front' focuses on Major General Graham and his wife Carol. Their families did have a history of depression and the signs that were there before their son committed suicide are discussed and why they were overlooked. Kevin was taking Prozac and knew he would be kicked out of ROTC and not allowed in the army - he hung himself. Their other son, Jeff was killed by an IED. From that point on the Grahams committed their lives to help those who were suffering, including the families of those whose relatives had committed suicide. The military and the community's reaction is explained for many of those who died. General Graham embarks on a program to change the army's view and policies, some of which has been adopted.Read more ›
There have always been forms of PTSD, but under different names. My father, nor I would have never thought of saying anything to a doctor or a chaplain or an officer about our fears or any other emotion and feeling. Again Yochi Dreazen explores that problem, especially in relation to the suicide rate. The statistics today are horrifying and are given in this book. At many times more men are killed by their own hand, than that of the enemy.
`The Invisible Front' focuses on Major General Graham and his wife Carol. Their families did have a history of depression and the signs that were there before their son committed suicide are discussed and why they were overlooked. Kevin was taking Prozac and knew he would be kicked out of ROTC and not allowed in the army - he hung himself. Their other son, Jeff was killed by an IED. From that point on the Grahams committed their lives to help those who were suffering, including the families of those whose relatives had committed suicide. The military and the community's reaction is explained for many of those who died. General Graham embarks on a program to change the army's view and policies, some of which has been adopted.Read more ›
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
Becky Rose
on September 23, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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This is the story of Mark and Carole Graham, their family, their role in the military, and the stigma about mental illness in the military that has resulted in obscene amounts of suicides. Author Yoshi Dreazen paints a clear picture of what has been and still is going on within the military. As air strikes are currently happening in Syria, I learned about the aftermaths of Vietnam (a huge education for me), the Desert Storm war (which was the first I was aware of in my non-military life), and the evolution of the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD.
Dreazen goes into great depth on Mark, Carole, Jeffrey, Kevin, and Melanie's lives. I felt almost too much until midway through the book Kevin's suicide happens and then Jeffrey's death while serving. I had tears streaming down my face, feeling emotionally connect with this family after the highly personal information. Dreazen then brought many more personal stories of suicide into the book and it was a very smart way to really hit home. I felt like I knew each family and it gave each soldier the respect and legacy they deserved. They're not just a number, they're humans, sent to fight for our freedoms and they have families and loved ones too.
I learned how Mark and Carole embarked on an inspiring journey to help others, starting with money donated after Kevin's death they formed a suicide relief at university of Kentucky. They also made themselves personally available to families and soldiers. They have done so much more, but I'll leave that for the reader to discover. It's truly inspirational.
The book covers the often unseen Depression mask, Kevin's missed signs, and the families history of mental illness.Read more ›
Dreazen goes into great depth on Mark, Carole, Jeffrey, Kevin, and Melanie's lives. I felt almost too much until midway through the book Kevin's suicide happens and then Jeffrey's death while serving. I had tears streaming down my face, feeling emotionally connect with this family after the highly personal information. Dreazen then brought many more personal stories of suicide into the book and it was a very smart way to really hit home. I felt like I knew each family and it gave each soldier the respect and legacy they deserved. They're not just a number, they're humans, sent to fight for our freedoms and they have families and loved ones too.
I learned how Mark and Carole embarked on an inspiring journey to help others, starting with money donated after Kevin's death they formed a suicide relief at university of Kentucky. They also made themselves personally available to families and soldiers. They have done so much more, but I'll leave that for the reader to discover. It's truly inspirational.
The book covers the often unseen Depression mask, Kevin's missed signs, and the families history of mental illness.Read more ›
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