The document discusses the author's upbringing in poverty in rural Appalachia and their experiences serving in the military, including a deployment to Cambodia. It describes the hardships faced by people in both areas, such as lack of resources, hunger, and landmines in Cambodia. The author wants to help bring attention to these issues and find ways to support the communities, such as donating supplies, investing time, or through writing about their experiences.

1. While traveling all over the world defending
America’s freedom, I’ve come in contact with
people of all nations, tribes, and tongues.
Differences in culture and beliefs abound,
but a few basic similarities remain: the
parents love their children and want the best
for them, and hurt and loneliness are
commonplace.

2. Growing up in East Kentucky, we didn’t have
much: no running water, an outhouse, and food
was scarce. Even though we lacked many of the
things most Americans take for granted daily,
I’m thankful for my upbringing. It has made me
a stronger person, something I keep trying to
instill in my own kids. Children today have
more than they’ll ever need, and know little to
nothing about the hurt and suffering going on
all around them.

3. In small town Appalachia, there’s not much
to do, and very little money. A lot of the
people are on social security and food
stamps, or working in the coal mines. Add
in the fact that parents get more federal help
for additional children and you end up with
hungry kids and rampant drug abuse.

4. Even with the struggle to survive, the one
thing that always amazed me about growing
up Appalachia was the strength of the
families back there. The parents and kids
alike truly enjoy and love spending time with
each other. Unfortunately, the a lot of that
time is spent watching television.

5. I have a strong desire to help the people in
Appalachia as well as Cambodia (we’ll touch on
that one shortly). I’ve taken food stuff and
clothes back and given to people there, but my
meager offering didn’t make a dent in the overall
need there. I also wonder if there’s something
else I could bring to help the kids stay out of
trouble. With nothing but TV ruling the lives of
people back in the area, alcohol and drugs begin
to look pretty appealing.

6. I’m thankful my father got me into reading
at a very young age, even if it was Stephen
King. After I got past the nightmares, I
worked my way into other authors.
Reading allowed me to go into another
place, another world. I got to experience
what the characters were going through; I
loved it.

7. I was an average student in school, not really
interested in college, nor could I afford to go.
The army came calling and I accepted. It wasn’t
easy, but I’m eternally grateful for the start on
life that the military gave me. It not only
strengthened my body, but my mind as well.
Most people will never know the limits they can
push the body past, by simple determination.

8. Growing up in such a small town, I never
went more than forty-five minutes from my
home, so when the army gave me orders for
New York, I was terrified. It was hard
adjusting to the cold and unfriendliness of
the northerners, but once again it
strengthened me.

9. At the age of 19, I received orders for Desert
Storm; terrified once again, but I did what I
was told. Returned home stronger, got my
first experience with people from another
country (another world to me). From there I
deployed to Cambodia, and got the eye
opener of a lifetime.

10. The people in Cambodia were in desperate need of
food, shelter, and believe it or not, someone to listen
to them. We befriended many of the soldiers from
the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and saw first-
hand their need for someone to genuinely listen to
them. Too many times we passively listen, waiting
for the opportunity to tell our own story.
During our two months in the country, we toured
the Killing Fields, the torture museums used by the
evil Colonel Pol Pot and many of the local flea
markets around Phnom Penh.

11. If you haven’t heard of Colonel Pol Pot, I
suggest you open up Google and type his
name in. His genocide of his own people set
Cambodia back in time decades. He killed
off all skilled tradesmen, surrounded
himself with peasants, and sent the country
into the dark ages.

12. Pol Pot didn’t waste ammunition on the
people of Cambodia, he had them tortured
to death, and beat many of them with bats
(children included). Hearing and seeing
such evil left us Americans furious.

13. I mention the marketplace, because Cambodia
has over six million anti personnel and anti tank
mines all over the country. At the market, we
regularly saw the result of these mines on the
children. Parents would put their kids (most
with missing limbs from the mines) out in front
of their booths to beg us for money as we went
through. It was heart wrenching and it
worked…we regularly gave them money.

14. I mentioned two different regions, although not
all that different. The people all have the same
basic desire to take care of their families, to feed
them and clothe them, to watch them grow and
learn in a safe environment. In Cambodia,
starvation and anti-personnel mines are the
enemy. In Appalachia, starvation and drugs are
the enemy.

15. I retired from the military three years ago and
started writing novels. I’ve penned two about
the Appalachia region, and just finished one
about Cambodia. My desire is to bring light to
the hardships in the areas, and hopefully make
us think before we trade in our two year old
vehicle for the latest and greatest one on the
market or purchase that new iphone or ipad.

16. After giving food and clothes to the area, I’m
starting to think the biggest need in both areas
mentioned is time. Investing time into their
lives.
The Appalachia Service Project helps repair
many of the dilapidated homes around the
Appalachia region. Many live in structures
similar to the huts I went through in Cambodia.

17. Do you have time?
My heart is with the people of Appalachia
and the people of Cambodia. Not sure
where to start, but need to start
somewhere…