Papa's Log: Blogs of My Journey from Nokesville to Baghdad and Back (Paperback)

Faith, family, and friends and a journey to Baghdad and back again. This is the heart of Papa's Log, which details G. Duane Whitman's sixteen-month, voluntary deployment to Iraq as a Department of Defense Civilian Advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and the correspondence with his family during that time. Although Papa's Log details Whitman's preparations and deployment, this is not just a war story, but a story about loved ones remaining united amid even the most adverse conditions. Papa's Log provides us with a glimpse of a faith-based, tightly knit family that, even though thousands of miles apart, remains connected through their love of God and through their love for one another. From birthday and anniversaries to the death of loved ones and the challenges of being apart for an extended period, this story chronicles a typical American family in the midst of a not-so-typical situation, while beautifully highlighting the unbreakable, family bond. About the Author G. Duane Whitman, born in Northwest Pennsylvania and raised in Upstate New York's Dairy Belt, went on to serve in the United States Army from 1970 to 1990, which included a combat tour in Vietnam and two European tours. He continued on to serve as a Department of the Army civilian, as a Department of Defense civilian, and within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence until 2012. Whitman and his wife, Jeanne, reside near Raleigh, North Carolina. They have four children and fourteen grandchildren.