Capt. Scotty Smiley with Doug Crandall | Howard Books
Capt. Scotty Smiley, a U.S. Army captain tells of his recovery from a life-altering injury in Hope Unseen: The Story of the U.S. Army’s First Blind Active-Duty Officer. Blinded by an Iraqi insurgent car bomb in 2005, Smiley forges a new way to serve his country, teaching leadership skills at the United States Military Academy.
Desiring a military career from an early age, Smiley descends into despair after losing his sight less than two years into his first deployment. He relies on his family to get through his rehabilitation, particularly his wife, who refuses to sign papers that would have discharged him as a wounded veteran. Smiley eventually accomplishes many things he had once written off as impossible: attending graduate school, extreme sports-surfing, skydiving, mountain climbing-and raising two sons.
Smiley’s autobiographical account is mostly chronological, though he flashes forward or back at appropriate times for effect. Readers will appreciate how Smiley’s faith gives him the will to believe that God still has a purpose for his life. The book includes eight pages of black and white photos.
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