Until Tuesday (26 page)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My deepest thanks go to Peter McGuigan, Hannah Gordon, Stéphanie Abou, and all of the amazing people at Foundry Literary & Media. Thank you for believing in Tuesday and me.

Thank you, Bret Witter. Not only did you put up with me, but you’ve significantly contributed to the ongoing healing process. And, Tuesday’s happy to have gained a friend forever.

To Elisabeth Dyssegaard, Ellen Archer, Kristin Kiser, Katherine Tasheff, Marie Coolman, Molly Rosenbaum, and all of the magnificent people at Hyperion—you are simply the best.

Tuesday. What would I do without my Tuesday? Thank you, you “good ole soul.”

My heartfelt thanks go out to all of you below to whom I am indebted. Through the years, you’ve offered friendship, mentorship, support, and love.

Plinio Homero Montalván, Ruth Montalván, Sergio Miranda Ortiz, Teresa Miranda, George Plinio Montalván, Patricia Montalván, J. Plinio Montalván, Gina Montalván, Cristina Rieppi, Pablo Rieppi, Isabel Cabán, Angel Cabán, Carlos Cabán, Carmen Cabán, Esq., Maggie Dooley, Kevin Dooley, Alex Dooley, David Dooley, David Cabán, Ileana Cabán, Paul Vizcarrondo, Esq., Nina Vizcarrondo, Kevin Krufky, Esq., Tim Westhusing, Keith Westhusing, Nadia McCaffrey, Emily Pearcy, Dr. Goli Motarassed, M.D., Briah Carey, Myrtle Vacirca-Quinn, Esq., Christina Curry, Marvin Wassermann, Michael Schweinsberg, Councilwoman Sara González, Assemblyman Félix Ortiz, Lu Picard, Dale Picard, Judy Knispel, Barbara Jenkel, Paul Jenkel, Leslie Granda-Hill, Tammy Snowden, Michelle Mullany, Jeffrey Bodley, Esq., Michele Bernstein-Goldsmith, Barry S. Goldsmith, Olga Trevizo, Angie Trevizo, Donna Kelly Thibedeau-Eddy, Tyler Boudreau, Amme Poe-Gilbert, Melody Moezzi, Esq., Matthew Lenard, Paul Rieckhoff, Ali Fawzi, Hamza Thakir, Cindy Rodríguez, Domenica Iacovone, Teresa Davis, Bronwen Pence, Amy Pence, Ted Gavin, Amy Gavin, Michael Elkin, Amy Kielman, Jarka Kristinova, Chris Lombardi, Rachel Rawlings, Joe Bello, Katie Johnson, James Bloomer III, Gary Brozek & Huck, T. J. Buonomo, Alicia Castañeda, Rolando Castañeda, Aaron Glantz, Patricia Greenwald, Mario Ruiz, Cynthia Labelle, David Lackowitz, Esq., Robert Wolf, Esq., Katie McMaster, Jeri Miller, Kristabelle Munson, Prof. Phillip Napoli, PhD, Rachel Natelson, Esq., Tony Ntellas, Marianne Perez, Joe Piazza, Ned Powell, Diane Powell, Tricia Powell, Prof. Edward Queen, PhD, Esq., David Ramsay, Gabriel Razoky, Shannon Rickey, Fred Schieck, Ben Selkow, Katharine Bailey, Dee Soder, PhD, Jose Vasquez, Mike Chung, Hwang Chung, Todd Wiseman, Jr., Milos Silber, Keely Zahn, Karin Zeitvogel, Pfc. (Ret.) Phil Bauer & Reese, Pfc. Cole Vickery & Cylis, Pfc. (Ret.) David Page, Pfc. Joseph Knott, Pfc. Robert Murray, Pfc. Wyatt Eisenhauer, Senior Airman (Ret.) Kimberly Specht & Toby, Spc. Ricky Rockholt, Spc. Hoby Bradfield, Spc. Justin Pollard, Spc. (Ret.) Tyson Carter, Spc. (Ret.) Andrew Hanson & Jackie, Sgt. (Ret.) Mary Dague & Remy, Sgt. (Ret.) Eric Pearcy, Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Rick Boone & Raeburn, Staff Sgt. (Ret.) John Davis, Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Kevin Epps, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Potter, 1st Sgt. (Ret.) Scott Annese, 1st Sgt. Zack Lever, Command Sgt. Maj. John Caldwell, Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Hunt, Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) William Burns, 1st Lieutenant Joseph D. Demoors, Capt. (Ret.) Mark Brogan, Capt. Ernie Ambrose, Capt. Adam Tiffen, Esq., Capt. Brian Schwab, Capt. (Ret.) Chris Hadsall, Capt. Joe Merrill, Capt. John Fuchko, Capt. Timothy Meier, PhD (SJ), Maj. Fred Pasquale, Maj. Denis Lortie, Maj. Jay Baker, M.D., Maj. Doug LaBouff, Maj. Eric Gardner, Maj. Michael Martinez, Maj. Scott Pence, Maj. Bill Bainbridge, Esq., Maj. (Ret.) Donald Vandergriff, Lt. Col. Matthew Canfield, Lt. Col. Brian Steed, Lt. Col. David Causey, Lt. Col. Don Moore, Lt. Col. Michael Shinners, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Michael Sternfeld, Lt. Col. Christopher Kennedy, Lt. Col. James Gallivan, Col. Joel Armstrong, Col. Christopher Gibson, PhD, Col. Christopher M. Hickey, Col. Paul Yingling, Col. Gregory Reilly, Col. (Ret.) Mary Belmont, PhD, Col. Ted Westhusing, PhD, Brig. Gen. H. R. McMaster, Maj. General Khorsheed Saleem al-Dosekey, Mayor Najim Abid al-Jibouri, Sec. Eugene Dewey, Sen. Al Franken, Franni Franken, Prof. David Segal, PhD, Prof. Mady Segal, PhD, Prof. Winthrop Adkins, PhD, Dean Nicholas Lemann, Dean Sree Sreenivasan, Dean Melanie Huff, Dean Laura Muha, Dean Tom Harford, PhD, Prof. John Martin, Prof. Shawn McIntosh, Prof. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, Prof. Beth Whitehouse, Prof. Elena Cabral, Prof. Rob Bennett, Prof. Mirta Ojito, Prof. John Smock, Prof. Tony Judt, PhD.

Photo Section

During “Operation Brush Back” in South Baghdad, I stop to take a photo with some precious Iraqi children. Despite coping with physical and psychological issues, my return to Iraq in April 2005 was spotted with moments of beauty like this one.

Resting in my HMMWV, completely fatigued, after “Operation Squeeze Play” in South Baghdad. Culminating in June 2005, Squeeze Play was the largest Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces combined military operation conducted since the initial invasion in 2003.

White Team (my platoon) shortly after reaching Al-Waleed, a port of entry on the Syrian-Iraqi border, in October 2003. We established a forward operating base (FOB) and then began area reconnaissance, counter-smuggling, customs, security, and reconstruction operations.

A Sunni gentleman pours me a glass of chai. It was humbling to be asked to spend a few moments with this family, despite having just searched their home.
(Photo by Craig Walker—
Denver Post
)

Tuesday as a puppy.

Army Sgt. Mary Dague receives a kiss from her new service dog, Remy.

Lu Picard, Founder and Director of ECAD, talks with Army Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Rick Boone about how to brush his service dog Raeburn’s teeth.

Four wounded Army veterans of Iraq—Ricky (
left
), me, Mary, and Andrew—and their newly partnered service dogs proudly capture a moment near the end of ECAD’s “Project HEAL” in November 2008.

Giving thanks to Puppies Behind Bars inmate dog trainers in November 2008. Tuesday is visible resting at my feet.
(Photo courtesy of Timothy Lamorte)

Tuesday sneaks a kiss at a charity event to help provide wounded veterans with service dogs. While anniversaries of 9-11, like this one in 2010, conjure a lot of painful memories, Tuesday and I feel compelled to leave home to help other veterans in need.

Tuesday and I make our way to a graduation ceremony at Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD). A year later, in November 2009, we proudly attended the second graduating class of ECAD’s Project HEAL.
(Photo courtesy of Leslie Granda-Hill)