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Proof of Our Resolve
"Proof of Our Resolve" is a novel about a Texas Army National Guard infantry platoon deployed to Afghanistan. This books attempts to convey some of the experiences of soldiers serving in Afghanistan through a fictional platform. The characters are representative of and much like the Soldiers and Marines one would find in a combat unit. The story's environment and tactical operations are as close to real as possible.
198 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2012
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Chris Hernandez
7 books9 followersI’m a former Marine and proudly serving Texas National Guard Soldier, married with a bunch of kids, writing fiction based on my military and LE experience. My first novel, Proof of Our Resolve, was released in September 2012. Line in the Valley, my second novel, was released January 2014.
Just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding: I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE A SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIER, nor have I ever been attached to a Special Operations unit. In Afghanistan I was allowed to have a beard and long hair because of my job. I’m a regular Joe who had the opportunity to work with some great units and people, and do some pretty cool stuff overseas.
Just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding: I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE A SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIER, nor have I ever been attached to a Special Operations unit. In Afghanistan I was allowed to have a beard and long hair because of my job. I’m a regular Joe who had the opportunity to work with some great units and people, and do some pretty cool stuff overseas.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 10, 2017
PROOF OF OUR RESOLVE, a novel written by former Marine reservist, Texas Army National Guardsman, and law enforcement officer Chris Hernandez, is not extraordinary because of its prose. It is Hernandez's first novel, and a seasoned reader can tell that he's getting his feet beneath him in a literary sense. The prose is not terrible, but it is not as strong as it could be, either. It's a little on the short side with just over 160 pages, and the descriptions range from sparse to borderline cliché at some points.
Were it written by a civilian, this novel would more than likely not rate the four stars that it does.
No, that does not mean that as a veteran, I'm giving this review simply because Chris is a fellow veteran.
That does mean that Chris's veteran status allows him to near-perfectly put the reader in a realistic combat situation.
Anybody who has done a tour in either sandbox will read this book and they will immediately recognize people that they served with. Not that those specific individuals were written into the novel, but that every Army unit has people like those described in the prose.
They'll recognize the characteristic dark humor of combat arms, the humor developed when you face death on a daily basis and must find a coping mechanism to remain sane.
They'll recognize the long moments of boredom punctuated with brief periods of sheer terror and devastation, especially in the wake of a loss.
They'll recognize the frustration from higher ups refusing to actually commit to winning a war due to their misguided notion that fighting a propaganda war is more important than actually defeating the enemy on the battlefield.
And--the part that struck home the hardest--they'll recognize the feelings of coming home to a nation indifferent, and the anger and resentment that builds from that feeling. When I read the ending, I was immediately transported back to the summer of 2009, shortly after I had returned from Iraq, and old feelings rushed to the forefront.
Chris Hernandez GETS IT because he's been there before.
If you're a veteran, you owe it to yourself to read it to know that there are others out there who can relate to your feelings and experiences.
If you're a civilian, you owe it to yourself to read it to get a glimpse as to the feelings and experiences that many veterans have endured.
Writers get better as they continue to write. I have absolute confidence that Chris's subsequent books will show him moving closer to hitting his stride, and when he hits his stride, he will be unstoppable as an author.
Were it written by a civilian, this novel would more than likely not rate the four stars that it does.
No, that does not mean that as a veteran, I'm giving this review simply because Chris is a fellow veteran.
That does mean that Chris's veteran status allows him to near-perfectly put the reader in a realistic combat situation.
Anybody who has done a tour in either sandbox will read this book and they will immediately recognize people that they served with. Not that those specific individuals were written into the novel, but that every Army unit has people like those described in the prose.
They'll recognize the characteristic dark humor of combat arms, the humor developed when you face death on a daily basis and must find a coping mechanism to remain sane.
They'll recognize the long moments of boredom punctuated with brief periods of sheer terror and devastation, especially in the wake of a loss.
They'll recognize the frustration from higher ups refusing to actually commit to winning a war due to their misguided notion that fighting a propaganda war is more important than actually defeating the enemy on the battlefield.
And--the part that struck home the hardest--they'll recognize the feelings of coming home to a nation indifferent, and the anger and resentment that builds from that feeling. When I read the ending, I was immediately transported back to the summer of 2009, shortly after I had returned from Iraq, and old feelings rushed to the forefront.
Chris Hernandez GETS IT because he's been there before.
If you're a veteran, you owe it to yourself to read it to know that there are others out there who can relate to your feelings and experiences.
If you're a civilian, you owe it to yourself to read it to get a glimpse as to the feelings and experiences that many veterans have endured.
Writers get better as they continue to write. I have absolute confidence that Chris's subsequent books will show him moving closer to hitting his stride, and when he hits his stride, he will be unstoppable as an author.
January 11, 2015
Some time back, I stumbled on the blog of Chris Hernandez while searching for something else. From his author’s bio: Chris Hernandez is a 20 year police officer, former Marine and currently serving National Guard soldier with over 25 years of military service. He is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and also served 18 months as a United Nations police officer in Kosovo. In short, Chris is a guy who has a lot to say about police and military matters. So, having seen he wrote two novels, I took a chance and bought one.
Proof of Our Resolve is informed by Chris’s experience in Afghanistan. It’s a fictionalized account of a Texas Army National Guard platoon sent there to handle mostly convoy escorts, and their activities in a fictionalized couple of Taliban-infested Afghan valleys. Chris makes it a point to note that he was not any sort of Special Forces “operator,” but nor was he a FOBbit (somebody who hangs out at a Forward Operating Base and never goes outside the wire). No, Chris was a grunt, and this is the story of grunts doing regular grunt work.
Proof of Our Resolve is a short novel – 185 pages – but packed with action. The author has an eye for characters and an ear for dialog, which show throughout the book. Chris also spent some time with French forces in Afghanistan, and he found them tough and competent, which reflects their characterization in this book. There’s soldier language and soldier violence to spare, but damn this is a good book.
Proof of Our Resolve is informed by Chris’s experience in Afghanistan. It’s a fictionalized account of a Texas Army National Guard platoon sent there to handle mostly convoy escorts, and their activities in a fictionalized couple of Taliban-infested Afghan valleys. Chris makes it a point to note that he was not any sort of Special Forces “operator,” but nor was he a FOBbit (somebody who hangs out at a Forward Operating Base and never goes outside the wire). No, Chris was a grunt, and this is the story of grunts doing regular grunt work.
Proof of Our Resolve is a short novel – 185 pages – but packed with action. The author has an eye for characters and an ear for dialog, which show throughout the book. Chris also spent some time with French forces in Afghanistan, and he found them tough and competent, which reflects their characterization in this book. There’s soldier language and soldier violence to spare, but damn this is a good book.
January 2, 2014
Most realistic OIF/OEF books I have read since Outlaw Platoon.
Mr. Hernandez has done an outstanding job with this novel. You can feel the shockwave of an IED, Hear rounds cranking overhead and feel the growing camaradery between the Afghan army troops, the French soldiers and the two National Guard units from different States. HIGHLY recommended.
Mr. Hernandez has done an outstanding job with this novel. You can feel the shockwave of an IED, Hear rounds cranking overhead and feel the growing camaradery between the Afghan army troops, the French soldiers and the two National Guard units from different States. HIGHLY recommended.
April 2, 2015
I am a 47 year old wife and mother of 2 daughters who has never served in the military. This book gave me a glimpse into war. Into what felt like Real soldiers with real lives and real deaths. I struggled with parts of the truth of what soldiers must go through. I cried through their deaths. And I even laughed with the guys when they laughed. This is not my typical read, but i am very glad I read it. My respect and thanks for those who serve in the Military just went up even higher. Excellent read.
June 7, 2025
Review of Proof of Our Resolve by Chris Hernandez
Proof of Our Resolve is an intense, grounded, and deeply respectful portrayal of soldiers at war. Chris Hernandez draws on his own experience to craft a story that doesn’t just entertain, but also educates and honors the realities of life in a combat zone. While the book is fiction, it’s clear from the first few chapters that it’s written by someone who’s lived what he writes. The language, the pacing, the decisions under pressure, it all feels real, not dramatized for effect.
The novel centers on a Texas Army National Guard infantry platoon deployed to Afghanistan. What stood out to me is that this isn’t your typical action-driven military thriller. Yes, there are firefights, danger, and tactical operations. Still, the heart of the story lies in the relationships between the soldiers and the challenges they face day to day, fear, boredom, stress, and moments of camaraderie that become lifelines in a harsh environment.
Each character feels authentic, representative of the kind of men and women who serve, flawed, tough, funny, and human. Hernandez does a great job capturing the small details that make military life what it is: the gear, the patrols, the confusion and adrenaline of contact with the enemy, and the quiet moments in between where reflection creeps in. You can tell he’s not trying to glorify or dramatize war, he’s trying to show it as it is, through the lens of those who live it.
What I appreciated most was the book’s honesty. It doesn’t shy away from the toll combat takes, mentally and emotionally, and it gives space for both courage and vulnerability. Proof of Our Resolve is a strong, unfiltered tribute to the people who serve, and it leaves you thinking long after the final page.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in military fiction that’s more about truth than spectacle.
Proof of Our Resolve is an intense, grounded, and deeply respectful portrayal of soldiers at war. Chris Hernandez draws on his own experience to craft a story that doesn’t just entertain, but also educates and honors the realities of life in a combat zone. While the book is fiction, it’s clear from the first few chapters that it’s written by someone who’s lived what he writes. The language, the pacing, the decisions under pressure, it all feels real, not dramatized for effect.
The novel centers on a Texas Army National Guard infantry platoon deployed to Afghanistan. What stood out to me is that this isn’t your typical action-driven military thriller. Yes, there are firefights, danger, and tactical operations. Still, the heart of the story lies in the relationships between the soldiers and the challenges they face day to day, fear, boredom, stress, and moments of camaraderie that become lifelines in a harsh environment.
Each character feels authentic, representative of the kind of men and women who serve, flawed, tough, funny, and human. Hernandez does a great job capturing the small details that make military life what it is: the gear, the patrols, the confusion and adrenaline of contact with the enemy, and the quiet moments in between where reflection creeps in. You can tell he’s not trying to glorify or dramatize war, he’s trying to show it as it is, through the lens of those who live it.
What I appreciated most was the book’s honesty. It doesn’t shy away from the toll combat takes, mentally and emotionally, and it gives space for both courage and vulnerability. Proof of Our Resolve is a strong, unfiltered tribute to the people who serve, and it leaves you thinking long after the final page.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in military fiction that’s more about truth than spectacle.
January 9, 2015
Don't come to Proof of our Resolve expecting a novel. It reads like a military memoir, and given Hernandez' background, I expect that in some ways it is. This is a fiction book, and it hasn't got a plot. Well, not really. It is a linear narrative of the events in a National Guard Sergeant's life during and immediately after a deployment to Afghanistan. It's not written first person, but we see into Nunez' thoughts and motivations as he shepherds his platoon through battles, injuries and even death.
The language is salty, and the violence feels real. I haven't read many memoirs of Afghanistan, I used to read tons of WWII and 'Nam era material, and this feels right. Boredom, punctuated by terror, and a coating of dust over it all. Our sergeant's internal dialogue is full of doubt, in himself, in the way the war is being run, and in the end, although he has regained a sense of why he and his men are fighting, that regretful flavor remains. During a final interview with his major, Nunez can barely restrain himself from protesting the onerous ROE they fight under, for instance.
If you are looking for a traditional novel, this probably won't suit you. If you are looking for a peek inside a modern fighting unit, then by all means, try out Proof of our Resolve. I'm not at all sorry I picked it up, it is solidly written, not brilliantly, and was worth the time in reading it. There is a second in a proposed series, and I will take a look at it, too, looks like it is the continuation of what happens in civilian life after combat. As a writer, these books serve as a sort of research into a military mind. As a person, they are a reminder of what many of my friends have been through, and reasons I treasure those men and women highly. They were just doing their jobs, sure, but to those of us who remain safe, they are heroes.
The language is salty, and the violence feels real. I haven't read many memoirs of Afghanistan, I used to read tons of WWII and 'Nam era material, and this feels right. Boredom, punctuated by terror, and a coating of dust over it all. Our sergeant's internal dialogue is full of doubt, in himself, in the way the war is being run, and in the end, although he has regained a sense of why he and his men are fighting, that regretful flavor remains. During a final interview with his major, Nunez can barely restrain himself from protesting the onerous ROE they fight under, for instance.
If you are looking for a traditional novel, this probably won't suit you. If you are looking for a peek inside a modern fighting unit, then by all means, try out Proof of our Resolve. I'm not at all sorry I picked it up, it is solidly written, not brilliantly, and was worth the time in reading it. There is a second in a proposed series, and I will take a look at it, too, looks like it is the continuation of what happens in civilian life after combat. As a writer, these books serve as a sort of research into a military mind. As a person, they are a reminder of what many of my friends have been through, and reasons I treasure those men and women highly. They were just doing their jobs, sure, but to those of us who remain safe, they are heroes.
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