West from the Fallen Wall

by Ryan Lucas Henderson, Benjamin Braddock (Introduction), James Seawright (Illustrator)

From debut author Ryan Lucas Henderson comes this collection of short stories set in Europe, just before coronavirus and the Russian invasion of Ukraine—just before the post-Cold War era changed forever. The book features original illustrations by U.S. Army Capt. James Seawright and an introduction by Ben Braddock.

One almost never plans to ram a car through a makeshift barricade at a military training area, but Croatian First Lieutenant Kovač hadn’t expected to find himself between a U.S. Army live-fire exercise and a sleepy, Croatian village, either. Neither had a young, American paratrooper imagined he’d join an eccentric band of retired, Italian mountain soldiers on a hidden trail through the southern Alps. Nor, of course, was explosives expert Colonel Anderson prepared to team up with a group of archaeologists for an excavation in Normandy, much less prepared for what they'd find.

Nor did most Americans expect their country to station soldiers in Europe decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union. When vets return home from Europe, their countrymen, some surprised, some sneering, some earnest, some thumping their chests, often ask, “What’s the U.S. military doing in Europe, anyway?” There are as many answers to that question as there are soldiers and civilians. Here are nine stories. They’re fiction, and they’re a start.

271 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

Ryan Lucas Henderson is a photojournalist, writer, and veteran of the U.S. Army. He's worked in ten countries, and his photos have been featured by nearly two dozen outlets. He credits the 173rd Airborne Brigade's public affairs office for his good fortune in meeting and marrying the prettiest girl in Vicenza, Italy. He currently lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he's completing a PhD in archaeology.

Reviews

[Wendy Haagenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of nine short stories. Each story reveals a different viewpoint of the American military continuing to have a presence in Europe long after the Cold War has ended. Some Europeans resent America's involvement in their country while others seem to value America's contribution. I've often felt that America continually finds itself in a lose-lose situation. Countries worldwide want America to stay out of their country. Yet, when they are in trouble and need our support, if we don't help immediately, we get blasted for not caring. It must be terribly difficult for our leaders to make these decisions. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

These stories are very well-written. We get a glimpse of Americans stationed in different countries and training with/co-existing with Croatians, Germans, Ukrainians, Greeks, Romans, Slovenians, Italians, Bavarians and the French. Some of our military personnel are in Europe to support NATO, showing the world that these countries can work together for the greater good. They train with mixed leadership. These stories are open-ended, meaning we really don't know what happens after the story ends. These soldiers/photographers/military personnel are all deeply affected by their stay in Europe. The author describes each character in a way that we understand how they are feeling and why they often feel conflicted about their purpose in Europe.

Each story is very different from the others. I was deeply affected by The Schnitzel and the Shark, which underscores how strong one has to be when in any branch of the military. You can't let your fellow soldiers, or certainly your superior, see any type of weakness or you will pay dearly for that weakness/mistake. Another powerful story was Forest of Dry Bones, set in France, which demonstrates how difficult it was for private citizens during wartime. So much loss that is completely out of one's control - and the aftermath of living with those traumatic experiences.

[Glen Menzies · Rating 5 out of 5]

We feel most alive when we are moved, whether by joy or by sadness. We call it “bittersweet” when we are moved by both at the same time. Beautiful and poignant, West from the Fallen Wall uses nine short stories to depict the American military presence in Europe following the end of the Cold War and before the beginning of the hot war now being fought in Ukraine. Using artfully drawn characters, it portrays a state of bittersweet limbo through the eyes of American soldiers and through the haunting memories of their European hosts. In varying proportions these Europeans feel both gratitude for America’s past protection and resentment for its ascendent role.

One strength of the short-story format is that it exposes the reader to a diversity of nationalities, locales, and languages. Part ethnography, part travelogue, this book is about the military experience, but it is also about so much more. It is about the way in each of us memory of the past lives on in present-day life. Memory is also a major factor in the affairs of nations. This is seen in the current debate about the future role of NATO. Should America continue to take a dominant role in Europe when many Europeans resent their past dependency on America yet are unwilling or unable to relieve America of that role? The ambiguity of life and the ambiguity of war are both exquisitely painted in this book.

[Kalli Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something so beautiful about reading short stories. Sometimes they feel too fast, while others feel just right. The variations of these nine stories will definitely all leave you wondering what happens next for each cast of characters. I know I’m wondering about them - and will continue to wonder for probably a long while. That’s what makes it so much more beautiful - the not knowing, and realizing their time on the page was a short, yet so impactful one.

Overall, so amazingly written, and so many things I personally never knew. I feel so grateful to have read this book, and look forward to pondering it for awhile yet.

[Paul Corkery]

I read this book recently on a flight back from France and was really very impressed. I loved it and it was compelling reading. Ryan did a masterful job of including idiosyncratic details which are very important to giving the author credibility. It demonstrated his mastery of the subject matter.

But what really got me was the subtle way he handled the Pax Americana concept. Is it really in the best interests of those countries where Americans are stationed or touring, or is it just another modern variation on Colonialism? Or is it some combination of both?

[Nicole Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these short stories. They were so engaging that I could honestly see all of them turned into a full blown novel. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Denise Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ran into this author in a bookstore in Spooner, WI and heard his friend asking the bookstore owner if she would try selling his friend's book. I assumed that the author Ryan, was shy and didn't like promoting himself. Anyway, I bought it just to support new authors even though the subject is not something that particularly interests me. I do like short stories though as I have a short reading span, and I have to admit, I liked each one a great deal. Many I did not want to end. The last story in the book (Forest of Dry Bones) is gripping and heartwarming.

[Dakota Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled in from the first story and wrapped time and time again by the individual journeys each character took, the moral dilemmas they faced, and the thematic threads holding them all together. You definitely walk away feeling the depth of the world. Its complexity. It’s beauty. Give it a try!

[Giorgia Greselin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Public announcement: You will cry.

Great, now that I got that out (nobody warned me and boy was I unprepared) I want to say how important this book is. Not for “men”, or “military people”, for everyone. This is a book about the human experience and I can say with confidence that everyone will resonate with at least some parts of this book.

The big theme is why is the American military currently in Europe and should it stay or should it go. The myriad smaller themes are friendships, love, aspiration, hopelessness, loneliness, the desire to fit in, the pain of missing someone, the present consequences of past traumas, grief and so much more.

This is the kind of book you read in one week and will leave you feeling like that “you” from a few days ago is not the same “you” as now. You will grow, mature, change through its pages.

Needless to say at this point, 5/5.