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Behind the Blue-Star Banner: A Memoir from the Home Front
Michelle Cuthrell was 23 years old, nine months out of college and 11 weeks pregnant with her first child when her husband deployed to Iraq in August 2005. With a baby in her belly and a husband in her heart, this newlywed embarked on a crazy journey that led her through a year of tests and trials, heartbreak and hard times, as she lived alone in the freezes and frosts of Fairbanks, Alaska. There, Michelle endured the pregnancy and rearing of the couple's first and only child as her husband, Matt, served with the 172nd Stryker brigade in Mosul, Iraq. But when the Department of Defense extended Matt's unit for four additional months in country, just 10 days shy of his much-anticipated homecoming after a year at war, Michelle temporarily fell apart. It was in those difficult days that she learned the real value of friendship, faith and unfailing love.
233 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 12, 2013
I really wanted to like this book. I met Michelle at PWOC when we were stationed in WA and she is adorable. My friend loved the book and let me borrow her copy so I could read it. I guess I had a hard time relating to what she experienced, I got tired of the whining and complaining throughout the entire book. I think maybe if I had no idea what a deployment was like I might think this was how a typical Army wife would feel, but I have four children to care for so I guess I don't have as much time to sit around and feel sorry for myself when my husband deploys. I hope other readers enjoy the book more than I did.
May 13, 2008
I know Michelle personally. The unit she speaks of and the dinner club she was in, was the group I was in. Michelle has a wonderful, bubbly, positive personality. She is a wonderful public speaker. She's very young and her growth potential as a speaker and writer is enormous.
This book details what she, specifically, went through. However, it paints a picture of how we all felt at times. I laughed, cried and remembered while reading this book. I don't think most families in the civilian world really grasp what we go through. What our children go through, our marriages. Being a spouse to a deployable soldier is not a job for the weak. You need a strong marriage, strong heart, trust, and a heck of a lot of strength, all kinds of coping mechanisms and faith (of some sort, at least).
Michelle was an extraordinary wife during the 16-month, extended deployment. As a new and young wife, I’m humbled to say there is much I learned from her (and others) during the deployment, upon reflection after (especially after we moved out of Alaska) and while reading her book.
While Matt, the girls and I survived the last deployment fairly well, I hope that, the lessons I’ve learned and the growth I experience through to the next deployment, will enable me to bring so much more to the “table” during the next deployment. It’s my hope that I will not merely be a forgettable wife, as I believe I was last time. Michelle will never be a forgettable wife! She will always bring extraordinary things to any unit her husband deploys out of. While she is humble in her writing, she writes the truth. She shined, despite the constant. often heart-wrenching challenges presented during those long, often dark, 16-months.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants the inside scoop of what military spouses go through during combat deployments. Even if you’re against the war, this is a must read. Many of the wives of soldiers support their husbands/soldiers not, necessarily, the war itself…
This book details what she, specifically, went through. However, it paints a picture of how we all felt at times. I laughed, cried and remembered while reading this book. I don't think most families in the civilian world really grasp what we go through. What our children go through, our marriages. Being a spouse to a deployable soldier is not a job for the weak. You need a strong marriage, strong heart, trust, and a heck of a lot of strength, all kinds of coping mechanisms and faith (of some sort, at least).
Michelle was an extraordinary wife during the 16-month, extended deployment. As a new and young wife, I’m humbled to say there is much I learned from her (and others) during the deployment, upon reflection after (especially after we moved out of Alaska) and while reading her book.
While Matt, the girls and I survived the last deployment fairly well, I hope that, the lessons I’ve learned and the growth I experience through to the next deployment, will enable me to bring so much more to the “table” during the next deployment. It’s my hope that I will not merely be a forgettable wife, as I believe I was last time. Michelle will never be a forgettable wife! She will always bring extraordinary things to any unit her husband deploys out of. While she is humble in her writing, she writes the truth. She shined, despite the constant. often heart-wrenching challenges presented during those long, often dark, 16-months.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants the inside scoop of what military spouses go through during combat deployments. Even if you’re against the war, this is a must read. Many of the wives of soldiers support their husbands/soldiers not, necessarily, the war itself…
August 3, 2008
I've known Michelle since college and have always enjoyed her way of writing about life. She has a gift for really expressing her emotions and sharing her experiences in a way that makes you laugh and cry.
Her first book is no exception. The trials of surviving her first deployment, the fears, frustrations, and pride that she shares transcend from military life to everyday life.
If you want to better understand (or feel understood!)living as a true Army Wife, I highly recommend Behind the Blue-Star Banner. I also recommend it if you are looking for an inspiring story about working hard to see the positives in a difficult time.
I admire Michelle's strength and her devotion to making this world a better place. She is truly an inspirational writer and speaker.
Her first book is no exception. The trials of surviving her first deployment, the fears, frustrations, and pride that she shares transcend from military life to everyday life.
If you want to better understand (or feel understood!)living as a true Army Wife, I highly recommend Behind the Blue-Star Banner. I also recommend it if you are looking for an inspiring story about working hard to see the positives in a difficult time.
I admire Michelle's strength and her devotion to making this world a better place. She is truly an inspirational writer and speaker.
May 29, 2012
My daughter is a young Army wife. Last year her husband spent the entire year in Afghanistan and reading this book, I realize she went thru many of the same emotions as the author. I thought the author did a great job in balancing humor and frustration in a world the thousands of military spouses are going thru. It was well written and I could see her heart.
July 6, 2012
Excellent Book for anyone to read that has a loved one in the Military. The book is wonderful and full of excellent information. I met Mrs. Cuthrell at an Operation Home Front Event in El Paso, TX and not only is she an excellent writer but also an excellent motivational speaker for military and their families. Great Resource.
May 22, 2012
Loved this book!! Could definitely relate to it after going through a 12 month deployment also at Ft. Wainwright!! She was definitely able to put into words how a lot of Army wives (military wives in general) feel and go through during a deployment!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews