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In the Shadow of Freedom: A Heroic Journey to Liberation, Manhood, and America
From poverty to wealth, from Africa to America and from child soldier to US Marine. Born into the Congolese wilderness, Tchicaya Missamou became a child soldier at age 11. As a horrific civil war loomed across his country, Tchicaya began using his militia connections to ferry jewels, cash, computers, and white diplomats out of the country. By 17, he was rich. By 18, he was a hunted man, his house destroyed, his family brutalized in front of him by his own militia. By 19, he’d left behind everything he’d ever known, escaping to Europe and, eventually, to America.
In the Shadow of Freedom is the uplifting story of one man’s quest to achieve the American Dream. Tchicaya Missamou’s life is a shining example of why America is a gift that should not be taken for granted, and why we are limited only by the breadth of our imagination and the strength of our will.
In the Shadow of Freedom is the uplifting story of one man’s quest to achieve the American Dream. Tchicaya Missamou’s life is a shining example of why America is a gift that should not be taken for granted, and why we are limited only by the breadth of our imagination and the strength of our will.
416 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2010
18 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 26, 2010
This memoir broke my heart, stepped on it, then put it in a blender. Tchicaya Missamou’s story is a testimony to the strength of the human spirit. While Ishmael Beah’s >A Long Way Gone focused on his difficulties as a child solider, Missamou chronicles his life through adulthood, which contains so many horrificly tragic events it is nearly incomprehensible that he was able to overcome the memories and turn them into a moving memoir.
Missamou chronicles his life as a young boy in the Congo, a happy life. However, war soon comes to the Congo, and he becomes a child solider, a life full of atrocity. After the fighting has ended, and years have passed, he becomes a solider for the Congo, and he must survive another bout of tribal violence in his home country. Eventually, Missamou must flee the country: Paris, then the United States, where he becomes a US Marine.
Summing up Missamou’s life so simply is a crime unto itself. This memoir is beautiful and poignant, despite the incidents of violence and hatred that exist almost constantly for Missamou. Having a smart head on his shoulders helped Missamou to become an entrepreneur, and he saved money and developed a plan to escape life in the Congo. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I hope my paltry review will pique your interest enough to check it out.
Missamou chronicles his life as a young boy in the Congo, a happy life. However, war soon comes to the Congo, and he becomes a child solider, a life full of atrocity. After the fighting has ended, and years have passed, he becomes a solider for the Congo, and he must survive another bout of tribal violence in his home country. Eventually, Missamou must flee the country: Paris, then the United States, where he becomes a US Marine.
Summing up Missamou’s life so simply is a crime unto itself. This memoir is beautiful and poignant, despite the incidents of violence and hatred that exist almost constantly for Missamou. Having a smart head on his shoulders helped Missamou to become an entrepreneur, and he saved money and developed a plan to escape life in the Congo. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I hope my paltry review will pique your interest enough to check it out.
February 3, 2013
A terrifying look into the injustices that are occurring in the Congo at the hands of small faction militias. This book is NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. There are extremely graphic descriptions of rape, murder, amputation, and illustrates the most despicable abilities of a people in the heart of a 'civil' war. Anything but Civil, you might read things in here that you could never have imagined in your worst nightmare. Altogether an enlightening read, my heart really felt for the people of this region that still to this day suffer from these atrocious acts of violence.
March 21, 2011
Having befriended a Congolese woman who rides my bus, I learned a lot about the Congo, especially the pain and suffering that has gone on there. I am grateful that she and her family can live here in the U.S. and that her children can and are taking advantage of the opportunities that Seattle provides to them. It reminds me how important the peoples who immigrate to the U.S. are to the courage and strength of this country.
January 2, 2011
I met Tchicaya Missamou and Travis Sentell at a Barnes & Noble in Manhattan on vacation in August. Of course, I wanted an autographed copy of the book to read.
A positive story about hope and the American dream. Tchicaya Missamou was a boy soldier in the Congo; his incredible journey leads him to the United States and eventually to becoming a Marine. Tchicaya's story will remind you of the importance of patience, perseverance and persistence.
A positive story about hope and the American dream. Tchicaya Missamou was a boy soldier in the Congo; his incredible journey leads him to the United States and eventually to becoming a Marine. Tchicaya's story will remind you of the importance of patience, perseverance and persistence.
January 18, 2012
Awesome, true story (and sometimes gruesome). The next time, and maybe every time thereafter, I meet someone who moved here from another country, I'll pause and wonder 1. why they came to America, 2. what they might have been going through in their lives to make them want to leave their home country, 3. what they might have gone through to get here, and 4. what it was like for them when they got here, especially if they didn't know English.
September 27, 2010
This story grabbed me and held me captive until I finished it the same day! One second laughing, the other second in disbelief, and jaw dropping, heart wrenching sorrow at what humankind is capable of doing to others and themselves.
I was mostly amazed at the strength a person can have and how one can rise above their environment for the good of humankind.
I was mostly amazed at the strength a person can have and how one can rise above their environment for the good of humankind.
January 2, 2012
Great book. It's great cultural versatility makes it not only interesting, but also educational. His strategic writing style makes the story a suspenseful one, and piece by piece it comes together, like segments from a multi-chronological movie. It does have it's graphic parts, but since this is a non-fiction, it only enriches the story.
October 12, 2011
Awesome, awesome, awesome!! Three thumbs up!! What an awe-inspiring story. Every American should have to read this; especially those who take their freedom for granted!
September 10, 2012
Read this book!
December 31, 2023
This is the personal memoir of Tchicaya Missamou, a Congolese native who became a child solider at the age of eleven. People often do not think about children having to become involved in Civil Wars in various countries, or those that have to work in laborious jobs to help their families or themselves, especially people in the United States and other Western countries. The things that this author endured before he left his homeland were shocking and like something out of a movie. His life once he made it to the United States was also very interesting. This person has certainly lived a LIFE.
I thought this book was really engaging. To be honest, I didn't expect a lot from it. I had bought it used and it was in the miscellaneous military history section, but I think I would not have shelved it that way if I would have been in charge of the shelving. At any rate, it was a good book to finish off the 2023 Reading Challenge year with.
I thought this book was really engaging. To be honest, I didn't expect a lot from it. I had bought it used and it was in the miscellaneous military history section, but I think I would not have shelved it that way if I would have been in charge of the shelving. At any rate, it was a good book to finish off the 2023 Reading Challenge year with.
September 26, 2017
An intense read that is well worth anyone's time.
February 15, 2015
4.5/5- To date, this is one of the best memoirs I have read.
Tchicaya Missamou was born in the Republic of Congo; this book chronicles his journey from childhood, through civil war outbreaks, escape to the US Marines, and his eventual homecoming visit. From the beginning, the author's account of childhood is so different from what we have all grown up accustomed to- Missamou recounts things that I never would have considered, such as never wearing shoes, and the first time eating cake. Missamou is eventually moved from his rural childhood community and taken to live with his father in the city. His father, who is a respected police/military officer, has decided that his son will follow in his footsteps- from there, the events turn to bootcamp in the Congo, which sounds thoroughly unenjoyable.
Luckily, this training has prepared Missamou for the civil war that breaks out. Unprepared, wealthy European ex-pats are stranded in war zones, or have had to leave their valuables behind. Through a wealthy neighbour, Missamou is put in contact with these expats and is able to make a great deal of money moving these items. As a result, he becomes a target and must flee his country, eventually settling in the US and becoming a marine.
This account is truly moving. Although I have read accounts on similar subject matter, what makes this book stand out is the detail that the author provides. Often times I have read memoirs on similar conflicts that gloss over important events for the sake of the reader, and therefore the events feel disconnected. Make no mistake, this is not an easy read; the author describes brutal events in painstaking detail- nothing is left out. Through this, I gained far more knowledge about events in this country, and was better able understands the horror of this conflict.
The only slightly disappointing thing about this book that I would change is the end. While the actual memoir ended at exactly the right moment, I really wish the epilogue had been another chapter, as opposed to just a few sentences. The book contains pictures of the author's wife and family and life after Congo, and a quick epilogue would have brought it all together. After being so moved by the author's story, it feels a bit brief and slightly unfinished as is.
Tchicaya Missamou was born in the Republic of Congo; this book chronicles his journey from childhood, through civil war outbreaks, escape to the US Marines, and his eventual homecoming visit. From the beginning, the author's account of childhood is so different from what we have all grown up accustomed to- Missamou recounts things that I never would have considered, such as never wearing shoes, and the first time eating cake. Missamou is eventually moved from his rural childhood community and taken to live with his father in the city. His father, who is a respected police/military officer, has decided that his son will follow in his footsteps- from there, the events turn to bootcamp in the Congo, which sounds thoroughly unenjoyable.
Luckily, this training has prepared Missamou for the civil war that breaks out. Unprepared, wealthy European ex-pats are stranded in war zones, or have had to leave their valuables behind. Through a wealthy neighbour, Missamou is put in contact with these expats and is able to make a great deal of money moving these items. As a result, he becomes a target and must flee his country, eventually settling in the US and becoming a marine.
This account is truly moving. Although I have read accounts on similar subject matter, what makes this book stand out is the detail that the author provides. Often times I have read memoirs on similar conflicts that gloss over important events for the sake of the reader, and therefore the events feel disconnected. Make no mistake, this is not an easy read; the author describes brutal events in painstaking detail- nothing is left out. Through this, I gained far more knowledge about events in this country, and was better able understands the horror of this conflict.
The only slightly disappointing thing about this book that I would change is the end. While the actual memoir ended at exactly the right moment, I really wish the epilogue had been another chapter, as opposed to just a few sentences. The book contains pictures of the author's wife and family and life after Congo, and a quick epilogue would have brought it all together. After being so moved by the author's story, it feels a bit brief and slightly unfinished as is.
October 24, 2010
The author is a personal friend of mine out here in Santa Clarita , California, where he owns and operates "Warrior Fitness Camp" at http://thewarriorfitness.com/. His workout routines are often based on the creative routines that he used growing up in the French Congo. I am currently reading this book on my macintosh computer using the Amazon Kindle program. It is a page turner, especially for someone who has known Tchicaya as a personal friend. I am literally speechless as I read some of the incredible tales that flow from this book. As an Immigration and Military/Veteran's (and Marine Corps Veteran myself) Attorney, I can tell you that Tchicaya embodies everything that I hope a legal Immigrant to this country is, and becomes. His story is utterly inspiring, and uplifting, and the fact that it is true, should compel this story to be made into a World Class movie. I wish all of you who read this book could know Tchicaya personally as I have known him. He is even more remarkable in person than he appears in his Book.
Semper Fidelis Tchicaya,
Lance Gallardo
Captain US Marines (Hon Disc. 1992)
Semper Fidelis Tchicaya,
Lance Gallardo
Captain US Marines (Hon Disc. 1992)
September 18, 2016
This book has two stories: Tchicaya's life in the Congo and subsequent escape to Europe then to the USA, and the story of his return to Congo and immediate arrest. We read a few chapters concerning the first story, then jump to a few chapters of his return... then back to the early days, then back to the present time. I found this very difficult to keep track. Other than that complaint, this was an uplifting read, and an easy story. Sadly, it contains graphic descriptions of war, rape, pillage, dead bodies... the side effects of warring tribes in the Congo. I believe the pointed descriptions were necessary in order to properly demonstrate the horrors of civil war and genocide in the Congo. They gave me a deeper appreciation for the horrors seen by soldiers the world over.
Apparently this is a true story. If so, this man is to be commended for his courage, strong ethics and values, and love of country (both Congo and USA). It must be terrible to go home and see your mother, only to be arrested hours after arriving - and only because the people in power resent your own success.
Apparently this is a true story. If so, this man is to be commended for his courage, strong ethics and values, and love of country (both Congo and USA). It must be terrible to go home and see your mother, only to be arrested hours after arriving - and only because the people in power resent your own success.
June 29, 2011
What could have been a difficult read turned out to be simple yet engrossing and entertaining.
Tchicaya showed us a much different life in Africa than exists in American. They have a rich culture and long history. They also have periods of unrest and warfare. Tchicaya chronicles his life from a young boy living in a village in the African jungle...to city life...to young love... to military training...to business ownership...and to his quest for survival.
For me, the most interesting part of the book was watching Tchicaya defy all the odds just to survive and then to make a better life for himself. He never lost faith and always maintained a positive attitude. He seemed to have an amazing strength of character but I wondered if certain struggles were left out of this book.
Too bad there won't be a book 2.
Tchicaya showed us a much different life in Africa than exists in American. They have a rich culture and long history. They also have periods of unrest and warfare. Tchicaya chronicles his life from a young boy living in a village in the African jungle...to city life...to young love... to military training...to business ownership...and to his quest for survival.
For me, the most interesting part of the book was watching Tchicaya defy all the odds just to survive and then to make a better life for himself. He never lost faith and always maintained a positive attitude. He seemed to have an amazing strength of character but I wondered if certain struggles were left out of this book.
Too bad there won't be a book 2.
October 12, 2010
so this has nothing to do with the book but i was at work a couple of weeks ago and some dude was kind of mackin, kind of spittin game and he asked me what i was reading lately. i told him i'd just finished this book about a congolese kid who escapes from africa and joins the US marines. He was all like "oh that's real interesting. i'd like to read that" and i said "oh cool. well my copy was an advance reader copy so" and he cuts me off with "I KNOW HOW TO READ!" and i was going to FINISH with "...so i don't know if it's been published yet...." but he got all mad and stormed away. awesome.
January 31, 2021
"One of the militiamen took out his machete as he thrust into Aunt Julice and stabbed her thigh, dragging the blade toward himself. He was going to cut off her leg- a traditional method of female mutilation after sexual assault."
The word “traditional” here has always struck me as a more important reminder of certain realities than the individual act of the sexual mutilation is. There is a cultural tradition not only of rape, but of the mutilation of the victim while they are being raped. This is an action that has been so widespread as to become recognizable as a tradition in the Congo.
The word “traditional” here has always struck me as a more important reminder of certain realities than the individual act of the sexual mutilation is. There is a cultural tradition not only of rape, but of the mutilation of the victim while they are being raped. This is an action that has been so widespread as to become recognizable as a tradition in the Congo.
July 22, 2014
This really was a good read. It was a little slow at first, but then I got sucked into this man's amazing life story. He witnessed some horrible things as a child solider in the Congo. His escape from the Congo to America was also amazing. He never gave up and really helped me realize once again how blessed I am to live in America.
May 29, 2018
This has to be up there among the best books I have ever read. Tchicaya Missamou rise to prominence tells of the battle of what African children who come from war torn countries have to endure, go through to finally find comfort and live in a peaceful society. With all the challenges he faced, he had hope and faith to keep going and fight for survival in the face of adversity.
March 3, 2014
The fact that this was a true story it was terrifying reading this novel. But it completely opened my eyes to seeing the terrifying things that are so blindly happening all around the world.
I recommend everyone to read this book. Such a great story of an incredibly brave man.
I recommend everyone to read this book. Such a great story of an incredibly brave man.
November 22, 2010
An amazing story; this guy is a stud.
Simple and enjoyable read.
Simple and enjoyable read.
Want to read
June 15, 2013Travis is an alum of the school where I teach. I was an advisor for his senior project on astral projection.
December 27, 2013
What an awesome book...horrifying and uplifting.....
June 25, 2011
A testament to the human spirit and what it means to be free.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews