F. Scott Service extends an open invitation to enter the mind of a soldier at war. “Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier’s Journey in Iraq” is based on journal entries made during the author’s service in Iraq. It offers a unique and very intimate look at the thoughts and emotions provoked by a world that is falling apart.
The memoir began when F. Scott Service deployed with the US Army in the Iraq War. He was stationed at Camp Anaconda, where he served as a hydraulic mechanic specialist, focusing primarily on helicopter repair. At camp, all daily activities are strictly regulated by the highest power in the US Army. The few days off that soldiers enjoy offer a very limited taste of freedom. However, at the same time, he followed his vocation and passion as a writer, tirelessly documenting the daily life of a soldier.
A recurring theme of the book is the concept of conscientious objector and its repercussions. Scott is faced with these questions once at the beginning of his story and once towards the end. Each time the answer would be a major turning point for future events. However, what is really intriguing to follow is what happens in the meantime; how his war experience solidifies his theories and belief system. During his deployment, the F. Scott Service faced an internal war of its own. He tirelessly tried to reason with the seemingly irrational Iraq war, hoping to attribute some meaning to the utter chaos.
As the world seemingly fell apart around her, the life she knew was falling apart. The life she built over the years with her soul mate, Rita, began to show cracks that shook the entire fabric of the marriage. A previously solid structure was now dissolving somewhere in the geographical distance between the spouses, but also the ever-increasing distance between her souls. Two beings who lived in symbiosis for so long, faced two very different realities that lived alone.
Finally, “Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier’s Journey in Iraq” also sheds light on the many difficulties veterans face. Reintegration into civilian life is a real struggle. The shadow of war is long and those who participated in it rarely come out of it. The only thing left to do is learn to live with it, to somehow integrate the experience and find the light where possible.
