About the Author

Mona Johnson is a retired US Army lieutenant colonel. She is believed to be the first Arab Muslim-immigrant woman to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Johnson and her family were exiled to Saudi Arabia before immigrating to the US in 1960. Acquiescing to marriage to a Muslim man at a young age, she endured years of mental and physical abuse before escaping with her two daughters. She began her career with the US Army as a single parent before marrying again. Johnson wrote her memoir to share her stance on what it means to be American, emphasizing that ethnicity, race, culture, and religion cannot and should never be painted with a single brushstroke. Her memoir is presented as a quintessential 'all American story' of the second half of the 20th century - from an entirely different perspective. Learn more about Mona at MonaJohnsonAuthor.com

Reviews

Johnson's eloquent portrayal of her experiences from childhood to adulthood are gripping in their stark realities. From the prologue to the last page, she shares the hopes she and her family had coming to America for a better life. There is an eloquence in her retelling her tale. Most likely too many women will relate to her challenges.
-Emil Toth, Author of Love's Transformation, Love's Sacrifice, Love's Wisdom & Seven Souls on a Cross
What an impressive, heartrending and inspiring story of struggle, endurance and overcoming adversity.
- Dr. Ronald R. Blanck, Lieutenant General, US Army (Retired), Former Army Surgeon General
A very compelling story that could have been a tragedy except for the courage, intellect, and self-awareness of an Arab girl who transformed herself into an American success as a woman, nurse, and Army officer.
-Nancy R. Adams RN, MSN, FAAN Major General US Army (Retired), 19th Chief, Army Nurse Corps
Mona's determination to overcome the trauma she endured as a child from a mother who did not know how to love her and the physical, emotional and financial abuses suffered as a young wife kept drawing me back to her story. Her belief in love and knowing love was the right focus of her life demonstrated her innate ability to persist and thrive. An emotionally difficult read that offers hope.
- Gale S. Pollock, CRNA, FACHE, FAAN, Major General, US Army (Retired), Elevivo LLC, Pollock Associates, LLC