On February 19, 2007, SSG Shilo Harris was patrolling an
infamous southern Iraqi roadway when his Humvee was struck by an
IED. Moments later, three members of his crew were dead and Shilo
had sustained severe burns over 35 percent of his body, lost his
ears and the skin off his face, and lost much of the use of his
badly mangled fingers. This fiery moment was just the beginning of
an arduous road laced with pain, emotional anguish, and much
soul-searching. For forty-eight days Shilo lay trapped in a
medically induced coma as his wife, unable to ease his suffering,
had to come to grips with a man utterly changed.
This is the story of a young boy raised in a small Texas town under
the heavy yoke of a father struggling with the personal aftermath
of his service in Vietnam. This is the story of the first human
being to participate in extracellular stem cell regeneration to
regrow lost body parts. This is the story of the survivor not only
of an explosion but of more than sixty surgeries to restore both
form and function to his broken body. This is the story of the wife
who stood by his side, made hard decisions, and continues to
support her husband through his struggles with PTSD.
This is the story of a God who reshapes us into the people he wants
us to be. And in that way, this is the story of all of us.
Anyone whose life has been touched by tragedy and loss, especially
military families dealing with PTSD, TBI, amputations, and other
realities of wartime service, will find strength, encouragement,
and inspiration in this moving memoir.
"Staff Sergeant Harris has made a choice not embraced by
veterans of wars past to talk and talk and talk about what he's
experienced--a soldier turned messenger. He leaves crowds
standing at attention, as he honors his friends
who have fallen."--August Skamenca, reporter, CBS
News
"In Steel Will, we see what happens to an ordinary man in
extraordinary circumstances. We see what happens when an ordinary
man rises above a bleak prognosis, when an ordinary family
surrounds their hero with love and hopefulness, and when an
extraordinary, miracle-working God places his hands on the one he
loves."--SFC Leroy Petry, United States Army Medal of Honor
recipient
"This book should be required reading for every American,
especially our youth. Shilo Harris is a true patriot and an
American hero. This book embodies the essential spirit of America
by reminding us that being a hero isn't always judged by your
accomplishments. It is often judged by your sacrifice so others can
have their accomplishments under a blanket of freedom."--Ric
Savage, former professional wrestler and television host
"SSG Shilo Harris, in his writing, has exposed his soul like no
other author. His life is open and raw, revealing his unwavering
faith, his clear understanding of the risks of war and its
heartbreaking impact on all those who are touched by it. Steel
Will is a book that will emotionally rip you apart but will
have you cheering at the end."--Fred Gregory, Air Force
Vietnam vet, astronaut, NASA Deputy Administrator
"I thought my story was tough. But reading Steel Will put me
in the fire, in the coma, and on the rocky road to recovery. When
the last page was turned, I felt honored to know the man of
Steel Will, Shilo Harris."--SFC US Army (Ret) Dana
Bowman, HALO for Freedom Warrior Foundation
Shilo Harris enlisted in the US Army after 9/11. On his
second deployment, he sustained catastrophic injuries when his
vehicle was struck by an IED. Harris spent nearly three years in
the burn unit of Brooke Army Medical Center. Harris retired from
the military in 2010 and is now a motivational speaker, urging
audiences to welcome veterans and wounded warriors home with open
arms and open minds. He and his family were featured on ABC's
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on December 11, 2012. They
live in Texas.
Robin Overby Cox is a career educator and librarian. Born in
Augsburg, Germany, as an Army brat, she collaborated with Shilo in
order to call communities to action on behalf of veterans. She
graduated with honors from Florida State University and the
University of South Florida. She calls Texas home and has five
children and six grandchildren.