"War Changed Me"

by Neville Johnson

War changed me. 

That person departed into that cold night and over the years evolved into someone new.

The whole experience distorted me, the fear, the belonging, the bitter sweet taste of war.

War taught me to be more thoughtful, grateful and to appreciate the things in life we take for granted.

War showed me the bond of brotherhood, that connection between the soldiers.

No longer the quiet, shy fat kid. More confident, proud and grateful.

A changed person with a story behind those eyes.

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Neville Johnson is a UK veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. Follow him here. Listen to the Savage Wonder podcast episode with him here.

Sweeping Leaves in the Wind, Good Soldiers Don’t Cry, and Alone in a Crowded Room by the Veterans Collective, featuring selections from Neville Johnson.

In Love…&War: The Anthology of Poet Warriors by Dead Reckoning Collective, featuring selections from Neville Johnson.

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This week on the Savage Wonder podcast…

This is one of those conversations I won't forget easily. I spoke the unbelievably honest, vulnerable and thoughtful Leilani Squire about her childhood as a Navy brat during the Korean War, her deep dive into nefarious activities during her early adulthood, her iron-willed classical dance training, and, ultimately, her highly disciplined and inspiring writing career as a poet and playwright.

Leilani is the winner of our inaugural 10-minute playwriting competition. About her play 15 DEAD SOULS, the judges said it was “poetic, touching, powerfully written.  Earnest — which is good — but also not sentimental.  Haunting and affecting.”

Leilani Squire is a writer, certified creativity coach, and works with active duty, veterans and their families to help them tell their stories through the written word. She is founder and CEO of the nonprofit Returning Soldiers Speak and an associate member of EST/LA where she is also part of their playwrighting unit.

Follow her here.