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One Of Them |
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One man’s true story of dedicated loyalty to his country and the neglect by his government |
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Reviews |
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“With unflinching honesty, this troubling memoir depicts a case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder tragically ignored by the US government. After serving in the Navy, Centore joined the DOE to direct a team charged with investigating possible incidents of [radiation] contamination. During the months following 9/11, Centore worked at Ground Zero, searching the wreckage for radioactive materials. Upon being diagnosed with PTSD, the government accused him of going AWOL and milking the system with illegitimate claims about his health. In the final stages of giving this account, the author became so ill that he had to turn narrative duties over to his wife, Sue. The dual narration gives the memoir a stunning immediacy. The forceful subject matter compels all on its own. Flashing back to his hardscrabble childhood in Havelock, N.C., Centore investigates the dynamics of a family devoted to the military, including a father and stepfather, both Marines. Time spent on a nuclear submarine during the waning years of the Cold War instilled in the author a devoted, diligent work ethic. When Centore found himself abandoned by his country, he had to reinvent his life; the dedicated, stoic patriot became a passionate, rebellious crusader. This transformation, vividly rendered, forms the dynamic heart of the book. Details about Navy racism, government bureaucracy and the mechanics of an underwater vessel serve as fascinating extras. An important story that deserves to be heard.” —Kirkus Discoveries
“Immediately after 9/11, America embraced the heroism, daring, and caring of everyone involved in the rescue and recovery at ground zero. Clearly, those efforts embodied all that is best about America. Now, many people like Steve Centore, having served their country honorably, are being betrayed and forgotten by our government. As a Vietnam Veteran, I watched as another generation turned its back on the gallant men and women who suffered the horrors of poisons like Agent Orange and the medical and emotional trauma of war. Well, it's happened again. But today, by shouting the truth, patriots like Steve Centore are fighting a new war on the home front to preserve America's values and prevent the politicians and media from abandoning their commitment to our newest generation of heroes. -- John Ketwig (author of “...and a hard rain fell: A G.I.'s True Story of the Vietnam War”)
“Steve Centore is that noblest of citizens: the honest witness. After a career of quiet public service, his greatest act of public service is to not be quiet at all, exposing how the government covered up the deadly health consequences of working at Ground Zero in the months following the 9/11 attack. Centore has endured life threatening ostracization for speaking out but this book and his heroism in writing it will outlive the wretched shame it illuminates.” |
