War Torn: My World in Conflict

John Ball's road to self-discovery took a dangerous turn when he was recruited to serve in a top secret squadron in Thailand during the Vietnam War. In his memoir, War Torn, Ball recalls his time as a young naval officer and pilot, when he chose to create his own path in light of the social and political challenges facing America in the 1960s. In his personal history, Ball tackles important philosophical questions he has faced throughout his life. He writes about his upbringing in San Diego, his lifelong interest in flying, his love of running, his family relationships, his undergraduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, his service as a Navy pilot, and his Parkinson's disease diagnosis at age thirty-nine. With photos included, War Torn shares the life Ball lived against the backdrop of a drawn-out war in a distant part of the world. He explores how living through any war can be a life-altering and educational experience. Ball explains the lessons that he believes Americans should have learned from the United States' involvement in Vietnam.