​War and Chaos: Volume 1 Stories of the Stars

People are the casualties of war. It is a human tendency to become desensitized in order to survive its consequences. This book awakens our consciousness of war’s effects and provides a platform on which to make future decisions - Is war the only answer?

You will hear the story of E.J. “Casey” Jones. Casey was the uncle that, because of war, the author never had the opportunity to know. Nevertheless, Casey’s story impacted his life. More significantly, the account of his life traumatized the lives of the author's mother, his parents, and his wife and son. In describing Casey’s journey, you will learn about those in the 329th Infantry Regiment who served with him. You will also hear the voices of others who have served, their families and friends, and civilians who endured the hardships of war.
​
These accounts reveal the psychological and physical realities of war. War is unique because of the magnitude of the losses and the deliberate intent to kill and injure using weaponry designed for the sole purpose of mass slaughter. Those traumatic realities have been endured by millions of families worldwide. The sum total of military personnel and civilians killed or wounded in wars is staggering.
Oftentimes, the stress and anxiety for “Blue Star Families,” the American families who have members serving in the military, as well as those with loved ones serving worldwide, is unrelenting. For “Gold Star Families,” those who have had relatives killed while serving, the pain of loss is immeasurable.
​​
The goals of this book and future books in this series are that the spirit of the stories will increase people’s awareness of the realities of what our military forces and their families endure, and in doing so, will provide some consolation to the families who have suffered losses from war. Second, that our society will come to view war as an action to be taken only when absolutely necessary.

Always at the Edge of Death: Volume 2 Stories of the Stars

Always at the Edge of Death - The Life of a Coal Miner is the gripping narrative of how coal miners and their families handle danger, detonation, and death. Facing arduous labor in hazardous conditions, avaricious owners, and official indifference, coal miners have developed a culture of toughness, courage, and resilience.

Roger Braden brings their struggles to life with gritty personal stories of human suffering and heroism under the harrowing conditions of mining coal. Emotional narratives of widows, relatives, and friends capture the depth of tragedy suffered when mines collapse or explode. With scant legislative protection and often antiquated methods, coal miners and their families endure methane explosions, corrupt inspectors, and devastating injuries.
​
Always at the Edge of Death chronicles catastrophes in Kentucky and neighboring states and present historical context for unionization and legislative responses to deficient safety regulation. Depending on mining for their livelihoods, miners bravely do their jobs always at the edge of death.