A book by photographer Beau Simmons and Army Rangers Dan Blakeley and Tom Amenta speaks volumes about “the courage, selflessness, creativity, and resilience of those who served with enormous distinction over the past 20 years.”
The Twenty-Year War by photographer Beau Simmons and Army Rangers Dan Blakely and Tom Amenta passes serious military muster for its authenticity and keen observation. Former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus (U.S. Army, Ret) declared, “The stories in The Twenty-Year War speak volumes about the courage, selflessness, creativity, and resilience of those who served with enormous distinction over the past 20 years. All Americans should read this book; those who do will conclude, as I have, that the people who raised their right hands and took an oath of service to our country in the years after the 9/11 attacks surely are America’s new Greatest Generation.”
And Four-Star Gen. (Ret) Doug Brown said it might be “the most important book about America’s longest war. It is so much more than a photo book. There are plenty of important war stories, but this is deeply personal, told by those who approached the war from a variety of viewpoints and duty positions and then transitioned to civilian life to be our newest Greatest Generation. From the bomber pilot high above the battlefield to the Green Beret on the ground, the men and women serving on active duty, reserve, or National Guard tell their stories ... the stories of the veterans of our longest war. The photographs are amazing and bring the stories to life. If there is one book that provides an explanation of the personal side of modern warfare, it is The Twenty-Year War photo book.”
We talked to photographer Beau Simmons (pictured) about working on The Twenty-Year War, memorable veteran stories, and future plans.
C&I: You talked to a lot of people for this book. What were a couple of the real standout experiences for you in photographing them?
Beau Simmons: First, each veteran had their own story, and I never ran into the same situation twice out of the 71 veterans interviewed for our book. Second, almost every veteran I spoke to had a difficult time with transitioning back to the civilian world. We don’t discuss this much in our society, but it is a problem most veterans face when they have to hang up the uniform. They lose their sense of purpose until finding out how to regain it in the civilian workforce.
C&I: What surprised you most about getting to know and photograph these veterans?
Simmons: I was programmed as a civilian to believe that most veterans were suffering from PTSD or had other combat-related anxiety. However, I didn’t realize the stigma behind it and just how wrong these men and women have been portrayed throughout Hollywood, TV, and social media. Each one of these veterans I spoke with were leaders in their community. Some of them started up very successful businesses; others currently serve through various veteran organizations, etc. They are people just like you and me and have a story worth sharing.
C&I: What do you hope people take away from the book?
Simmons: I hope people who pick up our book realize that there doesn’t need to be division within the civilian and veteran communities. I think as civilians we try to tread lightly with certain conversations or what we should talk about in general when it comes to veterans. Through each of these stories I can guarantee someone will share a connection or relate to their message. This book is meant to share the success stories and highlight veteran transition, to inspire us as human beings and find a way to connect more with the men and women who served this country. It is a book for everyone to have at home on their coffee table.
C&I: Any plans for the future for this subject?
Simmons: As authors of The Twenty-Year War, we have many ideas on how we can continue to highlight veteran stories, including future books, films, and museum exhibitions. Proceeds of each book sale go to support our partnered veteran organizations and help directly impact veterans. Each book ordered directly through our website—twentyyearwar.com— allows us to continue our mission in supporting veterans.
Read about some of the stories highlighted in The Twenty-Year War here.
The Twenty-Year War by Dan Blakeley, Tom Amenta, and Beau Simmons is available for purchase at twentyyearwar.com. Proceeds from the sale of each book go to support veteran organizations. Read our feature story on the book and excerpted veteran profiles in the February/March 2023 issue of Cowboys & Indians.
