When an author decides to write a book, he or she is hopeful that the subject matter has an impact on others. For Alice Gallop West, former Fort Knox chaplain's assistant and retired Department of the Army civilian, being a co-author in a book was personal because she was telling the story of women who were no longer the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
According to an amazon.com synopsis of the book, in "Camouflaged Sisters: Silent No More," 12 women strip away all comfort and protection to share the struggles they've faced, not on the battlefield, but instead in places they never expected--in their homes, in their barracks, amongst friends. These are the stories of sexual trauma, domestic violence, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many other dangerous challenges women in the military fight every day.
Gallop West said this book gives a voice to the warrior who has suffered in silence, the Soldier who has been plagued by pain, and the woman who will no longer stand for injustice but will rise up as a victor and speak her truth.
"Our stories are important," explained Gallop West said about her involvement with Lisa Holley, the visionary for 'Camouflaged Sisters.' "It's not just a brand--it's a movement. She and I used to work together when she was on active duty."
Holley told Gallop West about some projects she had been working on and that she wanted Gallop West to be involved.
"Camouflaged Sisters Silent No More" talks about military sexual trauma, grief, loss, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Gallop West added that writing about their stories became cathartic for the women.
"These are our stories," she said. "It's raw --it's emotional. It's definitely healing, it's healthy. Nobody is bashing the military. Lila is a (retired) chief warrant officer 4 who (served) over 20 years in the military. She's not demeaning the military; that's not what he book is about. It's about hope, healing and understanding the struggles, not about what African-American women face but women in general face."
Gallop West added that all of the women who had a story in the book continue to serve in the military. She also said the book is revealing and transparent--things that some people might not expect a book about the military experience to be. One of the best things that can be said about the book is the realness of the stories, Gallop West said.
For Gallop West being one of the authors in the book was an extension of her job when she was in uniform and as a DA civilian. After transitioning from the military Gallop West was a stay at home mom before working as the first informational and referral specialist at Fort Knox's Army Community Service. After working at U.S. Army Cadet Command in Fort Monroe, Virginia, for one year, Gallop West returned to Fort Knox as the victim-witness coordinator for the Personnel Control Facility. The PCF closed in November 2013. She managed victim-witness sex offender registration.
"That's a powerful field to work in, especially on the post-trial side," explained Gallop West. "You deal with hundreds and hundreds of victims all across the globe. The crimes range from the petty larcenies to the rapes and sexual assaults."
Gallop West's passion for working with victims in the military justice system helped with having her story being told in the book. She was able to use her experience as a victim advocate to help others through her story.
Although each woman in the book had similar yet different stories, Gallop West said the book brought them together. She said that leading up to the project being released, the ladies would have biweekly phone conferences.
"It was really awesome how we connected," she said. "One of the stories is about one of our Camouflaged Sisters who was involved in an accident during the first Gulf War and she lost her battle buddy in a vehicular accident."
The stories in "Camouflaged Sisters Silent No More" are also about empowerment and helping others.
"Camouflaged Sisters Silent No More" received an Indie Author Legacy Awards nomination. The ceremony will be held Saturday in Baltimore. The Indie Author Legacy Awards is the only of its kind, honoring modern impact-centered writers, who serve as unsung heroes within communities, according to indieauthorslegacy awards.com. The event is designed to specifically celebrate nonfiction literacy geared toward the promotion of social awareness, education and personal transformation.
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