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Joys of War: From the Foreign Legion, the SAS and into Hell with PTSD Kindle Edition
In war, John-Paul Jordan was the first to batter down the door, whether he was facing bullets or bombs. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the young Irishman set off to join the French Foreign Legion. He would go on to provide security in Iraq, serve his country in Afghanistan, and protect journalists on the front line in Libya. He was decorated for his leadership and bravery—but his biggest fight would come after he left the battlefield.
In this memoir he recounts the camaraderie, action, and danger he experienced—and how he later found himself of prisoner of war to PTSD. Dehumanized by the professionals he turned to for help, this Special Forces veteran and former Legionnaire was brought to his knees. His marriage was over; his home was lost. In isolation, his world unraveled, and the seeds of destruction had been well and truly sown.
Knowing he would never see military action again and faced with the realization of the war raging within him in the spiral of PTSD, John-Paul felt condemned as a man. But, on April 1, 2016, he surrendered. He asked for help . . . and found the answers within. His story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit: to get back up and to lead from the front. He did not go through all that just to go through all that. This is the story of his return to freedom and joy. Buckle up, because this veteran doesn’t do anything in half measures.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPen & Sword Military
- Publication dateOctober 30, 2018
- File size8.6 MB
Editorial Reviews
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About the Author
His personal injuries from war took their toll with the effects of physical injury and non-visible injuries, PTSD. As part of his own recovery, he wrote about his experience to share his story with others and liberate himself from the stigma of PTSD and mental health issues – or what he terms non-visible injuries…because that’s what they are: an injury to be treated like any other.
John-Paul’s mission is to help veterans and non-veterans alike to find their way to freedom. To start the conversation. Remove the stigma and live in the solution not the problem. More recently he has been working closely with the charity Mind, including advising on the set of a national television programme, sharing his experiences of injuries from war.
Product details
- ASIN : B07K41ZNW7
- Publisher : Pen & Sword Military (October 30, 2018)
- Publication date : October 30, 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 8.6 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 148 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,324,567 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #134 in Jordan History
- #240 in Biographies of the Afghan War
- #347 in Biographies of the Iraq War
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Irishman John-Paul Jordan is a former Legionnaire with the French Foreign Legion and ex-Special Forces in the British armed forces. He worked as a security contractor in Iraq before joining the British armed forces and served in operations in Afghanistan, culminating in being awarded for his actions in combat.
Following his military service, he worked for international media organisations in war zones. John-Paul also played a significant role in investigating the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2012.
John-Paul’s role was also to clandestinely move journalists in and out of some of the world’s most dangerous hotspots, before moving on to hunt for gold in Afghanistan and train local forces. He was also part of the disaster -relief work on the ground in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
He works on behalf of various charities, including Mind. John-Paul continues as a media consultant in various roles. Now with two books published "Joys of War" and his self-help book "How to Stop Taking Drugs in 30 days".
With a wealth of experience and creativity, John-Paul is passionate about making a difference to those that may be going through what he experienced on his journey.
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2019“Joys of War” offers a rare look into the world of the modern soldiers’ world form the training through the fighting to the return to civilian life and the mental battles that always accompany the reentry into society. This story covers John-Paul Jordan’s work as a uniformed soldier and his subsequent work as a contractor, a route that many modern soldiers prefer to take – some for the money and others who can’t let go.
When barely in his twenties, Irishman Jordan volunteered for the French Foreign Legion of Beau Geste fame and, after enduring that grueling, violent training regimen, promptly deserted – for no apparent reason – only to turn around again and join the SAS (Special Air Service), in Great Britain. Deployed to Afghanistan, Jordan was decorated for his heroics under fire but the specifics are redacted, m8uch to the readers’ dismay. The author also worked security jobs in Iraq, with journalists in Libya and looked for gold in Afghanistan, the bulk of the story taking place between 2002 and 2011.
This book is relatively easy reading (jargon included) with a fast moving narrative, effectively informing the reader about what goes on in today's military world.
Recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2018This is a book that all Americans should read, as it is raw and honest about the struggles many of our military face with PTSD. Our servicepeople give up so much for our freedom that we owe it to them to provide the tools necessary to make a smooth transition back to life as a civilian after the witnessing the horrors of war.
Top reviews from other countries
- SBReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the read!
I really enjoyed this book, although be advised (no spoilers) that the Foreign Legion element is rather sparse. The author is a really great character with a great sense of humour and tells a great story. Well worth the read!
- sefussReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2019
4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book
Good book lots of tales about the war in the Middle East, there wasn't enough tales about the foreign legion I would of liked to of read more about that
The final chapters explain how he got through the stress & depression whilst also coming off the drugs & booze - he also offers advice on how you too can get out of depression, out of all the books I've read from soldiers suffering with PTSD there seems to be a common factor of getting off the medication and getting out there into nature, get fit, eat well etc, makes you wonder if the medical experts actually offer this treatment or just prescribe tablets to get you out the door.
All in all this is a good read and a book you could easily get through in a week or so if reading after work as I did
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Raw and and honest story
Very different twist to first person “military” story compared to hundreds of other similar sort of publications. Giving extended raw and relatable personal account of PTSD and addiction which is usually almost universally relegated to 1-2 pages only in most of other books. This subject in this context and in similar way in civilian context is almost criminally neglected by society, professionals and government. If the true total cost of war would be well known and converted into monetary value then maybe we would have much less inclination to enter small and large scale conflicts. Lifelong well funded mental and physical illness/injury support for returning soldiers would make it prohibitively costly.
- Apollo userReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars Good but familiar
Similar to other books written about Afghanistan , most interesting part was the last few chapters where he spoke about ptsd.
- BookWorm HelenReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought as a Christmas present but I ended up reading it myself
An incredible story, not one I'd usually pick up to be honest, but I bought it for my parents as a gift and got sucked in from the first couple of pages, ended up not being able to put it down and read it in about four evenings. I have no experience of war, or fighting, or being in the forces, and this really did open my eyes to the harsh reality, but more than that, the author is positive and writes with Irish humour - I can only imagine these personality traits allowed him to face the daily battles on and off the battlefield and get him to where he is now on civvy street. Highly recommended.