Once a Warrior

How One Veteran Found a New Mission Closer to Home

By: Jake Wood

Narrated by: Jake Wood

"The book that America needs right now."
--Tom Brokaw, journalist and author of The Greatest Generation

"Jake Wood offers one of the most soaring definitions of service I've ever seen."
--Maria Shriver, award-winning journalist and author of I've Been Thinking

From Marine sniper Jake Wood, a riveting memoir of leading over 100,000 veterans to a life of renewed service, volunteering to battle, hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, pandemics, and civil wars, and inspiring onlookers as their unique military training saved lives and rebuilt our country.

When Jake Wood arrived in the States after two grueling tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he watched his unit lose more men to suicide than to enemy hands overseas. Reeling, Jake looked for a way to direct their restlessness towards a new mission--and put their formidable skills to good use. When an earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, Jake had his answer. He convinced several fellow veterans to join him on a ragtag mission to provide desperately needed aid. Despite the high stakes, they were able to untangle complex problems quickly and keep calm under pressure.

In this raw, adrenaline-filled narrative, Jake recounts, how, over the past 10 years, he's built the disaster response organization Team Rubicon, and seen the work provide a lifeline back to purpose for the heroes among us. Not only do these intrepid volunteers race against the clock to aid communities after Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Harvey, COVID-19, and hundreds of other disasters; they also fight for something just as important--each other.

Once a Warrior provides a soaring look at what our veterans are capable of--and what might become of America's next greatest generation.

Wonderfully inspirational

Very impressive tale of a man just trying to be a good human and patriot, in his own words. Inspiring and a message of service to community. Great people doing great things.

Wonderful

Highly recommend this book. It is so wonderful. I cried and laughed, I had not heard of Team Rubicon and will make it on my list of gifts.

Riveting

This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. Intensity and empathy through out. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend.

Inspirational and real!

I loved some stories in this book, and I hated some. At the end, my chest swelled, my eyes watered, and my heart was full and overflowing with inspiration!

Absolutely Brilliant!

It was hard to take a break from this book. It’s a captivating look at the inside perspective of the US soldier during battle. Additionally it really clued me in on the generosity and importance of Team Rubicon. I highly recommend this to anyone!