that was constructed for the very purpose of ensuring there would be dedicated participants willing to kill and die for the economic aspirations of the few that have been shrouded by nationalistic propaganda and nonsensical glorification by the many. Each passing day brings Harris closer to this painful truth. RTT: How was Harris affected by the horrific shooting of the ten-year-old farm boy who was unarmed and clearly seeking medical assistance at Firebase Gardez? Joe Holsworth: It was like witnessing a murder. The killing of any person on the battlefield is always sad; it’s a loss of human life. When it is a civilian it’s tragic, and still further, when it’s a child, the consequences are life-changing. The soldiers weren’t prepared to deal with this kind of situation and it was a knee jerk reaction from one soldier that was then immediately followed by many, which is so often the case in these instances. The result is always the same though: politicians argue, big business makes money, soldiers fight, civilians die. RTT: The loss of Browning and Showalter in Tower 2 was a devastating occurrence that seemed to be the catalyst for a very dour tour from that point forward. Was that the low point for Harris? Joseph Holsworth: This is when Harris becomes more isolated and alone than he already was. His best friend and counterpart in the squad is dead and they have all been intimately acquainted with the notion that even paratroopers bleed and die. They lose one of their own, from inside the squad. From that moment on its like death is always waiting for them. It walks with them everywhere and while they can’t see it, they know it’s silently watching to pick out who’s next. RTT: The book describes a tragic and troubling scene involving four 12-14 year-old prepubescent Afghan girls literally stripping naked for MRE’s. It seemed like Harris lost a bit of his humanity at that moment. How did that memory--burned indelibly into his psyche--affect the remainder of his tour and future tours? Joseph Holsworth: This one is hard to write about. It was hard the first time. I have been staring at this question for the last ten minutes with images of that day repeating in my head like a nasty alarm clock. When something like this occurs, the whole world loses a bit of their humanity; Harris just had to watch it happen
RTT: Without spoiling anything for future readers, talk about the impression that Farid the Afghani interpreter had on Harris and what he took away from that relationship. Farid was the face of the Afghan people. In a world where people are forced to choose a side or die, he chose to live. Harris had forged a peculiar bond and friendship with Farid, one certainly not based on mutual respect or concern. The relationship between Harris and Farid is demonstrative of the prevalence of American exceptionalism so many of us possess without our ever acknowledging those prejudices. RTT: It seemed like the only way Valentine kept his sanity was by writing those love letters to his wife. Talk about their relationship. Joseph Holsworth: I think all soldiers in war try to hold onto something to keep them sane… something from before combat from back home; something that’s still good and pure that they can go home to. Too often you hear horror stories of unfaithful wives and cheating girlfriends. I think just like the rest of my book, I wanted to tell the other side of the story. It was a bit of hope in an otherwise hopeless world. RTT: The way Devils ends leaves many questions about the fate of the paratroopers of Firebase Gardez. Might there be a sequel? Joseph Holsworth: I left the ending open so the reader could do what they want with those fates. The sense of emptiness that many feel when reading the ending was the closest thing I could create in reconstructing the feeling when finally leaving the firebase. There will not be a direct sequel to the book, but I promise a loose to close continuation of Harris’ character. I write what I know and what I have lived through. Harris is my characterization of the 21st century infantryman and I will use him as my basis for my protagonist returning from war in my new novel. The battle continues for most soldiers long after they have left country. A new battle has emerged at home. We have lost more soldiers to suicide than enemy fire. And we are still fighting both wars.
Joseph Holsworth’s The Devils of Eden is available at Barnes and Noble and at Amazon.com. Reno Tahoe Tonight 89