Haunted by War, Redeemed by Truth: The Story of Joshua Shores
When Joshua Shores first set foot in Iraq as a 19-year-old Marine, he carried with him the pride of his father’s service, the weight of his community’s expectations, and the unshakable belief that he was invincible. What he didn’t know then was that the real battle he would fight would not be against an enemy on foreign soil, but against the memories, guilt, and scars that war would etch into his life forever.
In a candid conversation, Shores opens the door to experiences most veterans keep locked away. He admits to the darker side of combat—the hatred, the dehumanization, and the reckless choices of youth amplified by the chaos of war. “We turned into monsters. The civilians of Ramadi paid for it. To them, I am sorry,” he writes, refusing to sanitize the truth of his actions.
The death of close teammates and the trauma of surviving back-to-back IED blasts marked a turning point in his life. He describes waking up from one explosion in disbelief, his leg burning from shrapnel, looking around at motionless bodies, and wondering if he was the only one left alive. The vulnerability of those moments stripped away his bravado, leaving him with a lifelong companion—survivor’s guilt. “Survivor’s guilt never goes away,” he admits. “You just get good at making it okay for the time it needs to be.”
But Shores’ story is not just about loss or regret—it is also about growth and redemption. The young Marine who once made rash, destructive decisions in Iraq became a more seasoned leader in Afghanistan. He deliberately sought to guide his Marines differently, refusing to allow the same destructive mindset to take root. Influenced by mentors who led with patience and integrity, he embraced a style of leadership rooted in accountability, guidance, and humanity.
Family remains a central thread throughout his journey. His father, a Vietnam-era Marine, not only instilled discipline and values in him but also fought to ensure his son could walk at high school graduation, even against Marine Corps orders. Shores credits both parents with giving him a foundation of honesty and integrity—values that later fueled his deep self-reflection when he realized his wartime actions had strayed from those principles.
Looking back, Shores questions the purpose of the war itself. He notes that even at his 20-year reunion, no one—officer or enlisted—could explain why they were truly there. That realization doesn’t erase his pride in serving, but it does sharpen his warning to future leaders: “If we’re going to go to war, we need a clear mission and the will to fight it brutally and quickly. Otherwise, we leave behind only bitterness and broken people.”
Joshua Shores’ memoir is more than a recollection of combat. It is a confession, a cautionary tale, and an act of redemption. By laying bare his scars, he hopes younger warriors will avoid the same mistakes—and that the lives of the friends he lost will not have been in vain. His story reminds us that the cost of war is not just measured in battles fought overseas, but in the lifelong battles carried home within.
