To Be A Rose (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9798896762454)

Ed is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel working for a defense contractor. He has been hired as a Senior Logistics Expert to work with the Afghanistan Ministry of Defense as an advisor and mentor to two senior Afghan officers.

Ed first appears telling an Army Combat Medic he can't breathe. He is transferred to Camp Phoenix just outside of Kabul for further treatment. Over the next twelve hours, he is treated by a "tag team" of nurses and doctors. During this time he remembers the sights, smells and sounds of Afghanistan and his journey there.

Mr. Mason uses vivid imagery and character portrayals to tell his story from his arrival in Dubai up to the beginning of his eight week dream. Ed describes his day-to-day routine at Camp Eggers, his fellow officers, his family and the dedicated medical teams he encountered on his journey. Ed's story is straightforward, powerful, yet humorous account of his experiences in Afghanistan and how his battle for survival changes his life forever.