About the Author

Ryan A. Conklinis a US Army veteran, former reality-show star, author, and lecturer. He was born in Michigan and grew up in Gettsyburg, Pennsylvania. He joined the US Army after the events of 9/11, and spent more than three years as an infantryman in the 187th Infantry Regiment (Rakkasans), part of the 101st Airborne Division. In 2009, he became a cast member of the MTV reality series The Real World- Brooklyn, during which he was recalled to active duty in Iraq and eventually promoted to the rank of seargent.He chronicled his military service in his 2010 memoir,An Angel from Hell-which detailed his first deployment from 2003-2006-and again in the 2009 documentary The Real World Presents- Return to Duty, which portrayed his second tour of duty. When not traveling across the country as a speaker to college students, he lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.