I have repeatedly said, when asked, that if the stories about me helped inspired our troops and rally a nation, then perhaps there was some good.

I don't think any war is worth having our soldiers killed.

I don't come from a rich family - it's not like we lived in a cardboard box, but we didn't have a ton of money.

I grew up in Palestine, West Virginia, which is mostly a farming community; there aren't a lot of jobs.

I remember the first time I put on the Army uniform. I just felt like a totally different person - I felt proud.

Certain days I think definitely because we went in there and we got Saddam and that was our mission. On other days, we lost so many lives and so many brothers and sisters...on that aspect, no.

Since coming back from Iraq, there's been so many triumphs and obstacles standing in my way, so whenever I set my mind to something, I definitely just go full blast at it.