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 woke up and all I could see was Iraqis standing all around me, looking down upon me. I knew at that moment something terrible had happened and I wasn't in the right place.

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

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.

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

The nurses at the hospital tried to soothe me, and they even tried unsuccessfully at one point to return me to Americans.