In The Army Way, The Miracle Love and Other Writings, Conrad Thompson, using prose and poetry, asks us to journey with him through his life and imagination. We see him growing up on a small farm with a big family, watched over by both mother and grandmother. We hear about his work as Director of the Bureau of Nursing Home Affairs for the state of Washington. There are tales of a dancing mouse, on how to milk a cow without getting the stool kicked out from under you, and an account of a trip down river on a paddle-wheeler filled with characters seemingly straight out of the Summer of Love.

Within the true story The Army Way, Thompson paints an eye-opening account of Basic Infantry Training at Ford Ord California in 1962. Describing the harsh realities of life in the military, he shows us the physical and emotional hardships of the intense training exercises, chemical weapons drills, and the dangers inherent in grenade practice.

Containing poems of intimate thought, a touch of humor, and the joy of nature and life, The Army Way, The Miracle Love and Other Stories reflects the thoughts and feelings of Thompson’s life well lived.