{"product_id":"behind-the-salute-a-cadets-journey-9798994167212","title":"Behind The Salute: A Cadet's Journey","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe book introduced me to an unfamiliar world, one with its own vocabulary \u0026amp; hierarchy (and one which I would never survive), and that alone made it worth reading. But the story itself was entertaining \u0026amp; uplifting, not the ending I expected, but one even better.\" -Amazon Reader\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eI never expected my freshman year of college to become a battle for survival.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the fall of 1995, I entered the Corps of Cadets at an elite Texas university, chasing a dream of becoming a commissioned officer. What should have been a year defined by growth and camaraderie quickly unraveled into something far darker.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside the Corps, silence became my armor. Under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, my most dangerous secret-that I was gay-had to remain buried at all costs. My squad leader, Ari Strait, sensed that difference and twisted his authority into abuse. At his side was Brittany, a Texas debutante whose beauty masked a volatile mix of jealousy and rage that cut just as deeply.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmid hazing, suffering, and the relentless pressure of Corps life, I found refuge in an unexpected friendship with Justin, a compassionate cadet whose loyalty and courage gave me a reason to keep going. Our friendship grew into a bond that became the brightest part of my journey-and the one thing Strait could not control.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when loss shattered that fragile sense of safety, I was forced to face devastating consequences. What followed was not just grief, but reckoning. Survival would require more than endurance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten as a novel in the form of a memoir and inspired by true events, \u003cstrong\u003eBehind the Salute\u003c\/strong\u003e is a complex LGBTQ+ coming-of-age story told with emotional honesty and authenticity. It explores the blurry intersections of identity, desire, love, and loss within a military culture shaped by tradition, abuse, and fear-a story also shaped by family, heritage, and lessons passed down across generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBoth intimate and unsettling, \u003cstrong\u003eBehind the Salute\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a powerful reflection on vulnerability, conformity, and the resilience required to endure-and ultimately claim-the truth of who we are.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Mauricio Lucho\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/20\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798994167212\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 232\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.51lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.53d","brand":"Mauricio Lucho","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52801303806133,"sku":"9798994167212","price":12.74,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/behind-the-salute-a-cadets-journey-9798994167212","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}