The Iraq I Knew, a military memoir, continues its saga with the upcoming release of The Iraq I Knew: The Search for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Written by military veteran and founder of consulting company, MyWingman LLC, Dr. Burl Wesley Randolph Jr., the new release marks the second installment in Dr. Randolph Jr.’s compelling four-part memoir series chronicling his three tours of duty in Iraq, offering a deeply personal and unfiltered perspective of life during combat operations.
Following the first volume, The Iraq I Knew: Into the Storm, which chronicled his initial deployment during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, this new book turns to his second tour of duty. Part memoir, part military history, and part leadership reflection, the series is designed to be chronological but also self-contained. Each book stands on its own while contributing to a larger story arc of his life and experiences on the field.
“Behind every operation are real soldiers, logisticians, intelligence personnel, Marines, airmen, and sailors who had to learn, adapt, and carry the weight of decisions made far above their roles. That is the side of war people rarely see, and that’s who I’m writing these for,” he says.
The series will ultimately include four books, with the first published and the second installment on route, followed by Unfinished Business, which documents his third tour as US forces dealt with the rise of militant organizations in Iraq, and For My Next Act, which concludes the series by chronicling his transition from combat into academia and business.
“There’s been more to life than combat, I want people to know about that,” Dr. Randolph Jr. explains. “There has to be a closeout, something that ties the military career, the doctorate, and the business I built after service all together.”
The inspiration for the series came as Dr. Randolph Jr. sifted through old notes, photos, and reports he had kept over the years. “I wanted to tell my story before I forgot it,” he says. “What surprised me most was how many details came back, some vivid, some painful. Watching documentaries about the war, I realized I couldn’t always relate. That wasn’t my Iraq. So I wrote about the Iraq I knew.”
His writing process is as disciplined as his military career. Dr. Randolph Jr. begins every book with a detailed outline. Yet even with this regimented plan, the scope of the project was overwhelming. “It became too much at once,” he admits. “Then a little voice said, ‘Why don’t you just do what you tell your clients to do? Break it down into chunks.’ That’s how the single book became a four-part series. It’s the very advice I gave at MyWingman, LLC, and it saved the project.”
For Dr. Randolph Jr., the series serves dual purposes. First, it is a way to honor and preserve the stories of the servicemen and women who deployed. “Every soldier has a story,” he reflects. “Marching across the desert in Saudi Arabia or manning a checkpoint in Iraq, each person’s perspective is unique. I wanted veterans to know they are not forgotten.”
Second, it offers civilians insight into the realities of military life beyond what they see on television. “People never realized how little preparation we sometimes had,” he says. “One day you’re told this might happen, and sixty days later you’re there, starting from scratch. That was our reality.” The book also captures the contradictions of political conflicts, the demand for normalcy amid chaos.
With his four covers already designed and the roadmap in place, Dr. Randolph Jr. approaches his writing with the same strategic mindset that defined his 32 years in uniform. Set to release in 2025, The Iraq I Knew: The Search for WMD continues his reflection on resilience, leadership, and humanity.
Media Contact
Name: Dr Burl Randolph Jr.
Email: info@mywingmanllc.com
Published by: Pathos Communications Ltd