Where The Water Meets The Sand

A Woman With A Mission Tyra Manning learned that her husband had been killed in the Vietnam War from her psychiatrist at the Menninger Clinic, where she had been hospitalized for clinical depression. After years of battling addiction and depression, Tyra's worst fear had come true. Larry had been shot down over the Laotian jungle while flying a top-secret mission, just two weeks before their daughter's second birthday.

The author recounts how she was able to persevere in the face of devastating loss. With courage, love, and determination, she overcame her grief and fulfilled promises she made to Larry before he left for Vietnam. She ultimately earned a doctorate of education from the University of Kansas and became one of the nation's top school superintendents.

When Tyra received a call from the Air Force in 2006, she was able to keep one last promise to Larry. His remains had finally been excavated after thirty-five years, and she was able to honor his wish to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

My Thoughts This memoir is remarkable for many reasons. I started reading this book and couldn't put it down until I read the last page.

The author is a survivor. Tyra Manning is as much of a hero as her husband who lost his life in Vietnam. She would not give up, no matter how difficult her life circumstances were.

Here are some of the challenges that Dr. Manning overcame:
•The illness and death of her father at a young age.
•Depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
•Alcohol addiction.
•Becoming a young widow of an Air Force pilot killed in Vietnam.
•Single motherhood.
•Working as a school teacher and going to school at night and during summers.
•Severe injuries from a head-on collision with a drunk driver.
•Divorce.
•Dealing with military authorities for over 35 years to have her husband's remains returned and buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Trya and Larry were planning to meet in Hawaii, where the water meets the sand, during an upcoming R&R leave. This dream of walking on the beach with her husband inspired and comforted Tyra during her most difficult days.

Courage. Inspiration. Determination. Perseverance. Patriotism. Hope. Love.

These are just a few words that describe Dr. Manning's life journey.

Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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The video book trailer below provides some highlights from the book.

This is a wonderful, easy to read, memoir.

When I first started reading it, I forgot it was a memoir, it read so much like the prose of a novel. Once I was reminded that it is a true story, it was all the more meaningful. What a story Tyra had to tell. I'm so glad she told it. It's good for people to read about what military families endured and continue to endure due to deployments and war. Tyra is very open about the mental illness she dealt with. I'm so glad she was open about and and was able to write so clearly about what it felt like to be drowning in depression and anxiety. This is a great read.

This is the story of a young military spouse dealing with her husband going off to war while she struggles to deal with depression and anxiety while worrying about the care of her young daughter.

In this beautifully written, poignant memoir, Tyra Manning recounts how she was able to persevere in the face of devastating loss. With courage, love, and determination, she overcame her grief and fulfilled promises she made to Larry before he left for Vietnam. She ultimately earned a doctorate of education from the University of Kansas and became one of the nation's top school superintendents.

When Tyra received a call from the air force in 2006, she was able to keep one last promise to Larry. His remains had finally been excavated after thirty-five years, and she was able to honor his wish to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Where the Water Meets the Sand explores themes of loss, depression, addiction, courage, and love and offers hope to individuals and families who have also dealt with the loss of someone close to them.

Where the Water Meets the Sand is the remarkable memoir of Tyra Manning and a loving tribute to her husband, First Lt. James "Larry" Hull, USAF, killed in action in Vietnam. Tyra had a host of psychological issues arising from her childhood. The never-forgotten early death of her father, and the incredible responsibilities put on her young shoulders after his death, led her to feel overwhelmed. She escaped for years in poor-coping skills, teenage rebellion, drinking, binging/purging, cutting etc. before finding love with Larry Hull. Though young, they had a love that shone bright, produced a daughter and was Tyra's lifeline after Larry left for Vietnam, and for decades to come.

After the birth of their daughter and Larry's deployment, she found herself once again overwhelmed and unfit to care for herself and her daughter. She admitted herself as an inpatient to Menninger Clinic, a renowned mental health facility. It was there that she learned of Larry's death, her worst fear come true. Over time, she was able to process many of her feelings, and gain coping skills.

Upon discharge, Tyra put herself through school, became a teacher, then a principal, and eventually superintendent of schools, while continuing to fight the recurring demons and addictions from her past, and raising her daughter. She never forgot about Larry, or her promise to bury him in Arlington National Cemetery if he didn't make it back from Vietnam. Decades after his death, and no small amount of red-tape, his remains were found, recovered and brought back to American soil. She was able to fulfill that last, unbearable promise to him.

This is a love story. It is also the story of loss, losing your way, finding it again, perseverance, continual struggling and battling addictions, unknown strength, holding on, letting go. It is a story about life. It is breathtaking, it is beautiful, it is well-worth your time. And it serves as a reminder that our veterans and active military members are not the only ones affected by their service. Their families go through just as many battles, though without recognition or acknowledgement. And they too are scarred.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group who provided me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.