photo courtesy of Lydia Harmon Pfc. Casey Harmon, a chaplain’s assistant from 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 108th ADA Brigade holds a copy of his recently published novel, “The Thousand Year Voyage.”

Soldier pursues passion, publishes novel
by Eve Meinhardt
Paraglide

Soldiers come from all over the country and world, bringing with them a variety of skills, abilities and experiences. Pfc. Casey Harmon is no different, his gift is writing and he is using his ability to help the Family members of Fort Bragg Soldiers and other agencies dedicated to helping others.
Harmon, a chaplain’s assistant in 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, 108th ADA Brigade, from Cropwell, Ala., said he began writing at the age of 7. When he was 18, he published his first novel. In June 2007, he joined the Army citing the old adage that he wanted to “travel and see the world.”
“I joined the only way I wanted to, as a chaplain’s assistant,” said Harmon, the son of two pastors. “This way I could serve my country and reach out to other Soldiers the best way I knew how.”
A few weeks ago, Harmon’s novel was reprinted with a new title, “The Thousand Year Voyage.” He reworked the novel since it’s first publication and incorporated some of the experiences and knowledge he has gained from the military. The separation Soldiers experience from their Family members and the hardships they undergo corresponds with some of the main character’s experiences in the novel.
Harmon’s unit is preparing for a deployment to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates this fall. To help the Families of his fellow Soldiers, he plans to use some of the profits from sales to benefit the 1st Bn., 7th ADA Family Readiness Group, as well as an international adoption agency and a ministry that assists people in need.
“A lot of my inspiration comes from looking around and seeing what Soldiers do each day and the hardships they experience through deployments,” said Harmon. “Soldiers can reflect on this book and relate to the guy who also gets separated from his wife, adding to the hardships he is already facing.”
Harmon said the support the Families provide Soldiers helped inspire him to donate proceeds to his unit’s FRG.
“I sat down and prayed about it,” said Harmon. “Behind every good Soldier is a good Family. The Soldiers are thanked and remembered, but we need to remember the Families too.”
Harmon’s wife, Lydia, is his support system. She helped edit the book, maintains his Web site and helps him spread the word about his novel to reach his goal of selling 5,000 copies in order to donate $2,500 to charity before he deploys in October.
Lydia said she fully supports his efforts to help others by donating money from book sales.
“I think it is a really cool idea,” she said. “It’s very admirable and we’re both working really hard to make it happen.”
The novel incorporates Harmon’s personal experiences as a Soldier and his love of science fiction into a tale about the end of time and the battle of good versus evil, inspired by the Book of Revelations in the Bible.
“The point of the book is to inspire thought,” said Harmon. “It incorporates a little bit of everything and combines my interest in quantum physics with my faith.”
No matter what interests the reader has, the book offers a little bit of everything.
“Everybody should give the book a chance, even if they are not from a religious background,” said Lydia, who has read the book cover to cover at least three times. “They will still enjoy it — it is very thought provoking.”
The book is available for purchase through Harmon’s Web site, as well as Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. For more information on “The Thousand Year Voyage” and Harmon’s efforts, visit www.caseyseanharmon.webs.com.