Jerry Mathes was honour graduate and soldier of the year in the Army National Guard before a conviction for possessing an unregistered firearm saw him jailed for two years at age 20, leading to decades of PTSD and addiction He went into the Army National Guard after graduating school (Image: Jerry Mathes/Cover Images)

Jerry Mathes was a high achiever during his childhood. An A-grade pupil, he enlisted in the Army National Guard following his school graduation, where he excelled as a soldier. "I was the honour graduate, the soldier of the year and battalion top gunner. I volunteered for everything", the 61 year old writer recalls.

It was during a routine weekday when he made a serious error in judgement that would cast a shadow over his entire life. He and a mate, whose identity h

See Full Page