{"product_id":"lucho-mauricio-behind-the-salute-9798994167212","title":"Behind The Salute","description":"\"The 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I never expected my freshman year of college to become a battle for survival.\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 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.\n\u003cbr\u003e\nInside 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.\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAmid 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.\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBut 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.\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWritten as a novel in the form of a memoir and inspired by true events, Behind the Salute 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.\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBoth intimate and unsettling, Behind the Salute offers a powerful reflection on vulnerability, conformity, and the resilience required to endure-and ultimately claim-the truth of who we are.","brand":"Mauricio Lucho","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53823924076886,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.momoxbooks.com\/products\/lucho-mauricio-behind-the-salute-9798994167212","provider":"momoxbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}