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About JF Whitaker

JF Whitaker

After a six-year Navy tour and serving in Vietnam, JF Whitaker returned only to experience PTSD, exposure to Agent Orange, skin cancer, depression, and alcoholism, which brought him to the brink of suicide. He is now an author, recognized thought leader, and business driver specializing in organizational change management and leadership development. His memoir tells about his journey of survival and empowerment.

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The Day
Before I Died

A memoir of an innocent Irish Catholic boy on his journey from the quiet New England coast and the apple orchards of Pennsylvania to Vietnam and ultimately to the brink of suicide. Traversing minefields both at home and abroad, the author shares these intensely personal stories of overcoming the scars of war, disfigurement, emotional abuse, sexual orientation, and bullying. It is an intimate look at the many triggers that led him to consider suicide and the path of resilience and strength that kept him alive.

Hear JF Whitaker share excerpts directly from his book on Youtube

"What a wonderful read. I really enjoyed every page! I'm spreading the word telling everyone to get a copy of your book. You have inspired me to try and begin writing."
"We need to start looking for what we have in common as humans and citizens of this great country and the principles we share."
"Your book still deep emotions of both pain and anger. I devoted my entire career working for the acceptance of fundamental human rights for women, lesbians & gay, runaway & homeless youth, battered women & their children. I am still angry & distraught. Some things cannot be forgotten."
"Beautiful and heartrending"

For Those Who Survived

You didn’t let the moments and seconds of pain, abuse, or bullying take you out. You didn’t choose a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

You recognized that resenting the abusers and bullies gives them what they want…power, your power. They are the victims. Their life is so small, they must steal power, joy and beauty from others. Report them as the thieves they are and move on.

You did not allow yourself to be defined by the moments and seconds of sadness, hurt, and loneliness. You were not defined by the worst thing that’s ever happened to you. Focusing on the problems magnifies them. If focused on the problems, we risk shrinking our life to be safe and free of fear. Our lives may become so small we think we have nothing to lose. Living in the prisons we create limits the possibility of finding a solution.

Know there is a solution.

We did not become the victim of our stories. Our story is just that. . . a story. These are experiences that happen to us on our journey to our own unique reality. These experiences are the foundations of our strength and wisdom, and they make us who we become.

A life is lost to suicide every 40 seconds

20 Service men and women commit suicide every day*

The second leading cause of death for teens and young adults between the ages of 15 to 24 is suicide** 

* VA National Suicide Data Report 2005–2016 Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, September 2018.

** Data Source: National Vital Statistics System, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC  

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