CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sgt. Roy Lewis deployed in Baghdad for a year sent us videos of his experiences with a special ops team in Baghdad.
While he was recording video diaries for us, he was also writing. Now two years back home, he's put those stories into a book called "Broken Things".
"I can clearly remember that day when we got hit with our first IED,” Lewis says as he reads a chapter from his new book. “It was about 5 p.m. when the sun was slowly beginning to set as we decided to wrap it up and head back to our camp.”
“That was a pivotal moment in my life,” he told NewsChannel 36. “ I was terrified.” He saw war, he saw death and now back home in Charlotte, he’s sharing his faith.
Lewis is known to many in Charlotte as a popular YMCA fitness instructor and personal trainer and simply as Sgt. Roy. He’s now looking forward to sharing the motivation he uses in classes in a different way.
“Being in the Middle East and using that as an opportunity to write this turned out really well,” he said.
He wrote “Broken Things” about his own experience overcoming struggles and surviving in the battlefield with his Christian faith. “I can sit down and say there are things in my life that are similar to yours. If I got through this you can get through this."
“Whatever your belief is, everyone believes in something. The thing I drive home to people is it will be tested,” he said.
The cover of his book is a picture of him praying in Iraq. He prayed every time his team would go out on a mission.
“I want people to read those stories and be encouraged if you rely on your faith in God. You can get through it,” said Lewis.
Writing helped him through the darkest days and it was therapy as he dealt with coming home.
“I was driving down South Tryon street looking for debris and a possible IED," Lewis said.
But now, he is excited to share his words of encouragement. “This is my heart to motivate people to keep going,” he said.
He hopes to inspire others to move forward with faith. “You don't count the days you make the days count.”
You can buy Sgt. Roy's book through his web site or on Amazon.
