From Conscientious Objector to Combat Zone: A Veteran’s Story of Integrity, Survival, and Inner Strength

(Isstories Editorial):- New York City, New York Dec 24, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – In a time when military service is often reduced to soundbites and slogans, The Compass Broke, I Kept Walking by Bill Seymour offers something far more rare: an honest, unfiltered account of what it means to serve without losing yourself.

Seymour entered the Vietnam era as a conscientious objector committed to his moral compass while still answering the call to serve. What followed was not the “safe path” he expected but a direct encounter with war, chaos, leadership under pressure, and moments that would permanently shape his identity.

This memoir captures the reality many veterans recognise but rarely articulate: that service is not only about combat, but about character. Seymour writes candidly about fear, discipline, brotherhood, moral conflict, and the moments when survival depended not on rank or orders but instinct, adaptability, and resolve.

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Unlike traditional war memoirs, The Compass Broke, I Kept Walking focuses on the internal battles that follow soldiers long after deployment. Seymour reflects on how military service reinforced a lifelong lesson: when external systems fail, an internal compass must take over.

Each chapter concludes with reflective insights earned, not preached, that resonate deeply with veterans navigating reintegration, leadership, and identity beyond uniformed life.

This book speaks to veterans who have faced moral complexity, leadership pressure, and the quiet aftermath of service. It honours military experience without glorification, offering respect, truth, and recognition to those who understand that service is rarely simple and never forgotten.

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William B. Seymour

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