CORTLAND, N.Y. — Former Rochelle News-Leader Sports Editor and Reporter Marc Marin recently published a book on his experiences during his United States Army Reserve deployments to Iraq/Kuwait and Bosnia. 

“Resonance: Fear, dread and love in the crucible of Army life” is now available for purchase and tells the story of Marin making his way from a sheltered suburban teenager to a soldier in the U.S. Army. Through poems, short stories, letters home, letters from home, and newspaper articles, Marin uncovers the emotional journey of his Army experiences and the long-lasting memories and effects of his service, from basic training to Iraq to back home.

“I always wanted to get something on paper and I did some writing during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Marin said. “This spring I put my foot down and got it done. It's a different direction or combination than most books. It's about what it's like to be in the military.”

After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a journalism degree, Marin was hired at the News-Leader in February 2006 and served as sports editor and as a reporter for 2.5 years. In 2008, the News-Leader’s ownership group, News Media Corporation, purchased a newspaper in Arizona and Marin was promoted to publisher there and did that for nine years. He moved into teaching in 2017 and has done that ever since. He currently resides in Cortland, New York with his family. 

Marin enlisted in the United States Army Reserves out of high school and his service took place before and during his college years. He became a public affairs specialist in the military, doing work similar to what a journalist does. 

While deployed to Bosnia for six months as part of a peacekeeping mission, Marin’s job was to write and produce a magazine for all service members in Bosnia. A few years later, his unit was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Marin served in Kuwait City and Baghdad. He trained reporters on Army ranks and military procedures, customs and equipment, and escorted civilian media on day trips in Kuwait. Marin was never in combat, but felt the danger of the place he was in and experienced its contrast to the comforts of home. 

“The book was therapeutic for me to write,” Marin said. “I was lucky to never be in combat. But the fear and anxiety I felt there was indescribable. I reached back into those feelings when I wrote the book and it helped me to come to terms with all of that.”

Marin brought back positives from his service and deployments, including learning to not take things like hot water, air conditioning and technology for granted. His service made him more thankful for his loved ones after he experienced times while deployed where he wondered if he’d ever see them again. 

With those positives came negatives, as Marin’s service impacted him emotionally, he said. 

“I felt like a small part of me died being over there, and maybe I lost some of my innocence,” Marin said. “It made me more aware of negative things in the world. My fear and anxiety were through the roof. It may have deadened some of my emotions. Human beings aren't supposed to be in those situations, being far away from home and being around guns, tanks and war. It was so different from my life now.”

Writing the book has helped Marin to find peace with some of the impacts of his service, and it forced him to face harder times in his life and choices he’s made. He believes “Resonance” relates to themes in life that extend outside of the military. 

“The book is military-based, but I kind of used the military as a vehicle for themes everyone experiences like love, fear, death, homesickness and regret,” Marin said. “The poetry is direct and speaks to what it's like to be in that situation. I really wrote it for myself. I wanted to do it before my memories start to fade or before I forget anything. Once I write everything down, no one can take it away.”

Marin’s book can be purchased on Amazon.