Kurt Turner’s I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma) offers readers a moving and deeply personal account of military service, spiritual endurance, and the lifelong impact of war. Written from his experience as a US Navy hospital corpsman during the Vietnam War, the memoir brings attention to the human side of service and the memories that remain long after combat has ended.
Serving aboard the USS Repose, Turner witnessed the wounded and dying arrive from the battlefield, where every moment required courage, discipline, and compassion. His role as a corpsman placed him in the painful space between survival and loss, where medical personnel worked to save lives while quietly carrying emotional wounds of their own.
At the heart of the memoir is Turner’s encounter with James E. Williams, Jr., a wounded Marine whose final moments changed the course of Turner’s life. That experience became a lasting part of his struggle with PTSD, his spiritual journey, and his search for purpose after Vietnam.
Through honest reflection, Turner explores grief, faith, memory, trauma, and the difficult road toward healing. His story does not present war as distant history. It presents war as something carried home in silence, in dreams, in relationships, and in the soul of those who served.
I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma) also honours the fallen, the wounded, the veterans who returned home changed, and the medical personnel whose service is often overlooked in traditional war narratives. Turner’s voice gives readers a meaningful look at sacrifice, remembrance, and the courage it takes to continue living with the past.
This memoir will resonate with readers interested in Vietnam War history, veteran memoirs, Christian testimony, PTSD awareness, military service, and stories of healing after trauma. It is a heartfelt reminder that every veteran carries a story, and every story deserves to be remembered.
I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma) by Kurt Turner is available for readers seeking a sincere and unforgettable account of war, faith, survival, and the lasting power of memory.
About the Author:
Kurt Turner, born in 1947 and raised along the Ohio River, fulfilled his dream of becoming a Navy hospital corpsman, fully aware it would lead him to Vietnam. Serving from 1967 to 1968 aboard the USS Repose, he returned with deep psychological scars. Years later, repressed memories resurfaced during personal struggles, including divorce, loss, and career setbacks. Eventually called into ministry, he transformed his pain into purpose—especially after recalling a heroic moment when he risked his life to save others during a grenade explosion.
Discover this book now, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKKSNF3Z
Book Name: I’VE NEVER BEEN TO HEAVEN: (BUT I’VE BEEN TO OKLAHOMA)
Author Name: Kurt Turner
ISBN Number: 979-8823014151
Kindle Version: Click Here
Paperback Version: Click Here
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