Excerpt from Rebellion to Rage: From Eastfield to New Hope by J.D. Ryder

Excerpt from Rebellion to Rage: From Eastfield to New Hope by J.D. Ryder

It’s always nice to know the person behind the uniform—the person who served in the Air Force, the Army, and further continued their duty to their country. But, every journey begins somewhere, and for me, it all began in a place of childhood wonder and mischief. A bit about who I was as a child seems only fitting.

Once upon a time, in the small world of childhood, there existed a place called Eastfield, a children’s home where young lives converged in ways both magical and complicated. Amidst the laughter and struggles of 30 other children, there was a six-year-old boy, filled with curiosity and a hunger for adventure.

This young boy found himself living in a place affectionately called the "Hobbit House." At the tender age of six, I stepped into this world, a world that became home for the next five years. Within those walls, friendships were built—bonds that would last a lifetime.

As months melted into years, Eastfield became a place of youthful camaraderie, yet also one of growing pains. The home was alive with the energy of children’s laughter, with dreams that soared beyond the confines of its walls, and with friendships that were as steadfast as they were fragile. It was a bittersweet place, where joy and sorrow lived side by side.

At 11, I returned home to live with my mother, but those years away left a mark. Life outside Eastfield was different. I became a latchkey kid, learning to navigate the freedoms and responsibilities that came with growing older. There was a wildness in me that sometimes led me astray. I sought adventure in unexpected places, hopping trains and staying out late, chasing the thrill of the unknown.

But that recklessness led me to Newhope. After a brief time back home, my rebellious spirit took me there, a place for teenagers like myself—those with stories, scars, and the weight of youthful mistakes. I spent a year and a half there, and it was another chapter in the ever-changing journey of my youth.

Now, as I reflect on those days, at the age of 66, I see how those formative years, from age 6 to 18, shaped me. They were a whirlwind of wild times and deeper lessons, memories that stayed with me, wild and poignant alike.

That boy, once full of rebellion, has grown into a storyteller. I’ve poured those memories into my memoir, Rebellion to Rage: From Eastfield to Newhope—all 1,128 pages of it. It’s my life’s story, a journey of innocence, rebellion, and transformation. Soon, this work will be published, sharing those experiences with the world.

Two photographs accompany this journey—one of the wide-eyed dreamer at Eastfield and another of the older, more weathered teenager at Newhope. These images are like pages of the book, each telling a part of the story—a reminder of where I’ve been and how far I’ve come.

This memoir isn’t just a reflection of my past; it’s a testament to the resilience and transformation of the human spirit. Through all the rebellion, the rage, and the resolution, I’m here to share my story and, perhaps, give a voice to the journey we all take from youth to wisdom.