The hardest conflict to face is the one within.

MyLinh Shattan is no stranger to conflict, from evacuating during the fall of Saigon to reporting to West Point shortly after it accepts women. But when her daughter, Cara, becomes a West Point cadet, she confronts memories she would rather leave behind and new fears as a military mom.

For thirty years, MyLinh evaded questions about serving in the US Army. Now, watching her daughter follow in her footsteps, she finds herself searching for answers.

Why does anyone join the military?

What’s changed for women in the past three decades?

What hasn’t?

Raising Athena is a passionate, nuanced, often philosophical testament to the dedication and courage of those who protect our country. This memoir explores in intimate detail the stories we tell ourselves—about war, the disconnect between myth and reality, and what it means to serve.