Nearly three million books are published each year in the United States, and countless people dream of sharing their story. Only a handful manage to do it in a way that’s both captivating and worthy of extra attention. Even fewer have lived a story quite like Cross Plains resident Braxton Hamilton.

Braxton spent part of the 2000s in the Middle East—not as an active-duty soldier, but as a civilian called to help Iraqis rebuild their communities through business.

Although not on the frontlines, Braxton was no stranger to working alongside American soldiers, who were tasked with keeping his team safe. A former Marine and Army veteran (1984–1992), he had never seen combat during his years of service, but his military experience deepened his love of country. Returning to work beside the military years later, he carried with him both a tremendous respect and a personal sense of responsibility for the people he served with.

Tasked with leading economic revitalization in a war-stricken country, Braxton gained experiences and forged relationships in just eighteen months that most people would never encounter in a lifetime. His four older sisters spent the next fifteen years encouraging him to share the stories he had written, recorded, and retold to family.

“This was supposed to be a project just for my family. I was writing this as love and laugh letters to my grandson,” Braxton explained. “As I shared some of the stories with friends, people seemed really intrigued, laughed a little, and were captivated by the wild and crazy. People who know me know these are real stories, and after years of persistence, I agreed to share them with the world.”

Braxton, now a Harley-Davidson regional manager known for his energy, humor, and people skills, spent the past 15 months completing the writing project that became Highway of Death: One Man’s Memoir of Revitalizing the Middle East One Sheep at a Time.

“It’s not often that people get the chances the Lord gave me. I love adventure, and when I was offered the opportunity to go do this, I didn’t ask for advice—I just said yes,” Braxton shared.

That “yes” led him into villages, markets, and mountain passes, helping Iraqi citizens reclaim their livelihoods despite being in an active war zone. From mortar fire to security details with M-16s, the dangers were constant. Yet one of Braxton’s favorite chapters recalls stepping away from the chaos to help shepherds and women weavers revive the region’s rug-making industry.

With the help of a translator named Yuri, Braxton traced the path of Iraq’s wool supply through the mountains, ultimately finding warehouses in Duhok that provided the raw materials needed to restart the industry. What began as a leap of faith on a rickety Iraqi Airways flight became his most meaningful project—linking ancient tradition with modern opportunity and leaving behind a lasting legacy.

“The news during that time would only cover the bad stuff. But what I saw was so much hope,” Braxton recalled. “I saw people helping others. I saw locals choosing to provide for their families for a lifetime over the costly handouts of the terrorists. I saw neighbors helping neighbors, and more than anything, I was grateful to be part of the work that would last longer than our time there.”

One of Braxton’s hopes for readers is that the world will feel a little smaller. Once taught to see Iraqis as enemies, he left recognizing them as mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters—with the same dignity as his own neighbors back home in Middle Tennessee.

For a people-person like Braxton, writing a book was one of the biggest challenges he’s ever faced. As a self-proclaimed “starter” with little desire to finish, he knew the project would require endurance.

“For anyone who wants to write, my first advice is: don’t,” he laughed. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve done, but I’m thankful for technology like voice-to-text that helped make the process easier. No matter who you are, if you have a story to tell, you should do it. It’s a marathon, but the end is rewarding.”

Now published, Braxton’s book will be available on Amazon at this link. For local readers in Cross Plains and across Middle Tennessee, Highway of Death offers not only war stories and business lessons but also a reminder of the power of resilience, faith, and a good laugh.