Vietnam Veteran Kurt Turner Shares a Moving Story of War, Faith, PTSD, and Survival in I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma)

July 08 21:33 2026
Vietnam Veteran Kurt Turner Shares a Moving Story of War, Faith, PTSD, and Survival in I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma)

Kurt Turner’s memoir, I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma), offers readers a powerful and deeply personal account of service during the Vietnam War, the lasting weight of trauma, and the role of faith in finding purpose after pain.

Turner served as a US Navy hospital corpsman aboard the USS Repose, a hospital ship that received wounded and dying servicemen from the battlefield. His position placed him in the difficult space between survival and loss, where medical personnel worked tirelessly to save lives while quietly absorbing wounds of their own.

Through vivid memory and honest reflection, Turner takes readers beyond familiar images of Vietnam combat and into the emotional reality of those who cared for the injured. His story gives voice to the corpsmen, doctors, nurses, veterans, and fallen servicemen whose sacrifices deserve to be remembered.

At the heart of the memoir is Turner’s life changing encounter with James E. Williams, Jr., a wounded Marine whose final moments left an imprint that would follow Turner for decades. That experience became part of his struggle with PTSD, his spiritual journey, and his eventual search for meaning.

I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma) is not only a war memoir. It is a testimony of faith, remembrance, grief, healing, and survival. Turner writes with sincerity about the memories that remained long after Vietnam, showing how war continues in the hearts and minds of those who return home changed.

This book will resonate with readers interested in Vietnam War history, veteran memoirs, PTSD awareness, Christian testimony, military service, and stories of healing after trauma. It invites readers to honour the fallen, understand the unseen wounds of veterans, and reflect on the courage it takes to keep living after war.

I’ve Never Been to Heaven (But I’ve Been to Oklahoma) by Kurt Turner is available for readers seeking a heartfelt, meaningful, and unforgettable account of war, faith, memory, and survival.

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.

Book Name: I’VE NEVER BEEN TO HEAVEN

Author Name: Kurt Turner

ISBN Number: 979-8823014151

Paperback Version: Click Here

Kindle Version: Click Here

Hardcover Version: Click Here

Discover this book now, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKKSNF3Z

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