And Evil Shall Be Vanquished: A Warrior’s Anthology of Original Poetry and Other Writings
Submitted by: Robert Conde, Jr.
Category: Books
When SCP Gabriel David Conde was less than a year old, a woman at his parent’s church prayed for him and said, “This beautiful boy will become a warrior, but his heart will be soft.” Those words would forever ring true in Gabe’s life as evident in his over three hundred pages of heart-filled poetry, short stories, and journal entries featured in the new book “And Evil Shall Be Vanquished: A Warrior’s Anthology of Original Poetry and Other Writings.” Gabe’s writings described his unique experience supporting Green Beret elements throughout his first and only deployment to a foreign battlefield while his fierce warrior spirit was tempered by his genuine desire to stay close to God throughout his life.
When Gabe’s father, Robert Conde, Jr., found out that his eldest child and only son was being deployed to Afghanistan in 2017, he insisted on having him send his collection of writings to keep on file and continue to send any new work to share with the family. Robert had no idea at the time how vital this request would end up being but is forever grateful his son obliged. On the morning of April 30, 2018, while providing cover fire and relaying enemy locations to his fellow soldiers, Gabe was fatally struck by enemy fire, killing him instantly. He was only 22 years old.
“Gabe’s eloquence is evident in many of his poems and short stories, and his unfiltered candor as an infantryman is also on display in his deployment journal entries,” said Robert. “Through it all, his heart for his God, for his family and friends, and for his country, is revealed in unexpected ways for the reader to experience first-hand.”
Robert curated the compilation of Gabe’s writings and peppered in additional stories from himself, his wife and Gabe’s mother, Donna, and from Gabe’s two sisters, Olivia and Priscilla, to provide further insight into the life of their son, brother and of an American hero. The book will inspire and stir emotions and leave a lasting reminder of the dedication, bravery and sacrifice every U.S. soldier and veteran has made to protect our country – a time that we should not only be thankful for on Memorial Day but every day of the year.
“And Evil Shall Be Vanquished: A Warrior’s Anthology of Original Poetry and Other Writings”
By SPC Gabriel David Conde (Author), Robert Conde, Jr. (Compiler)
Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and LifeRich Publishing
About the author:
SPC Gabriel David Conde was born November 1995 and was from a small town in northern Colorado. Gabe chose to leave engineering school after his freshman year to join the Army and fulfill a life-long desire to serve his country and crush evil as a Green Beret. In 2015, he was sent to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. He quickly mastered the squad automatic weapon (SAW) and earned the respect of his peers as part of 2nd platoon, Able Company. When the brigade was deployed to Afghanistan in September 2017 in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel, Gabe and his team were selected to support a Green Beret operation detachment alpha element on combat missions. He spent the next eight months living his dream of doing the work of a Green Beret while defending the cause of the innocent people of Afghanistan on 80 missions. During a mission in the Kapisa province, Gabe was killed in action while protecting his team members during a firefight on April 30, 2018. Gabe’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device (valor), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Article 5 NATO Medal. Gabe is survived by his father, Robert Conde, Jr., his mother Donna, and two sisters Olvia and Priscilla.