We are thrilled to share the news: The song “Enemy In My Scope” off of our Volume 2 release was chosen as the Gold Winner in the Folk category of the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest!
Congrats to Ranger Dave Williams and Michelle Swan. The Mid-Atlantic Song Contest is presented by the Songwriters’ Association of Washington. You can listen and preview the song on YouTube. See the full list of winners, including “Enemy In My Scope,” here.
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About David Williams and “Enemy In My Scope”
My family has a history of serving in the military. My grandfather was a POW in the Philippines during WWII and a survivor of the Bataan Death March in April of 1942. I spent nine years active duty in the U.S. Army, with two combat tours in Iraq as an Infantryman and sniper team member.
While in Iraq, I performed many missions that scarred me for life. Many experiences still haunt me, from the sweltering heat conditions in the desert and urban combat in Iraq to being back home and dealing with anxiety, PTSD, not being able to sleep well, and taking medication every day. These are just some of the things that come with being in a war.
“Enemy in My Scope” is about bringing the work I did overseas back home with me, how it affects the way I live, and trying to reintegrate back to civilian life. It also connects my story to my grandfather’s, imagining the experiences he must have had coming back from WWII and the way war has impacted people for generations.
Working with my songwriter, Michelle, was amazing. Writing the lyrics was emotionally draining at first, but after we started getting deeper into my story, I felt like I could release my feelings and let her turn them into music.
Sharing this story has had a positive impact on me. I redeveloped skills sets that I lost when I left the service, such as knowing when to take the time to breathe during stressful situations. I hope this song helps others understand some of the challenges that veterans face. Being in war is challenging, but the challenges don’t stop just because we’ve returned home. We carry it with us during the transition from active duty to veteran and during the reintegration into our families and our communities. It helps to not feel so alone when those around us understand that and support us on the journey home.
