This segment is a Veteran Focused talk show that showcases individuals and companies in the community and is focused on Veteran leadership, service, stories and transition. Our Veteran host highlights other Veterans who serve, have served and who are doing great things in their business and in their community. Today our host, Chris Budihas spoke with Jake Kelly of the U.S. Army
Jake Kelly
Author of The Spurs of Service
Website Address: sawdustpublishing.com
Short company description:
We commit to serving veterans, first responders, and those who care for them by delivering proven programs and experiences that transform their deepest struggles into their greatest strengths so they may live the lives they deserve.
What’s one thing we should know that makes your company unique?
Veteran author who is looking to help others struggling with returning home, finding purpose, and finding God
How do you define success?
If I have one person reach out someday and say that my book helped them or brought them back from the brink
How did you get started in your field of work?
I always was a writer. However in 2018 I lost two really close friends in Afghanistan and also had a soldier of mine commit suicide that year. I struggled for a long time and started writing again to make sense of it. That writing turned into this book
Transcript:
Chris:
Welcome to The Five Minute Salute. I’m your host, Chris Budihas, and my friend Major Jake Kelly is dialing in today. He’s usually stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, but today he’s up in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for duty—and he carved out a little time to talk with us about his new book.
Jake, before we get into the book, let’s talk about you. Where are you originally from, and what do you do in the military?
Jake:
I’m originally from a small town in Texas called Nacogdoches, right near the Texas–Louisiana border. I started my career as a 19 Alpha armor officer and did that for about 11 years before transitioning into a simulation officer role. I’m currently stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Chris:
That’s great. That’s actually how you and I first connected. And social media—LinkedIn especially—can be pretty powerful. Now you’ve added another title to your LinkedIn: author.
Let’s talk about your book, The Spurs of Service. What is it, and what inspired you to write it?
Jake:
I describe it as a memoir—not just of the soldier, but of the soldier’s family. The chapters reflect the stages of military life: joining the service, experiencing that first deployment, the good moments, the camaraderie you build in combat, and the difficult parts too—what you see downrange and what your family endures at home.
There are chapters dedicated entirely to our loved ones—the silent warriors who don’t get the applause but carry enormous burdens. The book follows the journey all the way through coming home, putting down the rifle, picking up your child again, and trying to find peace—something many veterans still struggle with.
The motivation began in 2018, which was a rough year. I lost two close friends—one a mentor, the other a brother-in-arms—in Afghanistan. And I had a soldier take his own life while I was in command. That same year, my daughter was born while I was deployed. That took a lot of emotional work to process.
I’ve always been a writer, so I started putting pen to paper to work through all of that. Over the years, those writings evolved into The Spurs of Service.
Chris:
That’s powerful. So this book captures that evolution we go through in the military—from joining to deploying to eventually separating or retiring. And you’re not just telling your story—you’re telling the story of so many others who’ve served.
It sounds like this book gives readers a sense that they’re not alone.
Jake:
Yes, sir. I truly believe a private fresh out of basic training could pick this up and relate to it. And I think a retired colonel, like yourself, could read it and reflect on a whole career. I tried to weave in not just my experiences but the experiences we all share in this life we chose.
Chris:
Two questions for you: What was the easiest part of writing the book, and what was the hardest? I imagine there was some self-discovery along the way—maybe even something therapeutic.
Jake:
Absolutely. The easiest part was writing about the good times. There’s a poem in the book about that quiet cup of coffee before heading out on mission—those peaceful moments before chaos. Writing about the friendships, the bond between soldiers—that came naturally.
The hardest part was writing about the darker moments: depression, loss, and climbing out of some deep holes. Writing about my soldier who took his own life, and my two friends whose deaths inspired the book—that was tough. Their names are in the dedication: Command Sergeant Major Timothy Boyd and Captain Andrew Ross.
Chris:
A beautiful tribute. And you’re right—this book isn’t just for military and veterans or their families. It’s for the broader community, too.
What do you hope civilians take away from reading this? Why should they pick it up?
Jake:
I hope they gain a deeper appreciation for what service members and families go through. But the title Spurs of Service is intentional—it connects the military lifestyle to the cowboy lifestyle, the American working lifestyle. It applies to any blue-collar worker, anyone who gets their hands dirty or sacrifices for their family.
Some poems are very military-specific, but many speak to everyday grit, dedication, and resilience—universal themes anyone can relate to.
Chris:
Well said. With the holidays coming up—Christmas, Kwanzaa, and so many others—this seems like a meaningful gift. Where can people find the book?
Jake:
It’s available through Sawdust Publishing—the website is SawdustPublishing.com.
Chris:
Great. And how can folks find you? You’re on LinkedIn, right?
Jake:
Yes, sir. I’m on LinkedIn and most social platforms. On LinkedIn, you can find me under Jacob or Jake Kelly—search for the one connected to the amazing Chris Budahá and you’ll find me.
Chris:
That’s perfect. Jake, thank you for writing the book and for articulating so clearly what readers should expect. Living here, like you, in a very patriotic part of the nation—we have a huge veteran community. About a quarter of our population has served or is serving. But I always remind people that the other 75% can get something meaningful out of this book too.
Thank you for your service to the nation, and for your service to the veteran community. I encourage everyone to pick up The Spurs of Service. And I look forward to reading your next book—I’m certain this will become a trilogy.
Jake:
Thank you, sir.
Chris:
Folks, take a look at Jake and me on LinkedIn—we’d love to connect with you. Check out his book, The Spurs of Service. It’s a great time of year for self-reflection, whether you’ve served or not. Like Jake said, no matter where you are in your journey or career, you’ll take something valuable from this book.
We’ll see you in the next segment. Live with gratitude.
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