Norma Guerra is an avid storyteller, public affairs practitioner, and military advocate. She was assigned to the Public Affairs Staff at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas during the period in 2003 when wounded soldiers were arriving from the Middle East war. There she saw firsthand the amazing power of wounded soldiers, the undying loyalty of their families and the non-stop dedication of the health care workers to saving lives.

Norma was deeply moved by her experiences, and began to write in a journal to help her process the emotions, triumphs, and heartbreaks that she faced in her daily life. These personal observations eventually became After the Smoke Clears, a profound and moving account of the human nature of military medicine and healing.

Norma celebrates through her prose the real heroes who came her way in service of our country: Soldiers who undertook each and every challenge with courage and dignity and the medical teams that were there with them. Her genuine voice, caring and dedication to keeping these stories alive is inspirational and memorable. She still shares her message of hope, resilience and gratitude through her storytelling today.