About The Book

Most people ask themself, “What is my purpose in this life?” Some find their calling through instinctive knowledge or talent, having a natural gift unlike anyone else. Others find their calling or purpose in life through a catastrophic turn of events creating life altering changes that lead them on a course or path in life they would have never seen or taken otherwise. There are some people that have the kind of ambition and self-driven motivation to make a powerful difference in life. Some people are unconventional or maybe not be taken seriously, which may be perceived by others as a waste of time and effort in pursues or endeavors. In spite of everything, some people find ways to make things happen for themselves no matter what the circumstances or events. We all make choices good or bad. But regardless of those choices, it is with incredible courage that some of these people want to share their journey of hardship and self-redemption in hopes of motivating, inspiring, and healing others, as well as themself. They want to let others know that no matter how bad things get, how hopeless it feels, that one way or another, they will prevail and come out of their troubles with new founded hope and stronger morals,  building a foundation more unshakable than ever before. They come out a changed person whom others can look up to as an inspiration in their own lives, as well as being proud of themself. These types of people pay it forward.

“Forgotten How to Live” is a powerful book. The title itself states what this book is about.  It takes you through all the stages and emotions of a Marine Sniper returning home, later hitting rock bottom and finally finding the strength and drive that it truly takes to bounce back and persevere through the hardest obstacles of life.  It is the most heartfelt and shockingly true story of a man fighting for his right to be in his son’s life and discovering through this journey of self-redemption he finds purpose in this life.  This book helps us all to remember and understand that we can find our true identity, the love of our life, and find the kind of ending that truly makes us happy and complete.

 This truly moving book will make even the most critical skeptic a firm believer that no matter how tragic and corrupt the circumstances may be, no matter how hopeless and pointless it may feel, that we can keep faith and believe that things will get better in time. Life may feel like an endless stream of dead ends and false hope, but any story of self-redemption and journey to finding ones purpose in life can have a happy ending. The man in this book demonstrates what it takes to fight for the truth while enduring years of character assassinations and having his credibility questioned in every way imaginable. After spending years to rediscover himself, he has faced his own doubts and reemerged as a better man, person, father, husband and friend. In reading this book, you will discover how powerful love can be for a man and his children. Love is a powerful antidote to despair.

Authors Introduction of the book

This book, “Forgotten How to Live” was both a deep personal voyage and extremely challenging to write due to the raw emotions and honest truth I had to face. It brought me back to parts of my past I wish to forget or never wish had happened.  It filled me with intense emotions that bring a human being to a breaking point and most would not dare cross or endure.  Imagine, the worst luck of everything that can go wrong in someone’s’ life happening at once.  If someone told me this story with all of things that happened in their own lives, I would say, “boy this person sure knows how to tell stories.”  In fact, it’s all true and they happened to me.  My story involves moments of my life that have impacted and shaped me to who I am today.  I will bring you into a world of immense emotions that will hit home with everyone who has heard or has had some of these situations happen to them or someone they know.  Consequently, they all happened to one person, “me.”

After turning home from the Marines serving my country Honorably as a Scout Sniper, In a course of only 5 years, I was divorced twice, my son was kidnapped, my ex-wife’s alleged attempt to the solicitation of my murder, I lost both of my fathers, biological and adopted, both of my grandparents, as well as, nine close Marine buddies I served with that were killed in Iraq.  I was in a motorcycle accident, and died three times, once during a life-flight to the hospital, twice on the operating table. This left me in a hospital for four months. Of the three times I died, I had 3 Near Death Experiences, one of which I go to what I perceive as hell and see and describe it in great detail.  Physically, I developed short term memory problems.  I had to learn how to walk again, regain most of my body’s coordination.  

I became addicted to drugs and alcohol after my accident. My second wife filed for divorce taking my other son away from me teaming up with my first wife, to make a stronger case against me.  I lost custody of my other sons, A vicious family law court battle ensued against unethical, relentless, and vicious attorneys’ coupled by a bias judge, mediators and counselors in the case using the fact that since I was a trained Marine Sniper, I was a danger to everyone. This crushed me to my core even after complying with all family law court orders & adhering to all random drug testing and passing, spemding over $200,000.00 in family law legal fees for an attorney who was useless.

For 6 years I fought to see my sons. While doing so, I went back to school, and received my degree in Psychology, becoming a counselor.  I discovered of how flawed the system really was and how everyone conspires against parents, especially Fathers, by purposely and knowingly breaking ethics codes. I was asked to write reports that were in direct conflict of my own professional decisions (REPORTS I ETHICALLY IN GOOD CONSCIOUS REFUSED TO DO.) I expose the failing Sacramento Family Law System and a local drug testing facility that were collaborating against me with my first wife, risking their company license, later one of the employees was found guilty for altering drug tests & sentenced to prison. After getting my two ex-wives’ separated into two different courtrooms and Judges, I miraculously regain visitation with my son Brandon on the first court hearing.

 The journey I followed to overcome these adversities, some from outside influences, some self-induced, are amazing lessons in itself .I hope this book will inspire others into redeeming themselves and create positive results from bad or negative situations. There is always HOPE.

I share advice from experience on how to combat the addiction of drugs and how to deal with family law system and staying sane while doing so.  I discuss the resilience, which you need, on how to overcome these adversities.  I also share addiction relapse issues and how to prevent it or change it with resources available to you and you’re family. I also cover the effect of returning home from combat to transitioning to the civilian world which was foreign to me as I walked down the street feeling alone & wanting to die.

 The statements and most of this book came from court documents, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), and Placer County District Attorney’s report.  Interviews’ with my ex-wife’s friends’ and news reports, including Dateline NBC, which aired my story, are also included.  

What brought me back you ask? Well, that is another great part of the story, it all comes full circle with my fellow Marines who saved my life & continue to do so everyday within our community amongst many other things.

Memoirs of a Marine Sniper - Book Preview

I could not believe it…..I was a father, the proudest moment of my life. I had a boy! I decided to make it my goal to be the best dad and always be there for him; however, the Marines took most of my time away from him.  I dropped my son off at daycare one day not realizing that it might possibly be the last time I would see him.  When I received the call that my son had been kidnapped, I was crushed. The sole purpose of why I left the Marines Corps was to be with my son.

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“Daddy?”
“Yes, Zachary,” I replied?
I was dropping Zachary off at daycare before heading to my job at HP.  As usual, I walked him through the front door and signed him in.

“Are you picking me up today?” he asked. 
“No, Zachary, your mother will. Daddy will see you next week, but I will call you during the week to say I love you.  OK?” I said.
“Ok Daddy.  I love you!” he said.

I walked Zach to his class and gave him a big kiss and hug.  I left the daycare facility and headed to work at HP down the street.  As I walked away, something told me to turn back and get him.  It was a gut feeling that I had not felt since I was in the bush in the Marine Corps.   That same type of gut feeling had kept me alive on several occasions before, but on this day, in the civilian atmosphere of a daycare with all its bright colors and happy sounds, I ignored those feelings and kept walking, heading toward my car to go to work.
The next day around 5:30 PM, my world came crashing down when the phone rang.

“Hello, this is Jerry,” I answered.
“Jerry, Jerry Hull,” the voice said.
“Yes, this is Jerry Hull, how can I help you?” I responded.

Life was still normal, but then…“Mr. Hull this is the Roseville Police Department.  I am following up on a missing persons report,” the officer on the other end of the line stated.  “When is the last time you have seen your ex-wife, Cathy Johnston and your son Zachary Hull?” he asked.
My heart stopped and I began to immediately panic. 

“Where is my son?” I screamed into the phone.
“Mr. Hull, please calm down.  Your ex-wife’s car was found abandoned and your son is missing,” he said, calmly.

“Are you calling from the Police station?” I cried in panic. 
“Yes, Mr. Hull, I am” he replied.
“I will be there in 5 minutes,” I said, and promptly hung up.

Jumping into my car, I sped to the police station.  The ride was agonizingly long, slow motion, but the police station was actually only 5 minutes away from my work.  My mind raced with thoughts, not knowing what was going on, expecting to hear the worst.  The officer met me at the entrance desk and led me into an interrogation room.  Naturally, I expected to be the first suspect in this disappearance, which would be the standard operating procedure (SOP) in cases like this.  After being questioned for a while, I realized they were not getting anywhere.  I looked at the officer right in the eye and said, “Do what you have to do to get me off your list of suspects so we can find the person that has my son. 

I requested to be submitted to a lie detector test and voice stress analyzer test.”
The officer looked at me and said, “Mr. Hull, that won’t be necessary.”


My life was never the same after that one phone call, I had entered into another world I was unfamiliar with, this one event was the catalyst of many events to follow & comeback to haunt me forever...