Veteran's Day Reading Recommendations: A Selection of Books Inspired by the Holiday
### Books That Speak to Veterans and Offer Insights into Their Experiences
In a quest to understand the lives, struggles, and transformations of veterans, a multitude of books offer profound perspectives—ranging from personal memoirs to historical studies. These works delve into the unique challenges faced by veterans, as well as their evolving identities and sense of belonging, both during and beyond their service.
#### Personal Stories and Memoirs
- **Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"**[3]: This collection of semiautobiographical short stories recounts a draftee infantryman's experience in Vietnam, capturing a wide range of combat experiences, from humour to loss, and challenging the line between truth and fiction. - **Sloan Wilson's "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"**[4]: This novel, which resonated with the author while in combat, follows a veteran's journey to find meaning in his world. - **Nick Berg's "Shadows of Tehran"**[2]: Inspired by the author's own life, this book offers an unfiltered account of fleeing Iran, serving in the U.S. Army, dealing with issues of identity, betrayal, and redemption. - **Chad Robichaux and Jack Stewart's "Silent Horizons"**[4]: This novel, based on Robichaux's real experiences, fictionalises military life, including battles, hardships, and the aftermath, honoring fallen comrades and walking readers through the pragmatic realities of a warrior's life. - **Suzanne Gordon's "Wounds of War"**[1]: This book provides a thorough analysis of veterans' care issues, mental health, and challenges faced post-deployment, drawing from real stories of veterans served by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
#### Social, Cultural, and Historical Studies
- **David P. Cline's "Twice Forgotten: African Americans and the Korean War, an Oral History"**[1]: This book uses oral histories to spotlight African American veterans' experiences, shedding light on issues of race, recognition, and memory in military history. - **Cristina-Ioana Dragomir's "Making the Immigrant Soldier: How Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender Intersect in the US Military"**[1]: This narrative follows three immigrants from different backgrounds whose military service becomes a pathway to American citizenship, exploring how identity is shaped by military experience. - **Michael Robert Dedrick's "Southern Voices: Biet Dong and the National Liberation Front"**[1]: This book features oral histories from the Viet Cong during what Vietnam calls the American War, offering a different perspective on the veteran experience from the “other side”.
#### Guides for Transition and Identity
- **Jason Pike's "Out of the Uniform, Back into Civilian Life: No Nonsense Veterans Benefits Guide"**[1]: This practical guide helps veterans navigate the often overwhelming process of transitioning back to civilian life, addressing both logistical and identity-based challenges.
#### Novels and Broader Cultural References
- **Robert Greenleaf's "The Servant as a Leader"**[3]: This book coined the term "servant leader", referring to leaders who empower others to help them. Its impact was particularly felt by a company commander responsible for the morale and welfare of over a hundred soldiers and their families. - **Sebastian Junger's "Tribe"**[3]: This book discusses the bonds and sense of community experienced by military personnel and the issues soldiers face when reentering civilian life. - **John Spencer's "Connected Soldiers"**[2]: This book explores how advances in technology and connectivity between deployments affected the way soldiers bonded with one another, raising questions about how combat experience and veteran identity are changing due to these technological advancements. - **Robert H. W. Welsh's "The Art of Command"**[3]: This edited book focuses on leadership and military strategy, but specific details about the content are not provided. - **Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels"**[5]: This book portrays the political pressure on field generals to achieve victory in the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the compassion and heroism of the leaders involved. - **Eric Newby's "A Small Place in Italy"**[5]: This book resonated with the reader as it discusses the post-war experiences of returning to live in Italy, contrasting with the unavoidable sense of peace eluding Afghanistan. - **Joseph Roth's "The Radetzky March"**[5] and **Ngugi wa Thiong'o's "A Grain of Wheat"**[5]: While not exclusively about U.S. veterans, these works are highly recommended for exploring themes of duty, memory, and the social impact of military service from a literary perspective.
#### Key Themes
- **Transition and Identity**: Many books focus on the psychological and social challenges of leaving the military, including the loss of camaraderie, purpose, and the struggle to redefine oneself in civilian society. - **Trauma and Healing**: Both memoirs and novels address mental health, PTSD, and the search for healing, often emphasizing hope and resilience. - **Diversity and Representation**: Recent publications increasingly highlight the experiences of women, immigrants, and minorities in the military, reflecting the multifaceted identities of veterans.
These works provide veterans with voices and stories that resonate with their experiences, offering validation, insight, and a sense of shared understanding as they navigate the complexities of life after service. These books also serve the broader public, fostering empathy and awareness about the realities of veterans’ lives, identities, and transitions.
- In the realm of business and leadership, Robert Greenleaf's "The Servant as a Leader"[3] serves as a beacon, promoting a leadership style that puts others' needs before their own, a concept that held significant impact on military commanders responsible for their troops' morale and welfare.
- Sebastian Junger's "Tribe"[3] is not only a renowned book among veterans but also in the entertainment industry. It highlights the profound bond and sense of community experienced among military personnel and the difficulties encountered when transitioning back to civilian life.
- Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels"[5] is a captivating novel that dives into the political pressure on military leaders during the Battle of Gettysburg, while also emphasizing the compassion and heroism that these leaders displayed.
- To delve into the challenges faced by immigrants in the military, readers might find Cristina-Ioana Dragomir's "Making the Immigrant Soldier"[1] insightful, as it recounts the stories of three immigrants from different backgrounds whose military service shaped their identities.
- Lastly, veterans can find solace in finance-related literature, such as Jason Pike's "Out of the Uniform, Back into Civilian Life: No Nonsense Veterans Benefits Guide"[1], which offers practical advice on transitioning back to civilian life and navigating the complex financial challenges associated with the process.
