Soldiers Stories

Contains thirty-seven narratives, drawn from letters, diaries, private memoirs, and oral histories in which American veterans describe their experiences serving in conflicts from the First World War to the twenty-first-century war in Iraq.

“Here is what you will not find in the news–the personal cost of war written as clear and beautiful as literature worthy of the name is. These stories are the real thing, passionate, imaginative, searing.” –Richard Bausch, author of Wives & Lovers The first book of its kind, Operation Homecoming is the result of a major initiative launched by the National Endowment for the Arts to bring distinguished writers to military bases and inspire U.S. Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen and their families to record their wartime experiences. Encouraged by such authors as Tom Clancy, Mark Bowden, Bobbie Ann Mason, Tobias Wolff, Jeff Shaara, and Marilyn Nelson, American military personnel and their loved ones wrote candidly about what they saw, heard, and felt while in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as on the home front. Taken together, these almost one hundred never-before-published eyewitness accounts, private journals, short stories, letters, and other personal writings become a dramatic narrative that shows the human side of warfare. • the fear and exhilaration of heading into battle; • the interactions between U.S. forces and Afghans and Iraqis, both as enemies and friends; • the boredom, gripes, and humorous incidents of day-to-day life on the front lines; • the anxiety and heartache of worried spouses, parents, and other loved ones on the home front; • the sheer brutality of warfare and the physical and emotional toll it takes on those who fight; • the tearful homecomings for those who returned to the States alive– and the somber ceremonies for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. From riveting combat accounts to profound reflections on warfare and the pride these troops feel for one another, Operation Homecoming offers an unflinching and intensely revealing look into the lives of extraordinary men and women. What they have written is without question some of the greatest wartime literature ever published. “Andrew Carroll has given America a priceless treasure.” –Tom Brokaw, on War Letters Proceeds from this book will be used to provide arts and cultural programming to U.S. military communities. For more information, please go to www.OperationHomecoming.gov.

Soldiers tell of their experiences during the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley, the siege of Khe Sanh, the Tet Offensive, the Fall of Saigon and at other times during the war.

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

‘A gripping new collection from Max Hastings that puts you at the heart of the battle ... Compelling’ Daily Mail ‘An unmissable read’ Sunday Times

A comprehensive analysis of the changing representations of military women in American and British movies and TV programs from the Second World War to the present.

After the death of two dear military friends, I decided that their stories and mine needed to be told, as these stories disappear when we depart the earth. All these stories have one thing in common, the story tellers made it through their experiences and lived to tell their tales! These are stories by Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Air-force and Coast Guard with some foreign stories. We tell these stories to ease painful memories and to try to explain their experiences to friends and family. These stories are from the American Civil War to current conflicts and range from, humorous, to unbelievable and many are told over many years and many tears We also tell these stories to other veterans as they DO understand as they have been there too!