Military veterans Books

Book SynopsisIn this highly anticipated follow-up to The Rifle, Andrew Biggio brings to light more untold stories from the quickly vanishing ranks of the veterans of World War II.Ordinary Men with Extraordinary PurposeThey are called the Greatest Generation, but they were also ordinary men, sharing in all of humanity’s weaknesses and flaws while responding to the call of duty. These are their unforgettable stories—first-person accounts from the last of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who fought the most dreadful war in history, all collected by a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The idea was simple: travel across the country with a 1945 M1 Garand, the basic U.S. fighting rifle of World War II, ask combat veterans of that war to sign it, and listen carefully as the sight, touch, and feel of that rifle evoke a flood of memories and emotions. In this highly anticipated follow-up to The Rifle, Andrew Biggio once again reveals the astonishing effect his M1 Garand had on the old warriors who held it. The passage of time is swiftly snatching from us the last of those men, but the memories of those who remain are vivid and strong. It’s astonishing to see how grasping that rifle brings out those memories—good, bad, terrifying, and heroic. In Biggio’s riveting account, you will learn:• What it was like to fight for freedom in the various theaters of World War II • The obstacles these world-conquerors faced on returning home and how they overcame them • The special meaning these recollections hold for later combat vets, confirming the brotherhood of warriors • The importance to veterans of memory and respectWar and the weapons with which it is waged shape men forever. Biggio’s inspirational second collection is a must-read for anyone interested in the service and sacrifices of our veterans.

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Book Synopsis The New York Times bestseller Kill Bin Laden is an explosive first-hand account of a Delta Force commando''s hunt for the world''s most wanted man. The mission was to kill the most wanted man in the worldan operation of such magnitude that it couldn''t be handled by just any military or intelligence force. The best America had to offer was needed. As such, the task was handed to roughly forty members of America''s supersecret counterterrorist unit formally known as 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta; more popularly, the elite and mysterious unit Delta Force. Told by senior ranking military officer Dalton Fury, this is the real story of the operation, the first eyewitness account of the Battle of Tora Bora, and the first book to detail just how close Delta Force came to capturing bin Laden, how close U.S. bombers and fighter aircraft came to killing him, and exactly why he slipped through our fingers. Lastly, this is an extremely r

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Book SynopsisThe book was inspired by the author's discovery that her great-uncle, a traumatised ex-soldier, committed a shocking murder in 1922. Suzie has examined the wider social history behind her great uncle's story and those of many others like him.

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Book SynopsisThe explosive true story of a gun for hire.'Hard eyes stare out of massive beards, their faces marked by the scars of battle. With these guys their webbing looks like it belongs to them, rather than it's been hung on a pair of reluctant shoulders. There's not a word been said to us, but the ante has clearly been upped. There's a dark and sinister feeling in the air. It doesn't take a genius to figure it's about to kick off.' Former SAS soldier Big Phil Campion tells it like is in this brutally honest account of his insanely dangerous life as a private military operator. From playing chicken with a suicide bomber in backstreet Kabul, to taking on pirates with his bare hands, this is true-life action-packed drama at its best.

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Book SynopsisThe moving story of how a small group of people—including two Vietnam veterans—forced the U.S. government to take responsibility for the ongoing horrors—agent orange and unexploded munitions—inflicted on the Vietnamese.Fifty years after the last U.S. service member left Vietnam, the scars of that war remain...This [is the] remarkable story of a group of individuals determined to heal those enduring wounds.”—Elliot Ackerman, author of The Fifth Act and 2034The American war in Vietnam has left many long-lasting scars that have not yet been sufficiently examined. The worst of them were inflicted in a tiny area bounded by the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail in neighboring Laos. That small region saw the most intense aerial bombing campaign in history, the massive use of toxic chemicals, and the heaviest casualties on both sides.In T

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"War stories with a motivational twist…Both authors suggest, knowingly, that the best plans don’t often survive reality, but it’s important to plan anyway, for “you’re never out of the fight.” — Kirkus Reviews “O’Neill and Meyer are skilled storytellers. [They] offer plenty of advice for veterans navigating reentry to civilian life.” — Library Journal “Raw, funny, and poignant, each chapter is an important life lesson from two guys who have thrived in life’s toughest battles. The Way Forward will help every reader master their own challenges—this is a must-read book!” — Admiral Bill McRaven, U.S. Navy (Retired) and author of #1 New York Times bestseller Make Your Bed “Rob and Dakota are the real deal—warriors. patriots. leaders. And damn good men. In this fantastic book, they turn the dangerous, the confusing, and even the crude moments of combat and life into meaningful, insightful and life-changing insights. This book will make you laugh…and learn how to forge a lasting legacy in the process. Their incredible stories alone are worth the price of admission, and then you walk away learning how to chart your own way forward. Buy this book—and learn how to stand up and face your enemies!” — Pete Hegseth, television host and bestselling author of American Crusade: Our Fight To Stay Free and Modern Warriors: Real Stories From Real Heroes “The Way Forward is not only about the making of two of America’s greatest heroes but a journey of how common men are forged by family, friends, and brotherhood to make extraordinary sacrifices for their nation. There is no political left or right in their lessons, just an exemplary show of honor, courage, commitment, and faith in protecting their fellow citizens. Their words are guideposts to changing your life and building your own legacy.” — Malcolm Nance, former U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer and author of the New York Times bestseller Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe “In The Way Forward, two American heroes share their inspired messages that are designed to help you achieve and live a heroic life. This is impactful storytelling that implores you to listen.” — Lt. Col Dan Rooney, bestselling author of Fly Into the Wind: How to Harness Faith and Fearlessness on Your Ascent to Greatness “An inspiring, enthralling, and entertaining book packed with extraordinary anecdotes. I can’t think of two people better equipped to be life coaches or offer leadership advice than these two great American heroes.” — Piers Morgan, journalist and television personality

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Book SynopsisWhat are the nation's obligations to those who fight in its name? And when does war's legacy of disability outweigh the nation's interests at home and abroad? This book examines the history of American warfare through the lens of its troubled legacy of injury and disability. It forces you to think about war and its painful costs.Trade Review"We hear a lot about the 'human cost of war,' but Kinder's book not only exposes us to its dismembering horror, but also asks us to follow disabled service-personnel back into the civilian world after the war, where they struggle to reinvent their lives. It is a compassionate account of terrible suffering, which many veterans don't survive. The big question remains: why have we still not learnt the lesson of war?" (Joanna Bourke, University of London)

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Book SynopsisEmbark on an enchanting journey into our country''s past hundred years through the remarkable life of Captain Sir Tom MooreTHE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''A wonderful life story with lessons for us all . . . beautifully written'' DAILY TELEGRAPH''Gloriously enthralling'' DAILY MAIL__________Captain Sir Tom Moore''s story is all our stories . . .Born at the tail end of the Spanish flu epidemic, Tom Moore was raised in the Yorkshire Dales by a loving family that had not escaped tragedy. Yet when the clouds of war threatened, Tom raised his hand and joined up to fight.The Second World War took him to the Far East, where his can-do spirit was forged. Whether fighting for his life in Burma or helming a firm back home, racing motorbikes or raising a family, he always sought to do his very best. To make a difference to those around him.Captain Tom''s story is that of our parenTrade ReviewGloriously enthralling * Daily Mail *A riveting account. Tom is as sharp as a bayonet . . . This old soldier should never, ever fade away in our memory. Neither should his life advice * Daily Express *Engaging . . . His upbeat nature shines through and reminds us how much worse this year would have been without him * Evening Standard *A wonderful life story with lessons for us all . . . beautifully written * Daily Telegraph *Captain Tom Moore has stolen the nation's hearts * Evening Standard *A wonderful read. Captain Tom is a beacon of light, and hope, and positivity * Piers Morgan, Life Stories, ITV *A great book * Good Morning Britain *A beautiful book. We have so much to learn from Captain Sir Tom * Chris Evans, Virgin Radio *Fascinating. It's the life story of an ordinary man who is extraordinary * Michael Ball, BBC Radio 2 *Captain Tom Moore's charming autobiography is an inspiration . . . A great personal history of the past century, and we can all learn something from Captain Tom * Woman's Weekly *His story is of a man whose insatiable curiosity and appetite for life have led him around so many unexpected corners - and serves to unite and inspire every generation * This England *Lively and entertaining . . . beautifully captures Captain Tom's mixture of amazement and pride at what happened in 2020 * Reader's Digest *An incredible insight into a hundred years of British social history - and the story of a remarkable man * Candis *Captain Tom has a message of hope for us all * The Big Issue *His autobiography will continue to inspire. A hundred-year history of Britain and a life well lived * My Weekly *His optimism and courage shine through in this uplifting account of his life and times * Sunday Express *A national hero . . . He tells the story of his life with unfailing optimism and charm * Daily Mirror *In this delightful memoir, we see the build-up to that 'I said I'll do it and I will' attitude * Daily Mail *Uplifting and inspiring * Best *There is so much more to the humble centenarian exserviceman's life than his garden laps for the NHS. A life-affirming memoir * Sun *A very open and honest account of a centenarian's life . . . You cannot help but be amazed * Who Do You Think You Are? *Embark on an enchanting journey into our country's past hundred years through the remarkable life of Captain Sir Tom Moore * Eastern Daily Press *

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Book SynopsisFrom 1973 to 1990 in Chile, approximately 370,000 young men were conscripted to serve as soldiers in Augusto Pinochet's violent regime. Some were brutal enforcers, but many endured physical and psychological abuse. Leith Passmore examines the emergence, in the early twenty-first century, of a movement of ex-conscripts seeking reparations.

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Book Synopsis"Brilliant . . . a must read for veterans and those who seek to understand them."—Huffington PostTrade Review"Starred Review. At a time when suicide rates among veterans is increasing sharply, this empathic examination of 'the moral weight that soldiers carry on their shoulders' is essential reading." "Humaniz[es] soldiers by enabling us to see them as individuals with distinct, particular responses to psychological and physical wounds."

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Book SynopsisFrom Marcus Brotherton, co-author of Call of Duty, comes a new collection of untold stories from the Band of Brothers.Look for the Band of Brothers miniseries, now available to stream on Netflix!They were the men of the now-legendary Easy Company. After almost two years of hard training, they parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and, later, Operation Market Garden. They fought their way through Belgium, France, and Germany, survived overwhelming odds, liberated concentration camps, and drank a victory toast in April 1945 at Hitler's hideout in the Alps. Here, revealed for the first time, are stories of war, sacrifice, and courage as experienced by one of the most revered combat units in military history. In We Who Are Alive and Remain, twenty men who were there and are alive today—and the families of three deceased others—recount the horrors and the victories, the bonds they made, the tears and blood they shed.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for The Mission, the Men, and Me“His thesis is that there aren't that many different situations in life, and there aren't that many different ways of dealing with them—have a few, simple principles, and, when in doubt, refer to them. He’s a stoic with a sense of humor, and I very much enjoyed his book.”—David Mamet, Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and film director“Blaber presents his hard-won principles of leadership and illustrates them with intense personal stories and accounts of leadership amidst chaotic modern warfare. The leadership principles ring true and have a commonsense appeal. Also, the ‘peek behind the curtain’ look at Delta should please fans of special operations.”—Small Wars Journal“Should be required reading for all flag-rank officers. Required, because it codifies in simple, accessible language the concepts that will allow us to adapt, overcome and prevail in 21st-century warfare, whether it be asymmetric in nature and unconventional in approach, or along the classical Land-War models. And required because Lt. Col. Blaber demonstrates through multiple empirical examples why flexibility, audacity, situational awareness and preparation are superior to rigid, formulaic doctrine-influenced operational planning.”—The Washington Times

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Book SynopsisTHE MUST-READ* BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENTARY FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION After the Band of Brothers went home, they never forgot the lessons of war . . .  After chronicling the personal stories of the Band of Brothers in We Who Are Alive and Remain, author Marcus Brotherton presents a collection of remembrances from the families of the soldiers of Easy Company—and how their wartime experiences shaped their lives off the battlefield. A Company of Heroes is an intimate, revealing portrait of the lives of the men who fought for our freedom during some of the darkest days the world has ever known—men who returned home with a newfound wisdom and honor that they passed onto their families, and that continue to inspire new generations of Americans.   *Jake Powers, Official E/506th HistorianTrade ReviewPraise for A Company of Heroes “A valuable look at what made a generation truly great. If you're a fan of HBO's Band of Brothers, you'll want to read this fascinating book…Tremendous insights here to the back-stories of Easy Company's hard-fighting heroes.”—Dale Dye, Capt. USMC (Ret), Senior Military Advisor, HBO's Band of Brothers “Why one more book on the most documented and covered company in the history of WWII? After reading Brotherton’s book where the family members finally get the chance to open up and share the horrors of war from their point of view, it only makes sense and completes the biggest part of the puzzle…This is a must read for everyone. Currahee!”—Jake Powers, Official E/506th Historian

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Book SynopsisA tribute to World War II heroism from the national bestselling author of Biggest Brother. Look for the Band of Brothers miniseries, now available to stream on Netflix!The paratroopers of Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division, have come to symbolize the incredible bravery and heroism shown by the greatest generation in World War II. on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the Allies' victory in Europe, author Larry Alexander crosses an ocean and a continent to discover just what made the Band of Brothers special. Accompanied by his friend Forrest Guth, an easy Company veteran on his final tour in Europe, Alexander explores the living history of the places where American soldiers went into action, and reveals what makes this story so meaningful for us today. Part travelogue, part historical perspective, In the Footsteps of the Band of Brothers is an unforgettable memorial to the men who fell in action, and a tribute to the veterans who

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Book SynopsisProviding detailed evidence-based progress notes language as required by managed care companies and accrediting agencies, this valuable resource saves hours of time-consuming paperwork, yet offers the freedom to develop customized progress notes.Table of ContentsPracticePlanners® Series Preface xiii Introduction 1 Adjustment to Killing 3 Adjustment to the Military Culture 14 Amputation, Loss of Mobility, Disfigurement 23 Anger Management and Domestic Violence 33 Antisocial Behavior in the Military 45 Anxiety 57 Attention and Concentration Deficits 68 Bereavement Due to the Loss of a Comrade 77 Borderline Personality 88 Brief Reactive Psychotic Episode 99 Chronic Pain after Injury 108 Combat and Operational Stress Reaction 118 Conflict with Comrades 128 Depression 138 Diversity Acceptance 151 Financial Difficulties 158 Homesickness/Loneliness 169 Insomnia 178 Mild Traumatic Brain Injury 187 Nightmares 197 Opioid Dependence 206 Panic/Agoraphobia 222 Parenting Problems Related to Deployment 233 Performance-Enhancing Supplement Use 242 Phobia 249 Physiological Stress Response⎯Acute 261 Post-Deployment Reintegration Problems 270 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 279 Pre-Deployment Stress 295 Separation and Divorce 304 Sexual Assault by Another Service Member 314 Shift Work Sleep Disorder 323 Social Discomfort 332 Spiritual and Religious Issues 342 Substance Abuse/Dependence 350 Suicidal Ideation 366 Survivor’s Guilt 376 Tobacco Use 385

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book creates a space in which trauma of all kinds can be explored and confronted." * Film Matters *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Documenting the “Residue of Battle” 1. “Imaging the Mind”: Military Psychiatry Meets Documentary Film 2. Solemn Venues: War Trauma and the Expanding Nontheatrical Realm 3. Selling “Psycho Films”: Trauma Cinema and the Military-Industrial Complex 4. Psychodocudramatics: Role-Playing War Trauma from the Hospital to Hollywood 5. “Casualties of the Spirit”: Let There Be Light and Its Contexts Conclusion: Traumatic Returns Notes Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisForced to contend with unprecedented levels of psychological trauma during World War II, the United States military began sponsoring a series of nontheatrical films designed to educate and even rehabilitate soldiers and civilians alike.Traumatic Imprintstraces the development of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic approaches to wartime trauma by the United States military, along with links to formal and narrative developments in military and civilian filmmaking. Offering close readings of a series of films alongside analysis of period scholarship in psychiatry and bolstered by research in trauma theory and documentary studies, Noah Tsika argues that trauma was foundational in postwar American culture. Examining wartime and postwar debates about the use of cinema as a vehicle for studying, publicizing, and even what has been termed working through war trauma, this book is an original contribution to scholarship on the military-industrial complex.Trade Review"This book creates a space in which trauma of all kinds can be explored and confronted." * Film Matters *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Documenting the “Residue of Battle” 1. “Imaging the Mind”: Military Psychiatry Meets Documentary Film 2. Solemn Venues: War Trauma and the Expanding Nontheatrical Realm 3. Selling “Psycho Films”: Trauma Cinema and the Military-Industrial Complex 4. Psychodocudramatics: Role-Playing War Trauma from the Hospital to Hollywood 5. “Casualties of the Spirit”: Let There Be Light and Its Contexts Conclusion: Traumatic Returns Notes Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCHOICE Outstanding Academic Title, 2022A cultural history of how white men exploited the image of the Vietnam veteran to roll back civil rights and restake their claim on the nation If war among the whites brought peace and liberty to the blacks, Frederick Douglass asked in 1875, peering into the nation's future, what will peace among the whites bring? The answer then and now, after civil war and civil rights: a white reunion disguised as a veterans' reunion. How White Men Won the Culture Wars shows how a broad contingent of white menconservative and liberal, hawk and dove, vet and nonvettransformed the Vietnam War into a staging ground for a postcivil rights white racial reconciliation. Conservatives could celebrate white vets as raceless embodiments of the nation. Liberals could treat them as minoritized heroes whose voices must be heard. Erasing Americans of color, Southeast Asians, and women from the war, white men with stories of vets on their mind could agree, after civil righTrade Review“Original and persuasive. . . . A wide-ranging and provocative tour through the post-Vietnam cultural and political scene.” * The New Republic *"Simultaneously uplifting and disconcerting, How White Men Won the Culture Wars is recommended for all readers interested in US history, particularly those interested in looking at contemporary commonalities but more specifically the ways race has been used in culture wars. There simply is not another book quite like this, making Darda’s work groundbreaking." * CHOICE *"How White Men Won the Culture Wars identifies a meta-phenomenon evocative of the existential precipice faced by Germany after its loss of the First World War, which is among the unsettling takeaways from this unique contribution to studies of American political culture." * Peace & Change: A Journal of Peace Research *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Thin White Line 1. Post-Traumatic Whiteness 2. Veteran American Literature 3. Whiteness on the Edge of Town 4. The Ethnicization of Veteran America 5. Like a Refugee Epilogue: Veteran America First Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WA PREMIER''S BOOK AWARDS - BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024SHORTLISTED FOR THE MARGARET MEDCALF AWARD 2024''I remember seeing a flash, I turned around and heard a roar like a train approaching in a tunnel. Then a tremendous crack like a whiplash passed directly overhead. I saw a mushroom cloud ... There was black and white smoke, orange and red flames ascending through the centre of the mushroom.'' RAN Able Seaman Vince Douglas, participant in Operation HurricaneAt 8.00 a.m. on Friday 3 October 1952, Britain''s first atomic bomb was detonated in the hold of a surplus frigate, HMS Plym, moored in the Montebello Islands, 50 miles off the North West Coast of Western Australia. The blast vaporised the Plym, produced a mushroom cloud 2 miles high, and covered the islands and parts of the Australian mainland with fallout. The test, codenamed Operation Hurricane, was the culmination of years of top-secret planning in

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Book SynopsisThe story of Hanns Scharff, the German master interrogator of the Luftwaffe who questioned captured American fighter pilots of the USAAF Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in World War II. German IntelligenceOfficerHanns Scharffgained the reputation as the man who could magically get all the answers he needed from the prisoners of war in World War 2. In most cases, the POWs being interrogated never realized that their words, small talk or otherwise, were important pieces of the mosaic Hanns Scharff was constructing for the benefit of Germany's war effort. In the words of one former POW, What did Scharff get from me? Nothing, yet there is no doubt he got something. If you talked about the weather or anything else, he no doubt got some information or confirmation from it. His technique was psychic, not physical.Another POW commented, Hanns Scharff could probably get a confession of infidelity from a Nun! To this day, ex-POWs fret

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Book SynopsisChronicling the many faces of the WWII effort, these contemporary black-and-white portraits of the longest surviving veterans remind us that the war comprised a collection of Americans from all walks of life. Their penetrating gaze captures the ethos of the endeavor of war. Intimate memories offer glimpses into the horrifying, and at times awe-inspiring, reality of war. The faces of these veterans, from all branches, are juxtaposed with images of their youthful selves and serve as a visual representation of the expanse of their life experiences.Appealingto the families of soldiers, academics, history buffs, and veterans of other wars, this collection is a testament to the spirit of patriotism and strength of a collective American effort.

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Book SynopsisThe inside story of this all-volunteer organization and showcases a Quilt of Valor from each state!

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Book SynopsisThis book is a call to action to address the sometimes difficult transition many soldiers face when returning to civilian life. It explores the development, performance, and reception of Contact!Unload, a play that brings to life the personal stories of veterans returning from deployment overseas.The play presents an arts-based therapeutic approach to dealing with trauma. Researchers in theatre and group counselling collaborated with military veterans through a series of workshops to create and perform the work. Based on the lives of military veterans, it depicts ways of overcoming stress injuries encountered during service. The book, which includes the full script of the play, offers academic, artistic, personal, and theoretical perspectives from people directly involved in the performances of Contact!Unload as well as those who witnessed the work as audience members. The play and book serve as a model for using arts-based approaches to mental health care aTable of ContentsIntroduction / Graham W. Lea and George BelliveauPart 1: Researching, Developing, and Creating1 Staging War: Historical Contexts of Theatre and Social Health Initiatives with Veterans / Michael Balfour2 Contact!Unload: The Cauldron / Chuck MacKinnon3 Facilitating Therapeutic Change through Theatre Performance / Alistair G. Gordon, Marv Westwood, and Carson A. Kivari4 A Soldier’s Tale: “Nobody Understood What I’d Done” / Britney Dennison5 Listening through Stories: Insights into Writing Contact!Unload / Graham W. Lea6 Suicides to Sydney / Foster Eastman7 Coming Home / Tim Laidler8 Reconnaissance and Reclamation: Learning to Talk about the War / Anna Keefe9 Impact on Veteran Performers / George Belliveau, Blair McLean, and Christopher Cook10 Holding on to the Script / Phillip LoprestiContact!Unload: Annotated Playscript Part 2: Performing, Witnessing, and Evaluating11 Finding My Truth / Timothy Garthside12 Unpacking Contact!Unload Using Relational-Cultural Theory / Candace Marshall with Graham W. Lea13 Contact!Unload Revisited: Degrees of Separation / Lynn Fels14 Remembering / Carl Leggo15 A Poet(h)ic Reflection on Contact!Unload: Voices of Women Through War/ Heather Duff16 Soldiers Lead the Way in the Fight for Mental Health among Men / John S. Ogrodniczuk17 Audience Experience of Vicarious Witnessing in Performing War / Marion Porath, Marla Buchanan, and Elizabeth Banister18 Understanding the Impacts of Contact!Unload on Audiences / Jennica Nichols, Susan M. Cox, and George Belliveau19 Vulnerable Strength Seen / JS Valdez and Jennica NicholsConclusion / George Belliveau and Graham W. LeaContributors; Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is a call to action to address the sometimes difficult transition many soldiers face when returning to civilian life. It explores the development, performance, and reception of Contact!Unload, a play that brings to life the personal stories of veterans returning from deployment overseas.The play presents an arts-based therapeutic approach to dealing with trauma. Researchers in theatre and group counselling collaborated with military veterans through a series of workshops to create and perform the work. Based on the lives of military veterans, it depicts ways of overcoming stress injuries encountered during service. The book, which includes the full script of the play, offers academic, artistic, personal, and theoretical perspectives from people directly involved in the performances of Contact!Unload as well as those who witnessed the work as audience members. The play and book serve as a model for using arts-based approaches to mental health care aTable of ContentsIntroduction / Graham W. Lea and George BelliveauPart 1: Researching, Developing, and Creating1 Staging War: Historical Contexts of Theatre and Social Health Initiatives with Veterans / Michael Balfour2 Contact!Unload: The Cauldron / Chuck MacKinnon3 Facilitating Therapeutic Change through Theatre Performance / Alistair G. Gordon, Marv Westwood, and Carson A. Kivari4 A Soldier’s Tale: “Nobody Understood What I’d Done” / Britney Dennison5 Listening through Stories: Insights into Writing Contact!Unload / Graham W. Lea6 Suicides to Sydney / Foster Eastman7 Coming Home / Tim Laidler8 Reconnaissance and Reclamation: Learning to Talk about the War / Anna Keefe9 Impact on Veteran Performers / George Belliveau, Blair McLean, and Christopher Cook10 Holding on to the Script / Phillip LoprestiContact!Unload: Annotated Playscript Part 2: Performing, Witnessing, and Evaluating11 Finding My Truth / Timothy Garthside12 Unpacking Contact!Unload Using Relational-Cultural Theory / Candace Marshall with Graham W. Lea13 Contact!Unload Revisited: Degrees of Separation / Lynn Fels14 Remembering / Carl Leggo15 A Poet(h)ic Reflection on Contact!Unload: Voices of Women Through War/ Heather Duff16 Soldiers Lead the Way in the Fight for Mental Health among Men / John S. Ogrodniczuk17 Audience Experience of Vicarious Witnessing in Performing War / Marion Porath, Marla Buchanan, and Elizabeth Banister18 Understanding the Impacts of Contact!Unload on Audiences / Jennica Nichols, Susan M. Cox, and George Belliveau19 Vulnerable Strength Seen / JS Valdez and Jennica NicholsConclusion / George Belliveau and Graham W. LeaContributors; Index

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Book SynopsisWhen US Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor sacrificed his life by stepping in front of a live grenade to save his comrades during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he inspired thousands around the world and reminded us that freedom is never free.Trade Review'Defend Us in Battle is a powerful narrative about modern warfare and a tribute to Michael and his teammates. It is also an American family's story. The Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to underate it. Nothing in our SEAL training would have led Michael to do what he did. Yet for those of us who knew him, especially his teammates in Task Unit Bruiser, we were not surprised by what he did. His mother, Sally, and father, George, were his examples of love, selflessness, and service above self. It is the nurturing of our families that gives SEAL warriors courage. It is this dedication to ideals greater than self that gives us strength.' * Vice Admiral Joseph Maguire, USN (Ret.) *'As an unknown person once said, 'Someday when the pages of my life end, I know that my son will be one of the most beautiful chapters.' Defend Us in Battle does just that. The values instilled in Michael at an early age epitomize those held by his fellow Medal of Honor Recipients--courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship, and patriotism. The simple act of saving the lives of his brothers by sacrificing his own, while a moment in time, is the culmination of his life experiences--learning to overcome obstacles and injuries. He never gave up on his dream of becoming one of America's elite special operations units. Truly inspirational.' * John Falkenbury, Executive Vice President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society *'Michael 'Mikey' Monsoor's life and service will be an inspiration for generations. In Defend Us in Battle, George Monsoor and Rose Rea (with help from other friends and family) tell his story with vigor, verve, and heartfelt emotion. Their insight and devotion to the man and the country he selflessly served are evident on every page, providing a rare, intimate portrait of a hero.' * Jim DeFelice, Coauthor of American Sniper *

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Book SynopsisThe award-winning author of Washington's Immortals offers a searing narrative that takes readers into the heart of combat in the Great War

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Book SynopsisPresents a philosophical meditation on what warfare does to us. This book examines the reasons soldiers act as they do. It explains the attractions of battle - the adrenaline rush, the esprit de corps - and analyzes the many rationalizations made by combat troops to justify their actions.Trade Review"A superb study of modern combat man, and his relationship to death, and his thoughts about it."—Chicago Sunday Tribune"[A] classic."—Philip Caputo, Washington Post

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Book SynopsisThe first book to explore the idea and effect of moral injury on veterans, their families, and their communities Although veterans make up only 7 percent of the U.S. population, they account for an alarming 20 percent of all suicides. And though treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder has undoubtedly alleviated suffering and allowed many service members returning from combat to transition to civilian life, the suicide rate for veterans under thirty has been increasing. Research by Veterans Administration health professionals and veterans’ own experiences now suggest an ancient but unaddressed wound of war may be a factor: moral injury. This deep-seated sense of transgression includes feelings of shame, grief, meaninglessness, and remorse from having violated core moral beliefs. Rita Nakashima Brock and Gabriella Lettini, who both grew up in families deeply affected by war, have been working closely with vets on what moral injury looks like, how vets cope with it, and what can be done to heal the damage inflicted on soldiers’ consciences. In Soul Repair, the authors tell the stories of four veterans of wars from Vietnam to our current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan—Camillo “Mac” Bica, Herman Keizer Jr., Pamela Lightsey, and Camilo Mejía—who reveal their experiences of moral injury from war and how they have learned to live with it. Brock and Lettini also explore its effect on families and communities, and the community processes that have gradually helped soldiers with their moral injuries. Soul Repair will help veterans, their families, members of their communities, and clergy understand the impact of war on the consciences of healthy people, support the recovery of moral conscience in society, and restore veterans to civilian life. When a society sends people off to war, it must accept responsibility for returning them home to peace. 

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Book SynopsisEssays in this collection approach Civil War veterans from oblique angles, including theatre, political, and disability history, as well as borderlands and memory studies. Contributors examine the lives of Union and Confederate veterans, African American veterans, former prisoners of war, amputees, and ex-guerrilla fighters.Trade ReviewThe War Went On: Reconsidering the Lives of Civil War Veterans both encapsulates and extends the recent outpouring of work on Civil War veterans. The veterans analyzed from several creative angles engage in politics, recall their prison experience, build memorial halls, and seek pensions. But they also defend the honor of their service, go to live in veterans' homes, and even seek pensions despite being deserters. This rich collection of essays offers a wide range of veterans' voices, tackles knotty questions about their experiences, and provides direction for future work. The War Went On is a valuable and timely collection, reminding us that Civil War veterans, like all veterans, were not a monolithic group. Their postwar lives were often messy and complicated, and not uniformly defined by their war experience. Readers will further gain an excellent sense of current debates over the Civil War's lasting and significant legacy. Jordan and Rothera's magnificent collection sets a new standard in Civil War studies. Concise, deeply researched, and well written, this volume captures the incredibly diverse homecomings of those who survived America's greatest cataclysm. While each essay makes an invaluable individual contribution to the field, collectively they reflect the absolute best of current scholarship on this important issue.

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Book SynopsisExplores the stereotypes often found in patriotic rhetoric, popular media, literature, and veterans' lives.

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