Military veterans Books

Book SynopsisAs the military draws down its forces, many veterans will enter the civilian workforce and may seek educational and training opportunities to further their transition into civilian jobs. Because pursuing a higher education degree may not be the best path for some veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill on-the-job training (OJT) and apprenticeship programs provide alternative opportunities. This book examines how selected veterans and employers used the programs and how widely they have been used; to what extent the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and states have taken steps to inform veterans and employers about these programs; what challenges, if any, veterans and employers have faced in using them; and to what extent VA has assessed the performance of its programs.

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Book SynopsisAt a time when the United States debates how deeply to involve itself in Iraq and Syria, Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea, USMC (ret.), holds a unique vantage point on our still-ongoing war. Deployed to Iraq in March 2004, his team’s mission was to build, train, and lead in combat the first Iraqi army battalion trained by the US military. Zacchea tells a deeply personal and powerful story while shedding light on the dangerous pitfalls of training foreign troops to fight murderous insurgents. The Ragged Edge is the first American military memoir out of Iraq or Syria that features complex Arab and Kurdish characters and that intimately explores their culture and politics in a dispassionate way. Zacchea’s invaluable lessons about Americans working with Arabs and Kurds to fight insurgency and terrorism come precisely when such wartime collaboration is happening more than at any time in US history.Trade Review"Michael Zacchea and Ted Kemp have written a superb account of the efforts to build an Iraqi Army from scratch. This is a book rich in lessons and emotions. Every commander-in-chief contemplating intervention should read this." General Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Retired), former commander of U.S. Central Command, author of The Battle for Peace and Before the First Shots Are Fired

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Book SynopsisThe great nineteenth century French military thinker, Ardant du Picq, argued that selfless courage is rooted in a higher moral purpose, and is found among "Elite Souls." This is a book about five such "Elite Souls," all highly decorated young West Point graduates and recipients of the USMA's Ninninger Medal.   Elite Souls outlines the importance of building and developing moral character in military leaders, while arguing that a rigorous academic education is also essential in creating young officers capable of the kind of creative and critical thinking necessary in the complicated wars of the twenty-first century.  Dr. Raymond suggests that West Point's servant-leader model is critical in fostering the kind of intense selflessness ideally seen between junior officers, their NCOs, and soldiers. Finally, Elite Souls makes the case that inspirational commanding officers are also key.     In this book, Dr. Ray Raymond argues that each of the recipients of the Ninninger Award entered West Point primarily for moral reasons and that the Academy's rigorous academic, military, and developmental methods strengthened those values. West Point produced young military leaders who were exceptionally well-educated and trained to deal with the complex challenges of war in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early twenty first century.Trade ReviewElite Souls is a compelling and gripping story of battlefield heroism and selfless service. Author Ray Raymond—a professional historian, diplomat, and scholar—spotlights five extraordinary West Point graduates who received the Academy’s Nininger Award for demonstrating valorous leadership during the campaigns of Iraq and Afghanistan. The book focuses on the sources of pre-combat nurturing which contributed to the success of these warriors: their families, their rigorous character development at West Point, and their Army leaders on deployment. Raymond writes with a riveting narrative style which captures the danger and setbacks of each of these warriors in a way that reveals not only their personal courage and triumphs but also the complexity of servant leadership for soldiers in the wars of the 21st century."— Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon, Jr., USA (Ret.), Former superintendent of the United States Military Academy"Elite Souls is a great book and an easy read. The book captures the stories of the development of some of our best young military officers. It is a true guide as to what it takes to develop leaders of character."—Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox, Jr., USA (Ret.), Former superintendent of the United States Military Academy"Elite Souls captures the story of five American soldiers who decided to serve their country by first going to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and then deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. When facing life and death in traumatic situations, they chose to put their own lives on the line for their fellow soldiers, never willing to let them down. As a result, each was selected by a special group at West Point for the prestigious Nininger Award. Their stories will not only amaze you, but will also inspire you to live a life worthy of their incredible sacrifice."—Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, USA (Ret.), 57th superintendent of the United States Military Academy"In his detailed descriptions of five Nininger Award recipients, author Ray Raymond brings each one to life and shows how they responded to extraordinary circumstances. The reader actually feels as if he knows them personally. Elite Souls is a great read–gripping and insightful."—Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck, USA (Ret.), 57th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy"This book cells the story of five officers, all grad­uates of West Point, from their childhood to their education, military training and service overseas. All had unique experiences, but each was flavored with the themes of their service common to all soldiers. The author captures those themes and relays them effectively to the reader. The book is an interesting look at the lives of young officers in the U.S. Army."Military Heritage

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of World War II, professor Lauren Post, San Diego State College, asked his students entering military service to write to him. Thousands of letters arrived from places like Pearl Harbor, North Africa, and Normandy, beginning with the salutation, “Dear Doc,” and describing vivid accounts of training, combat, and camaraderie. Pilots wrote about seeing planes shot down. Men in POW camps sent word about the location of other prisoners and Dr. Post passed information on to frantic families. Mothers, hoping for news about missing sons, clutched at the details. These intimate, first-person accounts capture honest, in-the-moment reactions to war that resound with heartache and gratitude. Each month, Dr. Post excerpted the letters and mailed the Aztec News Letter around the world. Fraternities, typing classes, and families donated time and money for printing and postage. When the latest issue arrived, servicemen and women read it cover-to-cover, and then passed it to another Aztec in service. Dr. Post produced and mailed a newsletter each month for four years. He sent pilots Aztec stickers to put on their planes. Soldiers sent him Nazi flags and sand from Iwo Jima. He tallied up the medals they earned and took time to call their mothers. He couldn’t rest until he knew that every student who had been taken prisoner was released. For years afterward, men and women dropped by his small campus office to thank him for helping them make it through the war. This is the story of the devotion of a remarkable college professor who held his students, their campus, and an entire community together during World War II. These students fought for democracy and to preserve a cherished way of life that included football, Coca-Cola, and Sadie Hawkins dances. Their correspondences to one beloved professor describe an American perspective of war that shines with idealism, determination, raw grief, and the power of friendship.Trade Review“Author Lisa Shapiro combined short descriptions of the war’s progress with the letters in order to provide context for readers of this remarkably valuable volume.” —San Diego Jewish World “‘The simple, beautiful, profound prose’ conveys ‘for me the meaning of war,’ Shapiro writes, and she is correct.” —Military Times 2018 Summer Reading Guide “As the uses of drone technology expand across geographies and functional areas, One Nation, Under Drones, edited by Captain John E. Jackson, USN (Ret.) is an essential and long-needed survey of the most pressing issues regarding the combat uses of drone technology. In an area where every day brings fresh developments and reporting on ‘drones,’ One Nation, Under Drones helpfully elevates the discussion by calling on legal, ethical, technological, and military experts to examine the most critical aspects of combat applications of drone technology…. A comprehensive survey of the technological, ethical, and legal considerations for drone warfare.” —The Cipher Brief “The intimate, first-person accounts captured honesty, sympathy, raw grief, and wonder. The tales shared by these articulate, college educated men and women are often dramatic, like parachuting through anti-aircraft fire into Normandy, or digging in with the Women’s Army Corps behind the front lines in North Africa. These collected, individual moments add up to something greater than the sum of the parts. The letters shine with a belief in country, and a desire to work for the common good.” —The Scuttlebut: Library Log “This is quite a remarkable book, the true story of a college professor who started a newsletter with his wife for his former students who were off at war…. [This is] an incredible resource for modern readers. For those who need historical background for each group of letters printed here, the author does an excellent job of presenting concise explanations of the events of the day and the war theaters in which they were taking place.” —WTBF-AM/FM “Compilations of personal letters, diaries, and journals for publication extend primarily in United States history, from the Civil War to the present. This volume presents letters which were sent to a professor of geography at then-San Diego State College during World War II. Excerpts of these letters were included in a newsletter which was mailed to those SDSC Aztec students who were serving in the military, at home and abroad…. With much of the World War II generation having passed away, these letters are invaluable in giving those of us who have come after an opportunity to again appreciate the effort and sacrifice made on our behalf, as well as the viewpoints of those who lived through the destruction and life’s disruption of the world’s greatest conflict. For a look at an academic segment of American society in the 1940s, this volume is recommended.” —The Journal of America's Literary Past “No Forgotten Fronts is a vivid reminder of the importance of letter writing and the printed word for service members and their friends and families during the war. Such writing was an emotional and psychological lifeline stretching thousands of miles around the globe from the safety of the United States to the dangers of the battlefield. The book is emotionally captivating and intellectually enlightening and recommended for anyone wishing to understand these aspects of the experiences the Second World War from the first-hand perspective of U.S. military service members.” – Cercles "Shapiro brilliantly captures the stories of men and women from one college who met the call to service, and vividly outlines a lesson in the value of communal connection. Through these true stories, the reader is immersed in the entire spectrum of emotion experienced by service members around the world, and their loved ones during World War II. Much like Dr. Post’s efforts to keep a community bonded, Shapiro connects us with their words across time’s boundary."—Derek Abbey, 23-year Marine Corps veteran, higher education specialist, expert researcher, and Board Member with the BentProp Project, active in locating, identifying, and recovering POW and MIA Americans from World War II and other conflicts “I could not put this book down! No Forgotten Fronts compellingly weaves history with the actual words of San Diego State soldiers during World War II and Dr. Lauren C. Post, their professor on the home front, in a way that demonstrates without question the role of support each person played for all the others.”—Dr. Susan Dersnah Fee, supporter of the American War Letters Project "Professor Shapiro captures the essence of Dr. Post’s students’ grief, anxiety, loneliness, and desire to locate their friends or know how they were able to survive during the war. The book is a testament to the human spirit that never gives up amidst challenges. Letters are messages from the heart, and the reader will be brought to the hearts and minds of those heroic families who fought for our freedoms and the preservation of our values."—Raquel R. Ramsey, executive producer of Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story "A beautiful message of the power of one person to make a difference in the world, even in time of war. This book is a reminder to all of us that simply bearing faithful witness to the profound, the mundane, and the profane can be sacred work."—Rev. Jan Christian, author of Leave No Brother Behind: A Sister’s War Memoir

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Book Synopsis“A hospital ... is like a roosting box: a communal space that provides ideal but temporary shelter for [the] vulnerable.” In the aftermath of the First World War, a cash register factory in the west end of Toronto was renovated to treat wounded soldiers returning from war. From 1919 to the 1940s, thousands of soldiers passed through its doors. Some spent the remainder of their lives there. The Roosting Box is an exquisitely written history of the early years of the Christie Street Hospital and how war reshaped Canadian society. What sets it apart from other volumes is the detail about the ordinary people at the heart of the book: veterans learning to live with their injuries and a world irrevocably changed; nurses caring for patients while coming to terms with their own wartime trauma; and doctors pioneering research in prosthetics and plastic surgery or, in the case of Frederick Banting, in a treatment for diabetes. Naming chapters after parts of the body, den Hartog chronicles injuries and treatments, and through the voices of men and women, the struggles and accomplishments of the patients and staff. The cast of characters is diverse — Black, female, Indigenous, and people with all sorts of physical and mental challenges — and their experiences, gleaned from diaries, letters, service records, genealogical research, and interviews with descendants, are surprising and illuminating. An unusual mix of history and story, The Roosting Box offers deeply personal perspectives on healing in the aftermath of war.

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Book SynopsisThis is the story, in words and pictures, of Blind Veterans UK, an organization that was founded 100 years ago by Sir Arthur Pearson, who was himself blind, during the First World War, in order to bring hope and practical help to British and Allied servicemen blinded in the service of their country. It also tells of how light from the torch which Pearson lit in 1915 spread to all corners of the earth, to which his beloved St Dunstaners returned, having 'graduated' from the mother organization in Regent's Park - for example, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa. Herewith are accounts of the lives of many St Dunstaner's/Blind Veterans, who each in his or her unique way, triumphed over blindness, together with a unique collection of photographs, including those provided by Blind Veteran's UK, by the Pearson family, and by the families of St Dunstaners throughout the world. And this includes the story of my own grandfather, Thomas Waldin, who was himself a St Dunstaner.Table of ContentsBlind Veterans UK; Author's Note; Acknowledgements; Preface; 1, Arthur Pearson: Early Life. 2, Pearson's Weekly. 3, Pearson's Fresh Air Fund. 4, Pearson Remarries: Frensham Place. 5, Pearson the Newspaper Proprietor. 6, Pearson and the Search for the Giant Sloth. 7, C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. 8, Pearson and the Scout Movement. 9, Pearson and the National Institute for the Blind. 10, Pearson and the Founding of St Dunstan's. 11, The Newcomer to St Dunstan's. 12, St Dunstan's Goes from Strength to Strength. 13, Types of Eye Injury and their Treatment. 14, Pearson's Brainchild in Operation. 15, Aftercare. 16, Gladys Cooper and St Dunstan's. 17, Pearson and the Secret of His Success. 18, The 'Chief ' Visits the Front. 19, Further Developments at St Dunstan's. 20, The Armistice and Beyond. 21, Some British St Dunstaners. 22, Some St Dunstaners from Overseas. 23, Pearson and Helen Keller. 24, Richard King Huskinson. 25, Death of the 'Chief '. 26, St Dunstan's Without Pearson. 27, The Second World War. 28, The Great Work Continues. 29, Post-War Timeline of Events. Epilogue; Appendices; Endnotes; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisWith both personal and professional insight from a range of contributors, this informative guide highlights the use of art therapy in a range of settings to support military veterans. Offering a wealth of knowledge on this approach and the variety of current programs available, this is an invaluable resource for all therapists looking to provide support for this population.Chapters explore the use of art therapy in a range of different settings, including museum programs, open studio therapy and assisted living environments, as well as large group therapy at treatment facilities for active-duty service members. It also offers rare insight into the effectiveness of art therapy in supporting veterans who are processing military sexual trauma, moral injury and countertransference, filling essential gaps in knowledge within this area.As demand for this practice continues to grow, Art Therapy with Veterans provides inspiration for future programs and therapists looking to support military communities.Trade ReviewThis edited collection brings together a strong representation of contemporary art therapy practices and approaches for veterans from diverse viewpoints, settings, and experiences. The variety of topics presented highlight the many ways art therapy supports service members and important considerations for anyone working with or connected to active or retired military. A valuable resource and contribution! -- Gretchen M. Miller, MA, ATR-BC, ACTP Registered Board Certified Art Therapist, Art Therapy Educator, Director, Peace Paper ProjectThe authors provide an invaluable text on treating veterans. A balance between academic writings and personal narratives, nine chapters cover far-ranging topics from dealing with military sexual trauma, substance abuse, loss, moral injury, to coping with countertransference. This book affords a firm foundation on which to work with our military heroes. -- Marcia L. Rosal, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM Professor Emerita (Retired), Florida State UniversitySuch an amazing and timely book about art therapy with veterans, edited by an art therapist who is a veteran. Ms. Rachel Mims, alongside a cadre of amazing scholars and practitioners, has provided a well-rounded, accessible resource that demonstrates just how valuable art therapy is in meeting the needs of those that have served. -- David E. Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC—Florida State University, Professor of Art Therapy and Project Coordinator of the FSU/FDC Art Therapy in Prisons ProgramTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Art Therapy Treatment for Military Sexual Trauma by Rachel Mims Chapter 2: Art for Warriors: A Museum Based Art Therapy Program for Veterans by Raquel Farrell-KirkChapter 3: Handpapermaking with Student Veterans by Meredith McMackinChapter 4: Building Hope, Resilience, and Freedom in an Open Studio Group by Jashley Boatright Chapter 5: Reflection, Reminiscence, Honor: Working with Veterans in Later Life by Erin Partridge Chapter 6: Moral Injury in Veterans and Military Service Members by Rachel Mims Chapter 7: Mission Resiliency: A Large Group Art Therapy program by Deborah MurphyChapter 8: Art Therapy in an Active Duty Military Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Clinic by Courtney Bennett and Kevin D'AugustineChapter 9: Countertransference When Working with Military Service Members and Veterans by Rachel Mims, Peter Buotte, Gioia Chilton, Kevin D'Augustine and Meredith McMackin

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Book SynopsisWINNER: Independent Press Awards 2021 - Career Figuring out your next move after transitioning out of the military should start before your last day. Prepare yourself emotionally and professionally to put those hard-earned skills in context of the civilian world. The transition from military to civilian life is more than just a title change; it is a whole new life experience with the sense of excitement and possibility that accompany a transition. Whether you're preparing to retire or separate, Success After Service is written to help all veterans succeed in the civilian workplace. Success After Service provides the tools, resources and strategies to help you adapt to the civilian workplace and evaluate post-military career options. Whether you become an entrepreneur, move into the corporate world or pursue higher education, you will learn how to develop a portfolio of career assets, including your résumé, elevator pitch, online profiles, interview acumen and professional network, empowering you to begin your new career with confidence and clarity. Success After Service is the perfect guide for transitioning military and veterans who seek a coherent set of strategies, resources and steps for building a meaningful, deliberate and rewarding post-military career.Trade Review"The most comprehensive and effective resource for those separating from the military and veterans diving into the civilian job market for the first time." * Sarah Blansett, Retired Navy Commander and Director of Operations and Strategic Partnerships, Military.Com *"If you are wondering if you've thought everything through as you transition from military service to the civilian world, then start with this book and wonder no more." * Jared Lyon, MPA, President and CEO, Student Veterans of America *"Lida Citroën has done it again! Success After Service is a must-read for anyone transitioning from a military to a civilian career. Packed with expert advice, unbeatable tools, and exercises that will develop your "career search" muscles and enable you to flex those muscles in your new role. Lida provides everything you'll need to create and execute your personal plan for success." * Morag Barrett, Author, Speaker, CEO of SkyeTeam *"In Success After Service, Lida makes it her personal mission to ensure that transitioning military personnel are well equipped with the tools, resources and mindset required for the leap from military to civilian life. Even better, as you transition, this book provides guidance on the steps and considerations necessary to becoming a valuable resource whether you decide to become an entrepreneur, student or employee." * Ron Burke, Sr. Project Manager, Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostics Division *"Lida has provided an essential guidebook for those making the transition from the military. She has compiled an invaluable resource that poses all the right questions, provides valuable exercises, offers very practical advice and includes insights from those who successfully navigated their own transition. Success After Service should be the go-to guide for those taking off their military uniform and looking for their next mission post service. I have long believed that given the incomparable training and experience of those who have served our country, if we share with them the rules of the post-service game, they will undoubtedly out play the rest of us every time. Lida just gave them the rule book." * Maureen Casey, Chief Operating Officer, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University *"Ask any veteran and they'll tell you that they wish they'd had a single transition resource which pulled together a clear and empowering step-by-step roadmap to a rewarding post-military life. Now there is! Success After Service is packed with cases studies, examples and stories from various veteran experiences, and offers practical, inspiring and realistic systems and tools the reader can use to build and grow a successful career after the military. As a veteran myself, I wish I had this resource available to me during my transition. It would have made my life a lot easier!" * Mike Figliuolo, Managing Director, thoughtLEADERS, LLC and author of One Piece of Paper, Lead Inside the Box, and The Elegant Pitch *"Transitioning from the military into the civilian world is often challenging for our service members, but in times of economic uncertainty, the transition is considerably more difficult and requires a greater number of resources. Lida Citroën's book is more important today than ever before." * Sidney E. Goodfriend, Founder and Chairman, American Corporate Partners *"Lida Citroën has quickly become the go-to authority for personal branding and career transition. Her book is a must-read for anyone transitioning from military to civilian life. She is incredibly skilled at taking a normally complex time of life and breaking it down into chunks that are navigable and easy to win." * Myron Pincomb, CEO and Board Chairman, International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards *"Every transitioning service member should add these strategies to their toolkit. After getting off active duty, it took me eight years and four jobs before I was able to find a career path. This book would have helped me find my direction much earlier in my civilian career. Higher education is much more than earning a degree. For a veteran, it is an opportunity to practice skills needed to be a successful civilian. The strategies presented by Lida provide a practical pathway to examine and guide your personal transition. The change from military service to veteran can be difficult. Lida provides a practical pathway to examine and guide your transition in order to help you eliminate or more easily overcome challenges." * Mr. Jamie Richards, Director, Veterans Success Center, Purdue University *"Lida has captured the civilian model of task and purpose in a quintessential toolkit that will resonate with all ranks as they navigate the rough seas of transition." * James Rodriguez, Former Deputy, Assistant Secretary of Defense, The Office of Warrior Care Policy *"Success After Service should be in the hands of every transitioning servicemember! Lida Citroën offers a comprehensive guide to military transition fundamentals and advanced strategies to live your best post-service life!" * Cory Boatwright, Manager, Military and Veteran Recruiting Programs, LinkedIn *"This is a must-read for any transitioning servicemember as well as for any ally of the veteran community that wants to understand the many challenges veterans face as they enter corporate America." * Rob Barea, Director, Inclusion and Diversity, KPMG *Table of Contents Chapter - 00: Introduction; Chapter - 01: Fundamentals of Career Readiness; Chapter - 02: What to Do Before You Separate/Retire; Chapter - 03: Evaluating the Path Forward – Employment, Education, or Entrepreneurship; Chapter - 04: Building Your Personal Brand; Chapter - 05: Career-Ready Tools to Gather – Resume and Cover Letter; Chapter - 06: Getting Yourself Out There – Crafting Your Narrative and Networking in Person; Chapter - 07: Getting Yourself Out There – Networking Online; Chapter - 08: Finding Mentors, Apprenticeships, and Internships; Chapter - 09: Researching, Applying, and Interviewing for a Job; Chapter - 10: Choosing and Beginning Your Career, Education, and Business Venture; Chapter - 11: Growing Your Career in the First Three Years; Chapter - 12: Growing Your Career and Knowing When to Move On

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Book SynopsisWINNER: Independent Press Awards 2021 - Career Figuring out your next move after transitioning out of the military should start before your last day. Prepare yourself emotionally and professionally to put those hard-earned skills in context of the civilian world. The transition from military to civilian life is more than just a title change; it is a whole new life experience with the sense of excitement and possibility that accompany a transition. Whether you're preparing to retire or separate, Success After Service is written to help all veterans succeed in the civilian workplace. Success After Service provides the tools, resources and strategies to help you adapt to the civilian workplace and evaluate post-military career options. Whether you become an entrepreneur, move into the corporate world or pursue higher education, you will learn how to develop a portfolio of career assets, including your résumé, elevator pitch, online profiles, interview acumen and professional network, empowering you to begin your new career with confidence and clarity. Success After Service is the perfect guide for transitioning military and veterans who seek a coherent set of strategies, resources and steps for building a meaningful, deliberate and rewarding post-military career.Trade Review"The most comprehensive and effective resource for those separating from the military and veterans diving into the civilian job market for the first time." * Sarah Blansett, Retired Navy Commander and Director of Operations and Strategic Partnerships, Military.Com *"If you are wondering if you've thought everything through as you transition from military service to the civilian world, then start with this book and wonder no more." * Jared Lyon, MPA, President and CEO, Student Veterans of America *"Lida Citroën has done it again! Success After Service is a must-read for anyone transitioning from a military to a civilian career. Packed with expert advice, unbeatable tools, and exercises that will develop your "career search" muscles and enable you to flex those muscles in your new role. Lida provides everything you'll need to create and execute your personal plan for success." * Morag Barrett, Author, Speaker, CEO of SkyeTeam *"In Success After Service, Lida makes it her personal mission to ensure that transitioning military personnel are well equipped with the tools, resources and mindset required for the leap from military to civilian life. Even better, as you transition, this book provides guidance on the steps and considerations necessary to becoming a valuable resource whether you decide to become an entrepreneur, student or employee." * Ron Burke, Sr. Project Manager, Abbott Laboratories, Diagnostics Division *"Lida has provided an essential guidebook for those making the transition from the military. She has compiled an invaluable resource that poses all the right questions, provides valuable exercises, offers very practical advice and includes insights from those who successfully navigated their own transition. Success After Service should be the go-to guide for those taking off their military uniform and looking for their next mission post service. I have long believed that given the incomparable training and experience of those who have served our country, if we share with them the rules of the post-service game, they will undoubtedly out play the rest of us every time. Lida just gave them the rule book." * Maureen Casey, Chief Operating Officer, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University *"Ask any veteran and they'll tell you that they wish they'd had a single transition resource which pulled together a clear and empowering step-by-step roadmap to a rewarding post-military life. Now there is! Success After Service is packed with cases studies, examples and stories from various veteran experiences, and offers practical, inspiring and realistic systems and tools the reader can use to build and grow a successful career after the military. As a veteran myself, I wish I had this resource available to me during my transition. It would have made my life a lot easier!" * Mike Figliuolo, Managing Director, thoughtLEADERS, LLC and author of One Piece of Paper, Lead Inside the Box, and The Elegant Pitch *"Transitioning from the military into the civilian world is often challenging for our service members, but in times of economic uncertainty, the transition is considerably more difficult and requires a greater number of resources. Lida Citroën's book is more important today than ever before." * Sidney E. Goodfriend, Founder and Chairman, American Corporate Partners *"Lida Citroën has quickly become the go-to authority for personal branding and career transition. Her book is a must-read for anyone transitioning from military to civilian life. She is incredibly skilled at taking a normally complex time of life and breaking it down into chunks that are navigable and easy to win." * Myron Pincomb, CEO and Board Chairman, International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards *"Every transitioning service member should add these strategies to their toolkit. After getting off active duty, it took me eight years and four jobs before I was able to find a career path. This book would have helped me find my direction much earlier in my civilian career. Higher education is much more than earning a degree. For a veteran, it is an opportunity to practice skills needed to be a successful civilian. The strategies presented by Lida provide a practical pathway to examine and guide your personal transition. The change from military service to veteran can be difficult. Lida provides a practical pathway to examine and guide your transition in order to help you eliminate or more easily overcome challenges." * Mr. Jamie Richards, Director, Veterans Success Center, Purdue University *"Lida has captured the civilian model of task and purpose in a quintessential toolkit that will resonate with all ranks as they navigate the rough seas of transition." * James Rodriguez, Former Deputy, Assistant Secretary of Defense, The Office of Warrior Care Policy *"Success After Service should be in the hands of every transitioning servicemember! Lida Citroën offers a comprehensive guide to military transition fundamentals and advanced strategies to live your best post-service life!" * Cory Boatwright, Manager, Military and Veteran Recruiting Programs, LinkedIn *"This is a must-read for any transitioning servicemember as well as for any ally of the veteran community that wants to understand the many challenges veterans face as they enter corporate America." * Rob Barea, Director, Inclusion and Diversity, KPMG *Table of Contents Chapter - 00: Introduction; Chapter - 01: Fundamentals of Career Readiness; Chapter - 02: What to Do Before You Separate/Retire; Chapter - 03: Evaluating the Path Forward – Employment, Education, or Entrepreneurship; Chapter - 04: Building Your Personal Brand; Chapter - 05: Career-Ready Tools to Gather – Resume and Cover Letter; Chapter - 06: Getting Yourself Out There – Crafting Your Narrative and Networking in Person; Chapter - 07: Getting Yourself Out There – Networking Online; Chapter - 08: Finding Mentors, Apprenticeships, and Internships; Chapter - 09: Researching, Applying, and Interviewing for a Job; Chapter - 10: Choosing and Beginning Your Career, Education, and Business Venture; Chapter - 11: Growing Your Career in the First Three Years; Chapter - 12: Growing Your Career and Knowing When to Move On

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Book SynopsisThis book contributes important new insights into how deployment on international military missions affects soldiers and their lives. Using both quantitative data and in-depth interviews, the authors provide a longitudinal perspective covering the participants in these missions before, during, and after deployment on a large range of life outcomes. The research centres around four key themes; who are the men and women who choose to be deployed; why do they choose to be deployed; what challenges do these soldiers face before, during, and after returning home from a mission; and what are the consequences of deployment for the soldiers’ individual lives? Danish soldiers provide an illustrative study and data is drawn from administrative registries and is supplemented with broader surveys of present and former soldiers, in-depth interviews of parents and other relatives, and support group professionals. Using specifically constructed datasets and comparing these soldiers with relevant control groups, this book offers a unique analysis of the impact of deployment on important issues such as personal finances, the labour market, criminal activity, smoking and drinking, and overall health. Mapping a full portrait of the men and women who choose to be deployed, and explaining both their initial motivations, this book highlights the challenges they face before and during deployment and upon returning home.Trade ReviewThe authors examine the experiences of Danish soldiers deployed on international missions, focusing on the characteristics of those who choose to be deployed; why they choose to be deployed; challenges they face before, during, and after returning home from a mission; and the impact of deployment on their lives. They use data from administrative registers, following 26,000 deployed soldiers over 18 years, from their pre-deployment lives to their experiences after returning home, as well as surveys and interviews. They describe statistics on the soldiers before their deployment, their path into and out of the military, social relationships and self-assessed health, and experiences during missions; whether the deployment has an independent effect on soldiers' motivation to volunteer for missions, their financial situation, and their criminal behavior; and key elements in their health profile before and after deployment, focusing on psychiatric diagnosis, the use of medication for psychological problems, work-related injuries, and mortality. -- Copyright 2019 * Portland, OR *Table of ContentsChapter 1. Summary of Contents Chapter 2. Overview of Data and Methods Chapter 3. Soldiers Before and During Deployments Chapter 4. Returning Home from an International Military Mission: An Investigation Based on Qualitative Interviews Chapter 5. Mission Experiences and Subsequent Careers: Survey-Based Analyses Chapter 6. Homecoming Soldiers: A 'Before-And-After' Analysis of Motivations, Financial Situation, and Criminality Chapter 7. Soldiers on International Missions: Mental Health Profile Before and After Deployment Chapter 8. Perspectives

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Book SynopsisReissued for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.A Sunday Times Bestseller'Electric... Outstanding.' GuardianIn March 1982 the guided-missile destroyer HMS Coventry was one of a small squadron of ships on exercise off Gibraltar. By the end of April that year she was sailing south in the vanguard of the Task Force towards the front line of the Falklands War.On 25 May, Coventry was attacked by two Argentine Skyhawks, and hit by three bombs. The explosions tore out most of her port side and killed nineteen of the crew, leaving many others injured. Within twenty minutes she had capsized. In her final moments, after all the survivors had been evacuated, her Captain, David Hart Dyke, himself badly burned, climbed down her starboard side and into a life-raft. This is his compelling and moving story.Trade ReviewSuperbly frank and unsentimental... The literature of the Falklands War would be much the poorer without this pithy, well constructed and brutally honest account of the fighting at sea. -- Saul David * Daily Telegraph *Electric... Outstanding. -- John Shirley * Guardian *[An] honest, poignant and moving book. -- Hugh McManners * The Times *Lively, direct, human and engaging, this is one of the best personal memoirs of the bizarre and intense Falklands campaign. -- Robert Fox * BBC History Magazine *A down-to-earth, dramatic account of preparing for war and being plunged into the heart of it. * Glasgow Herald *A justifiably proud account of HMS Coventry's war... A vital but measured story. It will appeal not only to those who were there but to a new generation of readers who will be riveted by this insight into the life on board a Royal Navy ship at war, as well as the sheer drama of Coventry's story... Four Weeks in May is a page-turner, elegantly and tightly written... The tension between his determination to uphold morale, the upbeat letters home, private moments of honest reflection, the self-deprecating humour and what every reader knows will be the disastrous outcome of those four weeks, is compelling... Devastating... Dramatic images of bravery and presence of mind are brilliantly pieced together. -- Alan West * Naval Review *

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Book SynopsisA collection which highlights "the range and richness of scholarship on medieval warfare, military institutions, and cultures of conflict that characterize the field". History 95 [2010] The comprehensive breadth and scope of the Journal are to the fore in this issue, which ranges widely both geographically and chronologically. The subjects of analysis are equally diverse, with three contributions dealing with theCrusades, four with matters related to the Hundred Years War, two with high-medieval Italy, one with the Alans in the Byzantine-Catalan conflict of the early fourteenth century, and one with the wars of the Duke of Cephalonia inWestern Greece and Albania at the turn of the fifteenth century. Topics include military careers, tactics and strategy, the organization of urban defenses, close analysis of chronicle sources, and cultural approaches to the acceptance of gunpowder artillery and the prevalence of military "games" in Italian cities. Contributors: T.S. Asbridge, A. Compton Reeves, Kelly DeVries, Michael Ehrlich, Scott Jessee, Donald Kagay, Savvas Kyriakidis, Randall Moffett, Aldo A. Settia, Charles D. Stanton, Georgios Theotokis, L.J. Andrew Villalon, Anatoly Isaenko.Trade ReviewDrawing upon original research the volume delivers in-depth and extensive insights into subjects that are not just of interest to military historians. * HISTORY *An eclectic mix, but a fascinating one. ... The collection has much to recommend it and is...highly readable. * MEDIEVAL WARFARE *Table of ContentsMilitary Games and the Training of the Infantry - Aldo A. Settia The Battle of Civitate: A Plausible Account - Charles D. Stanton The Square 'Fighting March' of the Crusaders at the battle of Ascalon (1099) - Georgios Theotokis How the Crusades could have been won: King Baldwin II of Jerusalem's campaigns against Aleppo (1124-5) and Damascus (1129). - Thomas S Asbridge Saint Catherine's Day Miracle - the Battle of Montgisard - Michael Ehrlich The Military Effectiveness of Alan Mercenaries in Byzantium, 1301 - 1306 - W. Scott Jessee and Anatoly Isaenko Winning and Recalling Honor in Spain: Pro-English Poetry in Celebration of the Battle of Nájera (1367) - Donald Kagay Winning and Recalling Honor in Spain: Pro-English Poetry in Celebration of the Battle of Nájera (1367) - L. J. Andrew Villalon The Wars and the Army of the duke of Cephalonia Carlo I Tocco (ca.1375-1429) - Savvas Kyriakidis Sir John Radcliffe, K.G. (d. 1441): Miles Famossissimus - A Compton Reeves Defense Schemes of Southampton in the Late Medieval Period, 1300-1500 - Randall Moffett French and English Acceptance of Medieval Gunpowder Weaponry - Kelly DeVries

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Book SynopsisOver the last decade, we have sent thousands of people to fight on our behalf. But what happens when these soldiers come back home, having lost their friends and killed their enemies, having seen and done things that have no place in civilian life? In Aftershock, Matthew Green tells the story of our veterans' journey from the frontline of combat to the reality of return. Through wide-ranging interviews with former combatants -- including a Royal Marine sniper and a former operator in the SAS - as well as serving personnel and their families, physicians, therapists, and psychiatrists, Aftershock looks beyond the headline-grabbing statistics and the labels of post-traumatic stress disorder to get to the heart of today's post-conflict experience. Green asks what lessons have been learned from past wars, and explores the range of help currently available, from traditional talking cures to cutting-edge scientific therapies. As today's battle-scarred troops begin to lay their weapons down, Aftershock is a hard-hitting account of the hidden cost of conflict. And its message is one that has profound implications, not just for the military, but for anyone with an interest in how we experience trauma and survive.Trade ReviewGreen has documented the hidden cost of modern war in a way no other author has ever even attempted. Intelligent, sensitive, courageous and tenacious, he has spent two years listening to the harrowing stories of former soldiers struggling to cope with PTSD - and hearing how the military and medical establishment have, for the most part, failed them. The MoD should hang their heads in shame if this book does not become required reading at every staff college. Aftershock hasn't come a moment too soon -- James Fergusson, author * A Million Bullets *Compelling, humbling and hugely inspiring accounts from the real heroes of our era. We have a duty to understand what these men have given on our behalf -- Bear GryllsIntelligently written and agreeably unsensational... One of the many strengths of this nuanced book is the sympathy and compassion [Green] brings to the experiences of soldiers... [A] revealing and thought-provoking study -- Trevor Royle * Sunday Herald *Unsentimental but horribly affecting... mixing journalistic rigour with historical investigation [and written] in prose thrilling enough for a bestselling novel -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Compelling and instructive... [This is] a work of integrity and substance, and as so much of it touches on interdepartmental matters it ought to be read by every minister -- Allan Mallinson * Spectator *An urgent manifesto... [Green's] book sharply exposes the faults in the current system... The stories Green has collected are so powerful because they are some of the only means we have of measuring the true scale of PTSD in Britain -- Joe Shute * Daily Telegraph *A thoughtful, unsensational account of a significant problem -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *This is a most compelling book which tells the story of those who have suffered so much in the conduct of operation to protect our security. Mental health pressures need to move centre stage in our priorities - now! -- Sir Richard Dannatt, former General Chief of StaffGreen tells the uncomfortable story of our veterans' journey from the frontline of combat to the reality of return brilliantly via first-person accounts and interviews with former combatants and their families, military experts, physicians and psychologists * Bookseller *If we expect our lives and freedoms to be protected we have a duty to those who do this. As a society, as people, surely we must take responsibility for the bodies, minds, and indeed souls of those who fight for us? Aftershock makes this point again and again, powerfully and compellingly -- Justine Hardy, trauma therapist, author * The Wonder House *A thought-provoking enquiry into PTSD. It contains important insights into a problem that is rarely covered in any but the most superficial way. I highly recommend it -- Adrian Weale * Literary Review *I've never come across something that really tells the truth about war in this way... an amazing book -- Sharmaine Lovegrove * Monocle Radio *[An] outstanding study of the psychological wounds affecting British military personnel adapting to life at home after serving in the country's most recent wars * New Statesman *A moving and illuminating book [that] reports on the lives, struggles and triumphs of returned combat veterans and their families -- Bryan Doerries, author * The Theatre of War *A sometimes harrowing but ultimate hopeful book about PTSD and its effect on the lives of soldiers and medical staff on their return from war zones. Some of the stories in the book stayed with me long after I had finished reading -- Bob McDevitt, Best Books of 2016 * Herald *

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Book SynopsisThis book tells the story of the Frontline Walk, a sponsored walk across the former battlefields of the Western Front supporting the work of ABF The Soldier's Charity. The service charity was estalised in 1944, working with army veterans of every conflict and to support future generations and their dependants. This book uncovers the stories behind those who participated in the walks since 2014, why they took part and what it meant to them and how they discovered more about their forebears who very often served in the First World War on the terrain being discovered during these events. It also tells the stories behind some of those who have been affected by conflict and the work that the charity has done to help rebuild their lives. Illustrated throughout and with accompanying maps, this book can be used to uncover the routes taken and explore the stories behind those and the actions of the time with proceeds going towards the ongoing work of the charity.

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Book SynopsisThe Ypres Times was the journal of the remembrance movement, the Ypres League. Founded in 1921, the League was the creation of Henry Beckles Willson and Beatrix Brice. Both Brice and Beckles Willson understood the crucial significance of Ypres to the British Empire, and believed it their sacred duty to maintain the memory of those who had fought and fell in its defence. As the League’s journal, the Ypres Times published a huge range of material. It carried reminiscences of veterans, discussions about the rebuilding of Ypres, the developing work of the Imperial War Graves Commission in the salient, and the erection and unveiling of unit memorials. The Ypres Times reproduced for the first time, in facsimile format and bound in three volumes provides a fascinating insight into the way the British Empire’s central commemorative site was understood and imagined in the twenties and thirties.

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Book SynopsisWith the passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2008, more than 1.4 million service members and their families became eligible for higher education benefits, and veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan enrolled in colleges and universities in record numbers. The first wave of research about these new student veterans focused mostly on describing their characteristics and the transition from military service to civilian life and the college campus. This new edited collection presents findings from the second wave of research about student veterans, with a focus on data-driven evidence of academic success factors, including persistence, retention, degree completion, and employment after college.

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Book SynopsisOver the last few decades, as the United States has become embroiled in foreign war after foreign war, some of the most vocal activists for peace have been veterans. These veterans for peace come from all different races, classes, regions, and generations. What common motivations unite them and fuel their activism? Guys Like Me introduces us to five ordinary men who have done extraordinary work as peace activists: World War II veteran Ernie Sanchez, Korean War veteran Woody Powell, Vietnam veteran Gregory Ross, Gulf War veteran Daniel Craig, and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Jonathan Hutto. Acclaimed sociologist Michael Messner offers rich profiles of each man, recounting what led him to join the armed forces, what he experienced when fighting overseas, and the guilt and trauma he experienced upon returning home. He reveals how the pain and horror of the battlefront motivated these onetime warriors to reconcile with former enemies, get involved as political activists, and help younger generations of soldiers. Guys Like Me is an inspiring multigenerational saga of men who were physically or psychically wounded by war, but are committed to healing themselves and others, forging a path to justice, and replacing endless war with lasting peaceTrade Review“The greatest of all myths about wars is that they come to an end. This deeply personal, very human book shows how ten, twenty, thirty, sixty years later their hurts and scars live on in those who fought them. Michael Messner has brought on stage some eloquent survivors whom our politicians should listen to before they dare even consider sending young men and women out to fight yet again.” -- Adam Hochschild * author of To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 *Reprint of LA Progressive's "Can the Military Be Reformed?: Six Unusual Veterans Ponder Active Duty and Its Aftermath," by Steve Early— CounterPunch Magazine "Serving Veterans" by Dave Pugl— Library Journal "[Messner has] a remarkable ability to elicit stunning memories and reflections from his subjects. But the work is much more than a splendid oral history, though it's that for sure; his approach and interpretations make it a book like no other." — John Ibson, author of Picturing Men: A Century of Male Relationships in Everyday American Photography "Messner's narrative points the way for other activists seeking to build popular opposition movements."— Kirkus Reviews "Veterans have fought in wars – and fought against them," by Michael Messner— The Conversation “The greatest of all myths about wars is that they come to an end. This deeply personal, very human book shows how ten, twenty, thirty, sixty years later their hurts and scars live on in those who fought them. Michael Messner has brought on stage some eloquent survivors whom our politicians should listen to before they dare even consider sending young men and women out to fight yet again.” — Adam Hochschild, author of To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 "Can the Military Be Reformed? Six Unusual Veterans Ponder Active Duty and Its Aftermath," by Steve Early— LA Progressive "Michael Messner is our new Studs Terkel. His five men speak with extraordinary eloquence about the psychic wounds they suffered in war, and the moral odysseys they undertook to break the silence that surrounds the human cost of war in the United States. Each man fought in a different war, but each tells a common story of exploitation by their own government and a descent into numbness, followed by redemption. These men form an intergenerational chain reflecting with honesty and courage on masculinity and war. Messner describes and analyzes their experiences with warmth and insight. Essential reading for those seeking to understand military veterans." — Hugh Gusterson, author of Drone: Remote Control Warfare "Guys Like Me is well written; Messner does a fine job of telling the men’s stories, conveying the complexity of their struggles by sharing their words and providing vivid details about their lives. What we see are real people, confused and lost at times, trying to reclaim their humanity and repair the damage caused by participating in organized violence." — Gender and Society "This book tells the stories of five veterans of five U.S. wars: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq Parts I and II. We learn their stories from long before they entered the military through long after they left it. The stories are well-told, with subtlety and complexity, not museum-like propaganda. Patterns become evident without the book becoming repetitious. Each person is unique, but each confronts the same monster."— World Beyond War "Professor to publish book following lives of veteran" by Joelle Tenderich— Daily Trojan "The true meaning of Armistice Day — a commitment to peace," by Susan Bell— USCDornsife Excerpt of Guys Like Me: Five Wars, Five Veterans for Peace in the Spring 2019 issue of Voice Male Magazine— Voice Mail Magazine "From Manly Silence to Projects of Peace," by Michael A. Messner — Gender and Society Blog "The Page 99 Test" with Michael Messner— The Page 99 Test "Peace advocates have long been found among veterans who fought in America’s wars," by Michael Messner https://theconversation.com/peace-advocates-have-long-been-found-among-veterans-who-fought-in-americas-wars-126467— The Conversation "Vermont Conversation with David Goodman" with Mike Messner and veterans Daniel Craig, Jonathan Hutto, and Ken Mayers— Vermont Conversation with David Goodman “There is a revelation on every page of Guys Like Me. The journey any man takes to transform his sense of his own manliness isn’t direct or simple. And, as Michael Messner shows us in these five engaging life histories, each gendered journey will have added twists and turns when distorted by militarism. A truly humane book." — Cynthia Enloe, author of The Big Push: Exposing and Challenging Persistent Patriarchy "All five [veterans] are unique and engaging storytellers who pack the book with human interest....The testimonies of these varied, thoughtful, and racially diverse veterans are at stark odds with the cinematic ads we see of government-approved pro-war imagery, and it’s important they be heard." — Foreword Reviews "With Guys Like Me, Michael Messner delivers an eloquent, passionate, and moving account of how war has sometimes moved veterans towards peace. Messner’s interviewees give us hope that humanity might yet one day listen to the soldiers who have gone to war, the ones who tell us, again and again, that war’s devastation is never worth it."— Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer "Sociologist Michael Messner uses [sociological imagination] to better understand men’s experiences in war and how they come to make sense of these experiences over the course of their lives. His book, Guys Like Me: Five Wars, Five Veterans for Peace, examines the life stories of veterans to understand how they have grappled with their experiences in war and how this is connected with constructions of masculinity."— Everyday Sociology“There is a revelation on every page of Guys Like Me. The journey any man takes to transform his sense of his own manliness isn’t direct or simple. And, as Michael Messner shows us in these five engaging life histories, each gendered journey will have added twists and turns when distorted by militarism. A truly humane book." -- Cynthia Enloe * author of The Big Push: Exposing and Challenging Persistent Patriarchy *"With Guys Like Me, Michael Messner delivers an eloquent, passionate, and moving account of how war has sometimes moved veterans towards peace. Messner’s interviewees give us hope that humanity might yet one day listen to the soldiers who have gone to war, the ones who tell us, again and again, that war’s devastation is never worth it." -- Viet Thanh Nguyen * author of The Sympathizer *"Michael Messner is our new Studs Terkel. His five men speak with extraordinary eloquence about the psychic wounds they suffered in war, and the moral odysseys they undertook to break the silence that surrounds the human cost of war in the United States. Each man fought in a different war, but each tells a common story of exploitation by their own government and a descent into numbness, followed by redemption. These men form an intergenerational chain reflecting with honesty and courage on masculinity and war. Messner describes and analyzes their experiences with warmth and insight. Essential reading for those seeking to understand military veterans." -- Hugh Gusterson * author of Drone: Remote Control Warfare *"Messner's narrative points the way for other activists seeking to build popular opposition movements." * Kirkus Reviews *"The true meaning of Armistice Day — a commitment to peace," by Susan Bell * USCDornsife *"Professor to publish book following lives of veteran" by Joelle Tenderich * Daily Trojan *"This book tells the stories of five veterans of five U.S. wars: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq Parts I and II. We learn their stories from long before they entered the military through long after they left it. The stories are well-told, with subtlety and complexity, not museum-like propaganda. Patterns become evident without the book becoming repetitious. Each person is unique, but each confronts the same monster." * World Beyond War *"Veterans have fought in wars – and fought against them," by Michael Messner * The Conversation *"All five [veterans] are unique and engaging storytellers who pack the book with human interest....The testimonies of these varied, thoughtful, and racially diverse veterans are at stark odds with the cinematic ads we see of government-approved pro-war imagery, and it’s important they be heard." * Foreword Reviews *"Vermont Conversation with David Goodman" with Mike Messner and veterans Daniel Craig, Jonathan Hutto, and Ken Mayers * Vermont Conversation with David Goodman *"The Page 99 Test" with Michael Messner * The Page 99 Test *Excerpt of Guys Like Me: Five Wars, Five Veterans for Peace in the Spring 2019 issue of Voice Male Magazine * Voice Mail Magazine *"Can the Military Be Reformed? Six Unusual Veterans Ponder Active Duty and Its Aftermath," by Steve Early * LA Progressive *"Guys Like Me is well written; Messner does a fine job of telling the men’s stories, conveying the complexity of their struggles by sharing their words and providing vivid details about their lives. What we see are real people, confused and lost at times, trying to reclaim their humanity and repair the damage caused by participating in organized violence." * Gender and Society *Reprint of LA Progressive's "Can the Military Be Reformed?: Six Unusual Veterans Ponder Active Duty and Its Aftermath," by Steve Early * CounterPunch Magazine *"From Manly Silence to Projects of Peace," by Michael A. Messner * Gender and Society Blog *"Sociologist Michael Messner uses [sociological imagination] to better understand men’s experiences in war and how they come to make sense of these experiences over the course of their lives. His book, Guys Like Me: Five Wars, Five Veterans for Peace, examines the life stories of veterans to understand how they have grappled with their experiences in war and how this is connected with constructions of masculinity." * Everyday Sociology *"[Messner has] a remarkable ability to elicit stunning memories and reflections from his subjects. But the work is much more than a splendid oral history, though it's that for sure; his approach and interpretations make it a book like no other." -- John Ibson * author of Picturing Men: A Century of Male Relationships in Everyday American Photography *"Peace advocates have long been found among veterans who fought in America’s wars," by Michael Messner https://theconversation.com/peace-advocates-have-long-been-found-among-veterans-who-fought-in-americas-wars-126467 * The Conversation *"Serving Veterans" by Dave Pugl * Library Journal *Table of ContentsContents Prologue Chapter 1 Projects of Peace Chapter 2 There Is No “Good War” Ernie “Indio” Sanchez, World War II Chapter 3 Being Honorable Wilson “Woody” Powell, Korean War Chapter 4 Paying Off My Karmic Debt Gregory Ross, The American War in Vietnam Chapter 5 You Clock In, You Go Kill People Daniel Craig, The Gulf War Chapter 6 Laying the Tracks Jonathan W. Hutto, Sr., Operation Iraqi Freedom Chapter 7 This Is Our Service References Notes

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Book SynopsisThis double special issue investigates the experiences of Soviet Afghan veterans and the ongoing impact of the Soviet-Afghan war (1979-89); and the new and reconstituted narratives of martyrdom that have been emerging in connection with 20th-century history and memory in the post-socialist world. The JOURNAL OF SOVIET AND POST-SOVIET POLITICS AND SOCIETY (JSPPS) is a new bi-annual companion journal to the Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society (SPPS) book series (founded 2004 and edited by Andreas Umland, Dr. phil., PhD). Guest editors: Felix Ackermann (European Humanities University); Michael Galbas (Konstanz University); Uilleam Blacker (UCL)Trade ReviewA splendid analysis of the changing narrative of 'Putinism' and of the nature of the political thought that lies at the heart of the Putin system ... should be required reading and a starting point for Western foreign policy-makers with an interest in the former Soviet space ... quite simply the best thing I've read on what is driving Russian foreign and domestic policy today. -- David White, University of Birmingham, on previous volume

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Book SynopsisThe very existence of everything in this world is from absolute nothing. You need darkness to feel the presence of light!As I sat down in the chaotic Mumbai suburbs trying to fathom limitless sea of human population around me, it made me realise that there is no limit to the limitlessness. For all who have spent even a little of their time in Mumbai would understand what the city teaches them.... to celebrate humanity. Humanity in all its manifestations; Good, bad, ugly, it doesn’t matter.Born in these very bylanes of the `city limitless` was a child who decided to fly when people doubted his ability to walk!

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