John Samuel Tieman: How To Tell A War Story
I remember the day Senior Drill Sergeant Rose lined us up in squads of eight. It was the first week of Basic Training. “Every single one of you is going … Continue reading
Video: Post-War Machismo — Be a Man
. At 15, Dragan Kisin was beating up kids, drinking, and getting in all sorts of trouble. His father had left home to avoid gambling debts, and his mother was … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: Editing
–for Denis Lane This other Nam vet comes to see me and wants me to see his manuscript. He brings this nosh, some bagels, so I say OK, let’s … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: Ghost Story
the starlings swirling and loud you’d think the years would put the thing to rest you’d think the words would hurry the drive to silence still it comes and goes … Continue reading
Abby Zimet: The Judge and the Veteran
Here’s how it’s done: A North Carolina judge – and veteran – who sentenced a three-tour, PTSD-afflicted veteran to 24 hours in jail for a DUI offense, and noted how … Continue reading
W.J. Astore: Why Are PTSD Rates So High Among Veterans?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major problem among veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA government web site explains that “OEF/OIF service members are at risk for … Continue reading
Doug Anderson: Strophe, Antistrophe
When the men come down to the water they are ghosts, you can see their sorrow beneath the skin. They come down slowly, stumbling not looking where they put their … Continue reading
Doug Anderson: Tet, 1968-2015, A Valentine
Clouds heaped three tiers high on the horizon. Lightning whitens the chambers tier by tier all the way up. And again. Thunder like arc light bombing and more flashes. They’re … Continue reading
Doug Anderson: Memphis, 1970
Came home from that war trailing death like ground fog. Wandered summers, did trim carpentry in Texas, bartending, landed in Memphis working for a marble mill where with old Thomas … Continue reading
Doug Anderson: Letter
Deer hunters half whose energy is spent not shooting one another in these little scraps of east coast woods I see you going out before dawn in your camo even … Continue reading
