In my novels I try to treat all my characters respectfully, particularly those representing groups that are often type cast or mischaracterized in storytelling. I’m grateful to our veterans, and particularly to those who have put themselves in harm’s way.
Resources and Organizations
- Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund – A charitable organization founded in 2003 to help children of the military and disabled/wounded veterans
- Disabled American Veterans – Established in 1920, sources indicate that >90% of donations make it to the veterans.
- Homes for Our Troops – This organization was formed in 2004 to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives.
Recommended Reading
- The Good Soldiers by Pulitzer Prize winning author David Finkel about the 2007 surge in Iraq, embedded with the 2-16 Infantry Battalion.
- Inside Delta Force by a founding member, Eric Haney.
- Invisible Wounds: Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of Returning Veterans – A study by Rand Corporation containing information about the difficulty in dealing with and treating PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury, one of the most common injuries suffered in modern warfare.
- Lions of Kandahar – an account of a critical battle of the Afghan war by active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces officers Rusty Bradley and Kevin Maurer.
- No Way Out: A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan by Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer
- Redeployment by Phil Klay. A National Book Award winner.
- Thank You for Your Service, also by David Finkel, consisting of his findings in working with veterans of the 2-16 adjusting to civilian life after their deployments.