Today, fewer than 1% of Americans serve in active-duty military units. Even after accounting for reservists, military family members and civilian support staff, the vast majority of us have no direct experience with the country’s Armed Forces.
In a sense, that’s a good thing. We have an all-volunteer military made up of men and women willing to make immense sacrifices so that the rest of us can enjoy our freedoms. Their efforts allow for a robust, productive civilian society that has long been the envy of the world.
Yet because most of us don’t truly know what it’s like to serve, the experiences of those who do can feel like a “black box.” We have a vague sense of what they must go through, and we honor their work — especially when it leads to injury or worse — but we don’t really understand it. We can’t.
These eight books do their part to lift the veil on America’s fighting forces. Written mainly by veterans who’ve seen active combat, they evoke a staggering range of emotions while teaching invaluable lessons about war, peace, and everything in between.
Their narratives span more than a century, from the depths of the Civil War to present-day conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia. They’re essential reading for anyone who has felt the call to serve.
1. “She Came to the Door to Wave Good-bye” by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Walter E. Piatt
“She Came to the Door to Wave Good-bye” is a deeply personal collection of stories and poetry from retired lieutenant general Walter E. Piatt. Based on Piatt’s experiences over the course of many years of duty abroad, the book explores the dislocation and loss wrought by conflict as well as the profound scars — often invisible — that may remain years later. It’s impossible to read without feeling the gravity of the situations our service members face and the sacrifices both they and conflict-affected populations endure as a result.
2. “Create Your Own Light: Finding Post Traumatic Purpose” by Travis Howze
“Create Your Own Light: Finding Post Traumatic Purpose” is another deeply personal story. Written by Travis Howze, a former Marine, firefighter and police officer, it’s a look behind the curtain of an affliction that’s far more common than most realize: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Howze writes of a years-long struggle with PTSD during and after his stint in the U.S. Marines. On the home front, Howze faced new, equally traumatic tribulations, including a grisly body recovery mission for nine fellow firefighters. He was able to move past the acute phase of his trauma and channel his experiences into a successful motivational speaking (and stand-up comedy) career that anchors a more purposeful and productive life, but he’s a different person today than before. His story is a powerful reminder that we never really know what others are going through.
3. “We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young” by Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway
“We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young” is a classic contemporary history of one of the Vietnam War’s bloodiest episodes. Written by Lt. Col. Hal Moore and journalist Joseph Galloway in 1993, it’s a harrowing tale of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, which faced a far more numerous foe in a close-quarters battle in November 1965.
Galloway and Moore — who later became a general — spoke to hundreds of soldiers involved in the fighting, including some commanders on the North Vietnamese side. Their work shines light on the sorts of stories that often go unreported (and, sadly, forgotten) in the fog of war: a picture of soldiers doing whatever it took to preserve their own lives and the lives of their fellow soldiers. A difficult, even devastating read, to be sure, but an important one for anyone invested in the pursuit of peace.
4. “Separating From Service: The Mental Health Handbook for Transitioning Veterans” by Eric Burleson
“Separating From Service: The Mental Health Handbook for Transitioning Veterans” is Eric Burleson’s at-times-difficult read about the psychological toll of war and the difficulties many veterans face as they transition back to civilian life.
Burleson’s book provides tactical and strategic advice for veterans and their loved ones ready to tackle this challenge. It draws upon cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology research involving large cohorts of veterans, providing a scientific basis for its guidance. There’s no substitute for professional support, of course, but Burleson fills a yawning gap in our cultural understanding of post-traumatic trauma and advances the crucial conversation around veteran mental health.
5. “Embrace the Suck: The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life” by Brent Gleeson
Brent Gleeson’s “Embrace the Suck: The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life” is a brutally honest book that, truth be told, is not for everyone.
True to a title that echoes a common Navy SEAL training refrain, Gleeson — an ex-SEAL himself — takes a combative approach toward much of the conventional wisdom around self-care and personal development. His work is not only for veterans, though many former service members may find it useful, but for anyone tired of their own personal status quo. Even if you choose not to follow its recommendations faithfully, “Embrace the Suck” may inspire you to think differently about what’s possible in your own life.
6. “The Killer Angels: A Novel of the Civil War” by Michael Shaara
Written in 1987, “The Killer Angels” arguably remains the most important fictionalization of the American Civil War. Spanning just four days at the infamous Battle of Gettysburg, Michael Shaara’s tale tells the story of opposing sides who had far more in common than they chose to admit — despite fighting for very different visions of their continent’s future.
If you read one book about the United States’ defining internal conflict, make it this one.
Honoring the Stories of Those Who’ve Served
If you’re like most busy readers, these six books will keep you busy for a long time to come.
They may also inspire you to learn more about the experiences — and the broader historical context — of the men and women who have taken up arms (and often laid down their lives) to preserve the American experiment.
If that’s the case, there are many, many more valuable volumes that tell other stories from conflicts past and present. Some are written by military service members or veterans themselves, others by members of their families, and still others by historians or civilian officials with expertise or firsthand experience (or both).
Reading these stories is one more way to honor the sacrifices of those who’ve served. And if they inspire you to further action, so much the better.
