War and American Life: Reflections on Those Who Serve and Sacrifice
by James Wright
Brandeis University Press, 2022 Cloth: 978-1-68458-099-6 | eISBN: 978-1-68458-100-9 Library of Congress Classification UB357.W75 2022 Dewey Decimal Classification 362.860973
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK
An engaging collection of essays focusing on American veterans.
War and American Life is a book of essays and reflections by celebrated historian and former marine James Wright, who has been active as an advocate, teacher, and scholar. Featuring both previously published pieces and new essays, the book considers veterans in America and the ways in which our society needs better to understand who they are and what they have done on the nation’s behalf—and the responsibilities that follow this recognition.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
James E. Wright is president emeritus of Dartmouth College. He is the author, most recently, of Those Who Have Borne the Battle: A History of America’s Wars and Those Who Fought Them and Enduring Vietnam: An American Generation and Its War.
REVIEWS
“This book is critical reading for anyone who wants to understand what it means to be a United States citizen today. Wright possesses a deep historical consciousness, a gift for narrative, a sophisticated analysis of modern civilian and military relations, and a powerfully humanistic knowledge of the suffering of war. Marvelous, incisive, and fascinating work from a historian of great moral seriousness, and great emotional sensitivity."
— Phil Klay, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction for his novel Redeployment
“Jim Wright presents a fascinating blend of history and personal reflection that reminds us of the human costs of war and of our responsibilities as citizens to support those who serve for us. A timely and very readable book.”
— George W. Casey, Jr., General, U.S. Army (Retired)
“A necessary and eloquent book that raises critical issues about military service, decisions around war-making, veterans and the 99 percent who do not serve. Wright speaks to a foundational crisis of our time—the loss of civic responsibility. I highly recommend this book!”
— Kathy Roth-Douquet, Founder and CEO, Blue Star Families
“A much-needed call for civic participation, and for remembering. Wright’s decades as an historian lend perspective and sweep to this account, while his experience as a Marine and an advocate for veterans fills the book with humanity.”
— Nathaniel Fick, author of the NYT Bestseller One Bullet Away
“Wright, distinguished scholar and remarkable public intellectual, succeeds in reminding Americans of the sacrifices made (and continuing) by multiple generations of veterans. This extraordinary set of essays is a must read for a country that struggles to understand the magnitude of these sacrifices.”
— Dr. Kyle Longley, Chapman University, Director of the War, Diplomacy, and Society Program
“As both a Marine and a historian, James Wright brings a unique perspective and insight into his examination of America’s treatment of those who served in uniform. His writing is a reminder that we still have a long way to go in keeping the promise to those who have borne the battle.”
— Jeremy Butler, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
"An important book brimming with essential insights about what it means to be a nation at war...Wright writes with passion, perspective, and purpose...War and American Life deserves the widest possible readership. Clear-eyed yet never cynical, it is a brief for veterans—and a nation—in need of healing."
— New York Journal of Books
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: “Semper Fidelis”
Section 1: Reflections of A Veteran
“Cannons in the Park,” Excerpt from first chapter of Those Who have Borne the Battle
“The Old Corps: Boot Camp Memories”
“Visiting Vietnam,” Excerpt from Preface of Enduring Vietnam
“Remarks: Veterans Day 2009 at the Vietnam Memorial Wall”
“Walking the Hill They Died On,” Vietnam [magazine], June 2019
Section II: Advocacy
“Honoring Veterans,” The Boston Globe, October 6, 2007
“The New G I Bill: It’s a Win-Win Proposition,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 7, 2008
“The Yellow Ribbon Program and Private Colleges,” Excerpt from remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, February 2, 2009
“Veterans Day Is for Remembering -- And for Looking Ahead,” Huffington Post, 11/11/12
“What Does America Owe Its Veterans?” Excerpts from Lecture at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, November 14, 2012
“The Challenge of Memorializing America’s Wars,” The Atlantic, 5/29/17
“GI Bill 2017: Investing in the Future of the Republic,” Thehill.com, 7/28/17
“American Veterans and the National Obligation” Excerpt from remarks at a symposium organized by the National Institute of Corrections at the Library of Congress, May 17, 2018
“Remarks: Ivy Plus Veterans Council Meeting,” October 5, 2019
Section III: History Lessons: Reminders of the Nation’s Obligation
“We Are Always Rewriting the Past – We Must,” Valley News, 7/12/20
“War Veterans and American Democracy,” Excerpts from Jefferson Memorial Lecture, University of California, Berkeley, February 2, 2010
“Veterans Day in America: The Place of the Korean War in a National Day of Memory,” Excerpt from Shinhan Bank Lecture at Yonsei University, Underwood International College, Seoul, South Korea, November 11, 2010
“What We Learned From the Korean War,” The Atlantic, 7/23/13
“The Baby Boomer War,” New York Times, 4/11/17
“The Real Lessons of Vietnam – And Afghanistan,” DefenseOne.com, 10/13/17
“Remembering Vietnam,” Excerpt from remarks at the Wardroom Club, Boston, MA, November 15, 2017
“Enduring Vietnam: An American Generation and Its War,” Excerpts from remarks presented to the Association of the United States Army in the Lemnitzer Lecture Series, May 16, 2018
“How Modern Wars Are Changing the Definition of Heroism,” MilitaryTimes.com, 9/21/18
“As We Remember Normandy, Let’s Not Forget Hamburger Hill,” MilitaryTimes.com, 5/20/19
“The Capture of Hamburger Hill,” Vietnam [magazine], June 2019
Section IV: Responsibilities
“Bearing the Cost of War: Why the U.S. Should Raise Taxes -- Just As it Has in Previous Conflicts,” Foreign Affairs, 8/11/12
“The Forgotten 1%,” Huffington Post, 10/4/12
“War in Afghanistan: The Unseen Sacrifice,” Huffington Post, 12/13/12
“Have Americans Forgotten Afghanistan?” The Atlantic, 3/25/13
“10 Years After ‘Mission Accomplished,’ the Risks of Another Intervention,” The Atlantic, 3/25/13
“Remember: Those Who Fight Wars Die in Wars,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/3/13
“Remembering Those Who Wore the ‘Boots on the Ground,’” The Atlantic, 5/30/16
“The Human Face of War,” MilitaryTimes.com, 6/27/19
“Nixon’s Leniency After My Lai Hurt Veterans. Trump’s May, Too,” DefenseOne.com, 12/15/19
“We’ve Learned to Thank Those Who Serve, Whether It’s in War or During a Pandemic,” Los Angeles Times, 5/25/20
“The Election Without a Debate Over War,” DefenseOne.com, 11/1/20
War and American Life: Reflections on Those Who Serve and Sacrifice
by James Wright
Brandeis University Press, 2022 Cloth: 978-1-68458-099-6 eISBN: 978-1-68458-100-9
An engaging collection of essays focusing on American veterans.
War and American Life is a book of essays and reflections by celebrated historian and former marine James Wright, who has been active as an advocate, teacher, and scholar. Featuring both previously published pieces and new essays, the book considers veterans in America and the ways in which our society needs better to understand who they are and what they have done on the nation’s behalf—and the responsibilities that follow this recognition.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
James E. Wright is president emeritus of Dartmouth College. He is the author, most recently, of Those Who Have Borne the Battle: A History of America’s Wars and Those Who Fought Them and Enduring Vietnam: An American Generation and Its War.
REVIEWS
“This book is critical reading for anyone who wants to understand what it means to be a United States citizen today. Wright possesses a deep historical consciousness, a gift for narrative, a sophisticated analysis of modern civilian and military relations, and a powerfully humanistic knowledge of the suffering of war. Marvelous, incisive, and fascinating work from a historian of great moral seriousness, and great emotional sensitivity."
— Phil Klay, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction for his novel Redeployment
“Jim Wright presents a fascinating blend of history and personal reflection that reminds us of the human costs of war and of our responsibilities as citizens to support those who serve for us. A timely and very readable book.”
— George W. Casey, Jr., General, U.S. Army (Retired)
“A necessary and eloquent book that raises critical issues about military service, decisions around war-making, veterans and the 99 percent who do not serve. Wright speaks to a foundational crisis of our time—the loss of civic responsibility. I highly recommend this book!”
— Kathy Roth-Douquet, Founder and CEO, Blue Star Families
“A much-needed call for civic participation, and for remembering. Wright’s decades as an historian lend perspective and sweep to this account, while his experience as a Marine and an advocate for veterans fills the book with humanity.”
— Nathaniel Fick, author of the NYT Bestseller One Bullet Away
“Wright, distinguished scholar and remarkable public intellectual, succeeds in reminding Americans of the sacrifices made (and continuing) by multiple generations of veterans. This extraordinary set of essays is a must read for a country that struggles to understand the magnitude of these sacrifices.”
— Dr. Kyle Longley, Chapman University, Director of the War, Diplomacy, and Society Program
“As both a Marine and a historian, James Wright brings a unique perspective and insight into his examination of America’s treatment of those who served in uniform. His writing is a reminder that we still have a long way to go in keeping the promise to those who have borne the battle.”
— Jeremy Butler, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
"An important book brimming with essential insights about what it means to be a nation at war...Wright writes with passion, perspective, and purpose...War and American Life deserves the widest possible readership. Clear-eyed yet never cynical, it is a brief for veterans—and a nation—in need of healing."
— New York Journal of Books
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: “Semper Fidelis”
Section 1: Reflections of A Veteran
“Cannons in the Park,” Excerpt from first chapter of Those Who have Borne the Battle
“The Old Corps: Boot Camp Memories”
“Visiting Vietnam,” Excerpt from Preface of Enduring Vietnam
“Remarks: Veterans Day 2009 at the Vietnam Memorial Wall”
“Walking the Hill They Died On,” Vietnam [magazine], June 2019
Section II: Advocacy
“Honoring Veterans,” The Boston Globe, October 6, 2007
“The New G I Bill: It’s a Win-Win Proposition,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 7, 2008
“The Yellow Ribbon Program and Private Colleges,” Excerpt from remarks at the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, February 2, 2009
“Veterans Day Is for Remembering -- And for Looking Ahead,” Huffington Post, 11/11/12
“What Does America Owe Its Veterans?” Excerpts from Lecture at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, November 14, 2012
“The Challenge of Memorializing America’s Wars,” The Atlantic, 5/29/17
“GI Bill 2017: Investing in the Future of the Republic,” Thehill.com, 7/28/17
“American Veterans and the National Obligation” Excerpt from remarks at a symposium organized by the National Institute of Corrections at the Library of Congress, May 17, 2018
“Remarks: Ivy Plus Veterans Council Meeting,” October 5, 2019
Section III: History Lessons: Reminders of the Nation’s Obligation
“We Are Always Rewriting the Past – We Must,” Valley News, 7/12/20
“War Veterans and American Democracy,” Excerpts from Jefferson Memorial Lecture, University of California, Berkeley, February 2, 2010
“Veterans Day in America: The Place of the Korean War in a National Day of Memory,” Excerpt from Shinhan Bank Lecture at Yonsei University, Underwood International College, Seoul, South Korea, November 11, 2010
“What We Learned From the Korean War,” The Atlantic, 7/23/13
“The Baby Boomer War,” New York Times, 4/11/17
“The Real Lessons of Vietnam – And Afghanistan,” DefenseOne.com, 10/13/17
“Remembering Vietnam,” Excerpt from remarks at the Wardroom Club, Boston, MA, November 15, 2017
“Enduring Vietnam: An American Generation and Its War,” Excerpts from remarks presented to the Association of the United States Army in the Lemnitzer Lecture Series, May 16, 2018
“How Modern Wars Are Changing the Definition of Heroism,” MilitaryTimes.com, 9/21/18
“As We Remember Normandy, Let’s Not Forget Hamburger Hill,” MilitaryTimes.com, 5/20/19
“The Capture of Hamburger Hill,” Vietnam [magazine], June 2019
Section IV: Responsibilities
“Bearing the Cost of War: Why the U.S. Should Raise Taxes -- Just As it Has in Previous Conflicts,” Foreign Affairs, 8/11/12
“The Forgotten 1%,” Huffington Post, 10/4/12
“War in Afghanistan: The Unseen Sacrifice,” Huffington Post, 12/13/12
“Have Americans Forgotten Afghanistan?” The Atlantic, 3/25/13
“10 Years After ‘Mission Accomplished,’ the Risks of Another Intervention,” The Atlantic, 3/25/13
“Remember: Those Who Fight Wars Die in Wars,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 7/3/13
“Remembering Those Who Wore the ‘Boots on the Ground,’” The Atlantic, 5/30/16
“The Human Face of War,” MilitaryTimes.com, 6/27/19
“Nixon’s Leniency After My Lai Hurt Veterans. Trump’s May, Too,” DefenseOne.com, 12/15/19
“We’ve Learned to Thank Those Who Serve, Whether It’s in War or During a Pandemic,” Los Angeles Times, 5/25/20
“The Election Without a Debate Over War,” DefenseOne.com, 11/1/20
X Epilogue: Mountains to Climb
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC
