Veterans' Experience in War and at Home is Focus of One Book, One Community Project

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Karl Marlantes, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and the author of the best-selling Vietnam war novel Matterhorn (2011), will visit Northwest Arkansas as part of the University of Arkansas’s annual One Book, One Community project.

Marlantes’ second book, What It Is Like to Go to War, has been chosen for the community reading program, involving students, faculty and staff at the U of A, Northwest Arkansas reading groups, the Fayetteville Public Library, and anyone interested in reading and discussing this timely book.

What It Is Like to Go to War is more directly autobiographical than Marlantes’ novel, and it deals with his experiences in battle but also addresses the problems he had returning to civilian life.

“Marlantes wants potential soldiers and policymakers to know what it means to enter into combat and what returning veterans have to cope with at home,” Chancellor G. David Gearhart said in a videotaped message encouraging the campus community to join the One Book, One Community project. “What It Is Like to Go to War is by turns candid, wrenching, provocative, and profound. I loved this book.”

Marlantes will visit the U of A campus on Thursday, Oct. 30, and give a free public lecture at 6:30 p.m. in Hillside Auditorium at the University of Arkansas. He will also speak to local book club members at the Fayetteville Public Library on Friday, Oct. 31.

“Veterans’ issues are an increasing concern to both our community and our nation,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the One Book, One Community committee. “It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, veterans who served and never saw combat, or the young men and women who will be our next generation of veterans – their needs must be understood and addressed by every community.”

Karl Marlantes is a Yale University graduate, a Rhodes Scholar and Oxford University graduate, but he also served one year as a Marine platoon leader in Vietnam, earning  the Navy Cross, two Navy Commendation Medals for Valor, two Purple Hearts, and 10 air medals for his actions in combat. He has said his writing is an ongoing effort to understand and come to terms with what he saw during the war.

“Karl Marlantes brings a special, wide ranging perspective to the issues that face America’s veterans,” said David Jolliffe, committee co-chair. “The One Book committee is working hard to present programs in the coming weeks to provide additional context for those who are reading his book, and engaging in this discussion. Next week, for example, two officers from the national Student Veterans of America will take part in a public panel discussion on issues facing veterans who return from active duty and enroll in higher education.”

That event is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, in rooms 503-504 of the Arkansas Union. It is free and open to the public.

This will be the sixth year of the One Book, One Community project, which encourages the university and surrounding community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. Students enrolled in the University Perspectives course and several other classes will read, discuss and write about What It's Like to Go to War as part of their course assignments.