Author to Address Veterans' Issues in War and at Home

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Karl Marlantes, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, will discuss his book, What It Is Like to Go to War, at 6:30 p.m. Thursdaya, Oct. 30 in Hillside Auditorium at the University of Arkansas as the final public event of this year’s One Book, One Community project.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

 Marlantes wrote the best-selling novel Matterhorn (2011), widely regarded as one of the best novels about the Vietnam War. What It Is Like to Go to War is a combination of memoir, history and meditation, addressing his own experiences in battle and as a returning veteran, but also looking at the experiences of veterans in the past, present, and in future generations. 

As a prelude to Marlantes’ lecture a panel that includes veterans, mental-health professionals and a sociologist will discuss veterans’ issues during “Coming Home: The Challenges for Veterans Re-entering Society.” This free public event will be from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the Walker Community Room of the Fayetteville Public Library. A question and answer session will follow. Karl Marlantes will not be a part of this event.

Marlantes will also appear at the Fayetteville Public Library on Friday, Oct. 31, speaking to local book club members who have been reading his book.

Marlantes is a Yale University graduate, a Rhodes Scholar and Oxford University graduate who served one year as a Marine platoon leader in Vietnam. He was awarded 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 experienced during the war.

This is 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. Freshmen enrolled in the University Perspectives course at the U of A and several other classes are reading, discussing and writing about What It's Like to Go to War as part of their course assignments.