iUniverse author William R. Graser talks about his book, Veterans’ Reflections: History Preserved, along with his event, iPODS for Wounded Veterans, to be held during Veterans Day Weekend.
Mr. Graser’s comments below come from his interview in The Portsmouth Review, by Rebecca Skane, from July 7 of this year, found at http://portsmouthreview.com/interview-local-author-william-r-graser/ .
Tell us a little bit about yourself .
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Of my parent’s seven children four chose to serve our country in the military. My oldest brother Bob, served in the US Navy; my younger brother Howard served in the US Army, and my oldest sister Doris served in the US Navy and I was recruited by the US Army Security Agency in 1965 and served my country in Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, occupied West Berlin, and the US Army Security Agency’s headquarters at Arlington Hall Station, Arlington,
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“Veterans” is an all-compassing word that lumps every former service member into a group of special individuals. Many struggle with being labeled a veteran because they feel their serviced hardly warrants being categorized with those who risked their lives for out nation.
Personally, I believe that anyone who has worn the uniform should be honored and those who wear the scars of war should be recognized as our nations heroes. Our Service Men and Women are a National Treasure.
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March 30, 2016
Service members who serve or have served in Iraq or Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve will receive the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal. The award is retroactive to June 15, 2014, and is for service members based in Iraq or Syria, those who flew missions over those countries, and those who served in contiguous waters for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days. The award distinctly recognizes service members battling terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.
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World War II was the last global war of the twentieth century. The United States-Soviet alliance of 1941-1945 was marked by a great degree of cooperation and was essential to securing the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Without the remarkable efforts of the Soviet Union on the eastern front, the United States and Great Britain would have been hard-pressed to score a decisive military victory over Hitler’s Germany. In the Pacific War, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, India,
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June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help raise awareness of PTSD and its effective treatments by sharing this post! To discover ways to connect and share, visit the National Center for PTSD website: www.ptsd.va.gov. Promotional materials and a list of ways to help raise PTSD awareness.
www.ptsd.va.gov/about/ptsd-awareness/index.asp
Take the mystery out of PTSD: learn what it is, who is affected, and how treatment can help.
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Keep rewriting until its perfect and employ an editor, any editor. Everyone makes typos and grammatical errors. I am no exception; it’s not a lack of skill or knowledge that’s to blame, just a tunnel vision that means glaring mistakes slip by.
Always carry a note-book and keep a pencil near your favorite seat. You never know when a new line or a great idea will present itself. Commit it to paper immediately, or it will be lost forever.
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Before World War II, intelligence activities in the United States was carried out primarily by the Department of State, Office of Naval Intelligence, and the War Department’s Military Intelligence Division. On July 11, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed William J. Donovan to head a new office, the coordinator of information (COI), attached to the White House.
After the United States entered the war, Donovan proposed that the COI’s responsibility be expanded. As a result, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was created on June 13,
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); military personnel suffer a greater number of tragic or life threatening events that cause reactions such as flash backs, upsetting memories of the event, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping.
I found a solution to help me 20 years ago and that is horseback riding. Initially, I did not recognize horseback riding as a form of therapy for PTSD. I soon learned that my personal wellbeing was directly affected.
I have found that interaction with “Tommy,” a quarter horse,
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Writing Veterans’ Reflections was difficult at times, especially when I was listening to firsthand accounts of combat. Once a Korean War combat veteran called me at home three weeks after his story was completed.
He said, “when reading my own story, those days in Korea rushed back like it was yesterday.” I listened as he wrestled with his emotions. Months later, he told me how much he appreciated his story being recorded for future generations, especially his grandchildren.
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