SMITH Magazine is honored to team up with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to bring you Six-Word Memoirs about coming home from war. IAVA was founded in 2004 by Paul Rieckhoff, who served as a First Lieutenant and infantry rifle platoon leader in the Iraq war from 2003-2004, and wrote about his experiences in a memoir, Chasing Ghosts. IAVA is the country’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with more than 200,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide.
To kick of this new project as this year’s Veterans Day approaches, here’s a sampling of Six-Word Memoirs from a few members of the IAVA community. Read more, or submit your own at the Six-Word Memoir project.
“I don’t know who I am.”
—Jeff Kohler, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008-2009
“Two tours, no injuries, thank God.”
—Anthony Pike, Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2004 and 2006
“I would do it all again.”
—Jason Madaus, Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003-2009
“Forgiving and trusting myself brought healing.”
Casey, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003-2004
We hope you’ll help us spread the word to the veterans in your life, and enjoy reading these short, powerful stories about a big, intense topic.
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Bethe
Kudos to SMITH for honoring our veterans. We love and support you for all you do for our country. THANK YOU, men and women.
Jo Ann Daniels
To all men and women who serve to protect our country from, harm, hurt, and danger. For without your courage and bravery, where would we be.
ctgoods2
I am humbled by the courage of the men and women who serve to preserve American rights. Thank you for the gift of your dedication and bravery.
Vvet
Unless you are 1-step from one who is serving, home people aren’t sacrificing one thing; decreasing their comfort one bit; doing with less across the board. War is too easy for the home front.
Summer Lipford
I am a Gold Star mother…I along with many others say to you…
“On behalf of a grateful nation”