Compiled by Kathy Henderson

In recognition of the Veterans Day holiday, two local veterans, who coach and encourage other veterans to write their own stories, provide non-fiction reading recommendations.

The books listed are available via the St. Paul Public Library or MNLink systems.

Paul Van Dyke: Army veteran; founder and instructor, Veterans Telling Stories vetstellingstories.com. Van Dyke kicks off his list with what he calls the “tried and true” and gives a shout out to Minnesota author Joel Turnipseed, who guest authored a VTS class last September:

• “The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier’s Account of the War in Iraq” by John Crawford (2006).
• “What it is Like to Go to War” by Karl Marlantes (2012).
• “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien (2009), Minnesota author.
• “Here, Bullet” by Brian Turner, poetry (2005).
• “Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir” by Joel Turnipseed, Minnesota author (2003).

Chante Wolf: U.S. Air Force veteran; poet, photographer; facilitator, Warrior Writers MN. Wolf recommends some Minnesota authors who focus on women in service and the challenges they face.

• “We Are Not Invisible: Twenty-six women veterans from varied branches of the service share the enlightening stories of their lives before, during and after their military service” by S. Fabian Butalla (2019).
• “Sisterhood of War: Minnesota Women in Vietnam” by Kim Heikkila (2011).
• “Waging Peace: One Soldier’s Story of Putting Love First” by Diana Oestreich (2020).
• “Honor Betrayed: Sexual Abuse in America’s Military” by Mic Hunter,Minnesota licensed psychologist and marriage and family therapist (2007).

Lest we forget

• “The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers” by Elizabeth Cobbs (2017).
• “Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II” by Lena S. Andrews (2023).

Really short reads

You’ll find “Story Stones” located in the southern half of the Minnesota State Capitol Mall. Representing each Minnesota county, the 87 large stones hold excerpts from correspondence between Minnesota soldiers at war and their family members dating back to the Civil War. They are part of the Minnesota Military Family Tribute memorial that was dedicated in 2015.

Story Stone sampler:

• I never realized what love of country was until I was on foreign soil — 1919 Cottonwood.
• Dear Mom: I’ve gone off to fight. Not because I like to but for a cause so just and right — 1945 Big Stone.
•  Pray for Peace — 1970 Kanabec.
• I’m 1/3 way around the world, but every day someone recognizes the Red Bull patch on my uniform and asks me what part of Minnesota I’m from — 2005 Chippewa.

Kathy Henderson lives in St. Paul and is a freelance writer for the Bugle.