LibraryAware Veterans and Military Families Stories and Voices 2025

Walk in my combat boots : true stories from America's bravest warriors
by James Patterson

The decorated war hero who inspired the movie, Black Hawk Down, shares firsthand wartime accounts describing the courageous battlefield sacrifices of men and women from every branch and operational specialty of the U.S. military. 360,000 first printing.

From Service to Success : New Mission, New Purpose, and a New Journey to a Great Life
by Bob Taylor

Book Annotation

Welcome home, Esmerelda
by Daniela Ramirez

Esmerelda and her military family are returning to San Antonio, Texas from Germany, and though she has family there she is not sure whether it will feel like home

Warrior to civilian : the field manual for the hero's journey
by Robert Sarver

A detailed resource for veterans transitioning to civilian life, addressing practical matters like job hunting and family reintegration, alongside deeper issues such as loss and purpose. Authored by veterans Rob Sarver and Alex Gendzier, it incorporates personal stories and expert insights, emphasizing healing and resilience.

Why we serve : Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces
by Alexandra N. Harris

"American Indians have served in our nation's military since colonial times. Throughout Indian Country, servicemen and women are some of the most honored members of their communities. Charged by Congress with creating a memorial on its grounds, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) will dedicate the National Native American Veterans Memorial in fall 2020 to give all Americans the opportunity "to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans." Why We Serve commemorates the opening of the memorial through the history of Native military service in all its complexity, from colonial Native nations who forged alliances, attempting to preserve their sovereignty, to contemporary individuals celebrating their Indigenous culture while fighting in foreign conflicts."

Devotion : an epic story of heroism and friendship
by Adam Makos

In this young adult adaptation of the national best-seller and soon-to-be major motion picture, two Navy pilots forge a deep friendship during the Korean War as they face insurmountable odds and impossible choices. Simultaneous eBook.

Talking about deployment : a Sesame Street resource
by Charlotte Reed

"Young readers learn with their friends from Sesame Street about deployment. They discover more about having a loved one deployed and how to live well and stay connected while their person is away"

The unlikely war hero : a Vietnam War POW's story of courage and resilience in the Hanoi Hilton
by Marc Leepson

"This is the incredible tale of the youngest and lowest-ranking American POW captured in North Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl convinced his captors he was stupid, then spent the next two years memorizing the names of 254 fellow prisoners and other details of POW life. Upon his release, that information helped improve POW life for those still in captivity"

I love you near and far
by Marjorie Blain Parker

A reassuring rhyming story, written from a child's point of view, stands as a love letter to family members who are far away because of divorce, military service or simply because they live in different places around country or world. By the author of Mama's Little Duckling.

Valiant women : the extraordinary American servicewomen who helped win World War II
by Lena S. Andrews

In this groundbreaking new history of the role of American women in World War II, a top military analyst for the CIA presents the inspiring, shocking and heartbreaking stories of these servicewomen that reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of combat in the war and illustrates important realities about modern warfighting. Illustrations.

Twenty-one steps : guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
by Jeff Gottesfeld

A respectful tribute to the sentinel guards who keep vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery combines evocative illustrations with spare text describing how Tomb Guards execute their duties with exacting precision to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Illustrations.

Sacrifice : a gold star widow's fight for the truth
by Michelle Richmond Black

Drawing on exclusive interviews with the survivors of her husband's unit, research into the military leadership and accountability and her own unique vantage point as a gold star widow, the author sets out to find the truth behind her Green Beret husband's death.

Parents here and there : a kid's guide to deployment
by Marie-Therese Miller

"This guide offers an accessible approach to life with a deployed parent and presents helpful information on how to stay in touch. While routines change, the love for a parent doesn't"

Alive Day : a memoir
by Karie Fugett

A young woman, thrust into the role of caregiver after her Marine husband's devastating war injury, struggles with love, addiction and systemic failures in this poignant and darkly humorous journey of resilience, sacrifice, and the hidden costs of war.

The ballad of Roy Benavidez : the life and times of America's most famous Hispanic war hero
by William Sturkey

Telling the Vietnam War-hero Roy Benavidez's life story, a historian recounts the Mexican American Green Beret's remarkable act of valor that left him permanently disabled and a Medal of Honor recipient, becoming one of the country's most prominent Latinos while embodying many of the contradictions inherent in 20th-century Latino life.

Celebrate Veterans Day
by Melissa Ferguson

"Discusses the history and importance of Veterans Day, as well as ways that Americans celebrate it."--Provided by publisher

Half American : the epic story of African Americans fighting World War II at home and abroad
by Matthew F. Delmont

This history of World War II as told from the African American perspective looks at the bravery and patriotism of the one million black men and women who served in the face of unfathomable racism.

A dangerous country : an American elegy
by Ron Kovic

"Ron Kovic, author of Born on the Fourth of July and one of the country's most powerful and passionate antiwar voices, completes his Vietnam Trilogy with this poignant, inspiring, and deeply personal elegy to America"--Publisher's description

Veterans Day
by Betsy Rathburn

"Developed by literacy experts and educators for students in PreK through grade two, this book introduces beginning readers to Veterans Day through simple, predictable text and related photos"

Unbroken bonds of battle : a modern warriors book of heroism, patriotism, and friendship
by Johnny Joey Jones

"In over a decade of working with veterans, Johnny Joey Jones has discovered the power of battle-forged friendships. Suffering a life-changing injury while deployed in Afghanistan, he faced a daunting recovery. But coming home would have been much harderwithout the support of his brothers and sisters in arms. In Unbroken Bonds of Battle, Joey tells the stories of those very warriors, who for years have supported and inspired him on the battlefield and off. Through unfiltered and authentic conversationswith American heroes in every branch of service, Joey tackles the big questions about life, loss, and, of course, hunting"

The unknown soldier
by Jess M. Brallier

"Watching the guard patrolling the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Jack learns about the monument, the sentinels and why it is they watch, developing a newfound respect for those who serve and an appreciation for the honor and bravery of veterans. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations."

Between the devil and the deep blue sea : a veteran's memoir
by Khadijah Queen

This powerful memoir of resilience, follows a young woman's escape from poverty through military service while confronting racism, sexism and isolation aboard a Navy ship while finding strength in poetry and a relentless pursuit of self-determination. 30,000 first printing.

Brownie the war dog : veterans' best friend
by Kelly Nelson

"Brownie, a rambunctious one-year-old German Shepherd dog, belonged to a 11-year-old Oren Kendley in King, Wisconsin, whose family decided to enlist him in the military's war dog program during World War II. After training, Brownie served as a sentry on a Pacific island, standing watch to keep US soldiers safe, until his service was cut short due to an eye injury. Brownie was sent home and reunited with Oren and his family, who adjusted to personality changes from the dog's service. Soon Brownie found a new way to serve his country, accompanying Oren's mother to her job at the Wisconsin Veterans' Home in King, where he became a companion to veterans. Brownie's story focuses on veterans and service and is a kid-friendly way to introduce difficult topics to young readers. Kids will learn about World War II, military service, and dealing with differences such as Brownie's injury through the eyes of its young main character, Oren"

An American dreamer : life in a divided country
by David Finkel

The Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Award–winning author tells the story of the massive changes underway in America through the eyes of an Iraq war veteran engulfed by the fear and anger sweeping through his beloved country.

The wall
by Eve Bunting

A boy and his father come from far away to visit the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington and find the name of the boy's grandfather, who was killed in the conflict

Kiyo Sato : from a WWII Japanese internment camp to a life of service
by Connie Goldsmith

"This is the story of Kiyo Sato and her family and their experience in the U.S. Japanese Internment Camps during WWII."

We the people : portraits of veterans in America
by Mary Whyte

We the People is not only a tour across and through these vast United States, it is a tour through the heart and soul, the duty and the commitment of the people who protect not only our Constitution and our country but our very lives. We can only be deeply grateful, inspired, and humbled by all of them."--Baker & Taylor.

Thomas H. Begay and the Navajo Code Talkers
by Alysa Landry

"Through Thomas H. Begay's singular story, this richly illustrated biography for young readers describes aspects of Navajo history and culture and shows how a select group of Navajo soldiers used their native Dinâe language to invent and operate a secretcommunications system that was crucial to a US victory in the Pacific during World War II"

Scars and stripes : an unapologetically American story of fighting the Taliban, UFC warriors, and myself
by Tim Kennedy

"Memoir offering lessons in how to embrace failure and weather storms, in order to unlock the strongest version of yourself. An authentic gut punch of a life lived with grit, resiliency, and a never-quit attitude in the face of heartbreaking failures andincredible success that every American can learn from...Kennedy reveals that failure isn't the end--rather it's the first step towards unearthing the best version of yourself and finding success, no matter how overwhelming the setbacks may feel"

A dog named Beautiful : a Marine, a dog, and a long road trip home
by Rob Kugler

A medically retired Marine describes the indelible role of his beloved chocolate lab in his recovery from war injuries and the loss of his brother, recounting the poignant road journey they shared in the final months of his dog's life.

For additional reading ideas, talk with your library staff