I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War

by Chris Green

I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War weaves together the Memories of fifty veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These vets were asked to submit any number of "I remember" statements - to recall the small and large of their war experiences.

The book lists veterans' memories one after the next with numbers instead of names in the margin to signal each new voice. Readers can, when and if they choose, check the Biography section in the back of the book to match a number and its associated memories with the name of a veteran and his or her background. The system of numbering is meant to be vaguely militaristic - a way of foregrounding the contrast between a soldier's number or unit and the unique human story of every war.

This anonymous structure illustrates the similarities of all wars. The effect is of one veteran speaking of the shock and scale of every modern war.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2015

About the author

Chris Green is the author of four books of poetry: The Sky Over Walgreens, Epiphany School, Résumé and Everywhere West. His poetry has appeared in such publications as Poetry, The New York Times, Court Green, Prairie Schooner and Columbia Poetry Review.

He has edited four anthologies including I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War and the forthcoming Poetic Justice: A Poem by 100 Chicago Poets on Gun Violence (Big Shoulders Books, 2020). He also started the Poetic Justice League, a forum for collaborative political poetry:

He teaches in the English Department at DePaul University. More information can be found at www.chrisgreenpoetry.com.

Reviews

[Danielle Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to share veterans' stories.

[Sarah Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Big Shoulder Books for this copy of "I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War". It was a moving collection of poetry and photographs, by various Chicago Veterans. I read it around our Canadian Remembrance Day. I have since passed this book on to a family member who I thought would also appreciate it.
#bigshoulderbooks

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second complimentary read I received from Big Shoulders Books. Both have been poignant covering different social constructs. At the risk of sounding like a complaint, my only wish was that this book was longer; the raw emotion was powerful coming from each of the veterans and what they experienced in their separate circumstance with war. Fear, loss, guilt, everything one would expect, but also camaraderie and love for their brothers in arms and different perspectives on family. What a unique and crafty way to have each of the memoirs begin with the simple phrase "I remember..." forcing each soldier to conjure up even the darkest of memories if that's what stirred their soul or the most mundane if that's what it took to survive. Thankfully, these men and women share what they endured so the rest of us can fight for other things.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always an eye-opening experience to hear (or in this case read) the tales of servicemen/women that have previously served during the times of war. Yet, it never gets any easier to hear about the past experiences and the trauma that they've caused. However, I simply want to say thank you to all who have served and it is my hope that you all find healthy coping mechanisms and are able to live a life as comfortable and carefree as can be.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotionally moving compilation of memories

[Michael Van Kerckhove]

Another wonderful publication by DePaul University/Big Shoulders Books. Like a previous reviewer, I'd of course love read more stories. But what's here are gems.