Thank You For Your Service

Author Lorin Lindner adopted two abused cockatoos that lead her a on a journey to help the homeless veterans suffering from PTSD she had been working with. When Lindner, a clinical psychologist, introduced the veterans to the parrots and she saw a reduction in the birds’ emotional problems as wells as a calmer, less stressed presence in the veterans. Lindner created Serenity Park, a parrot sanctuary on the grounds of the Los Angeles Veterans Administration Healthcare Center to rehabilitate the veterans and the parrots.

Why We Love It: The use animal-based therapy to treat both veterans with PTSD and abused birds to their mutual benefit.

David Davis weaves a rich narrative history about the paralyzed soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of World War II who defied the stigma of being a “cripple” to create the first wheelchair basketball teams. The teams later inspired the creation of Paralympics and demonstrated the body’s adaptability and the will of the human spirit.

Why We Love It: When three groups worked together, paralyzed veterans, doctors, and coaches, they launched the historic invention of wheelchair sports and gave birth to the equal rights movement for disabled individuals.

The best-selling author of Gulp and Stiff explores the science of keeping humans healthy and focused in the extreme environments of war, drawing on interviews with doctors, uniform designers, trainers and weapons testers to illuminate how soldiers are conditioned to survive traumas ranging from heat and panic to exhaustion and noise.

Why We Love It: Known for writing about uncomfortable subjects that help the average civilian understand the science behind things unspoken, Mary Roach cradles the military community as she reveals the underbelly of the trials our servicemen and women endure in the name of Freedom.

As narrated by Tuesday, Tuesday Tucks Me In is a day in the life of this service dog extraordinaire and tail-wagging ambassador for all things positive and uplifting in the world. The book takes us through a typical day of adventures, starting with Tuesday waking military veteran Luis Carlos Montalván in the morning and greeting him with dog breath in the face, and then ending with Tuesday cuddling up to Luis on their bed, the last moment they spend together before sleep.

Why We Love It: We follow the epic tale of Tuesday and Luis in this easy read version, which breaks down a normal day of a wounded veteran and his loyal service dog. Told from Tuesday’s point of view, this book is an amazing and welcome addition to Montalván’s other works on life after service.

This novel depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and of course, the character Tim O'Brien who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. They battle the enemy (or maybe more the idea of the enemy), and occasionally each other. In their relationships we see their isolation and loneliness, their rage and fear. They miss their families, their girlfriends and buddies; they miss the lives they left back home. Yet they find sympathy and kindness for strangers (the old man who leads them unscathed through the mine field, the girl who grieves while she dances), and love for each other, because in Vietnam they are the only family they have. We hear the voices of the men and build images upon their dialogue. The way they tell stories about others, we hear them telling stories about themselves.

Why We Love It: This novel gives those who have not served an idea of the hopes, fears, and sacrifices carried by those who chose to answer the call.