Acknowledgments

I could never hope to express anything more than a fraction of the gratitude that is owed to the people who have helped me complete this project. It is humbling to reflect back on the wonderful support I have received from friends, family, and colleagues since its incep- tion. I am forever indebted to several individuals for having a life- changing impact on my intellectual development. Mark Jefferies was the first teacher to encourage me to take my education seriously. Without his enthusiasm in the classroom and encouragement of my writing, I cannot help but think that my life would have taken a very different course. At the University of Wales, Swansea, Phil Melling’s American Studies courses challenged me in ways that made me keen to pursue a life of the mind. I was deeply saddened to hear of his pass- ing, but his legacy surely lives on through the generations of students he inspired. Andy Wiest’s terrific Vietnam War class at the University of Southern Mississippi first sparked my interest in that conflict, and his superlative books continue to shape my understanding of the war. Kurt Piehler has provided incalculable help, advice, and friendship over the years. Kurt helped me conceive of this project, and his knowl- edge, willingness to read chapters quickly, and insightful comments improved greatly the quality of the final manuscript. Moreover, Kurt’s eagerness in helping me find conference and publishing opportuni- ties has been enormously beneficial to my professional development. I could not have asked any more from a mentor, and I am proud to be among a growing number of scholars who are heavily indebted to his selfless support. There are too many to name individually, but the driving force behind the book has been the veterans who, whether through formal interviews or in casual conversations, have always been generous with

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their time. I cannot thank them enough for sharing their experiences. Talking to them even decades after the guns have fallen silent makes one realize instantly that their wars never end. In adding to the dis- course on the veteran experience, I hope that on some level this book makes the reader reflect not only on what war does to the men and women we send off to fight in our name but also on what obligations we owe them for doing so. Archival workers continue to provide the shoulders on which so many scholars stand. I am particularly grateful for the research assis- tance provided by the staff at the following locations: the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, ; the Gerald R. Ford Presi- dential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan; the Congressional Research Center in Norman, Oklahoma; the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives at Texas A&M University in College Station; the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas in Aus- tin; the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, ; the University of Tennessee Center for the Study of War and Society in Knoxville; and the Veterans’ Museum and the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison. The Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford Libraries both provided valuable funding for research trips, as did the Carl Albert Center. I have also been fortunate to receive generous sup- port from the University of Tennessee History Department, the Uni- versity of Alabama History Department, the University of Wisconsin– Whitewater College of Letters and Sciences, and the administration at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri. Along the way, I have been privileged to have spent time with some extraordinary friends and colleagues. At the University of Ten- nessee, Mike Taylor, Julie Sass, Heinrich Staruk, Ben Shannon, Catie McDonald, and all of the colorful crew down in the grad student offices made getting a PhD far more fun than it had any right to be. After putting up with me for two years at the University of Tennessee Center for the Study of War and Society, Cynthia Tinker has probably earned a break from me, but she’s not going to get it. I left the Uni- versity of Alabama with many fond memories, but more importantly with the lasting friendships of John Beeler, Merrily Harris, Court Car- ney, Charity Rakestraw-Carney, Rob Riser, Andrew Huebner, and Lisa Dorr, among many others. I will forever be grateful to Rich Megraw

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for making me his copilot on board the “Liberty Belle” B-17 and for his many great nights of hospitality. Rebecca Shrum was a fantas- tic colleague at the University of Whitewater–Wisconsin, helping me negotiate both the tenure process and the seasonal brews at Dexter’s. Rod Wilson, Emma Kuby, Brian Bockelman, Amber Moulton, Jim Jaffe, Tony Gulig, and James Levy were among the many who helped me survive the Madison winters. Others who have shared advice, support, and the encouragement needed to help keep this ship afloat include Lucy McCobb, Lisa Davis, Kristan Stoddart, Steve Ortiz, and Sam Goodfellow. I could not have asked for a better publishing experience than the one provided by NYU Press. NYU has a long tradition of publishing outstanding books on veterans’ issues, so I was thrilled when Debbie Gershenowitz accepted my work into the fold. Debbie’s early advice and encouragement for the project was instrumental in my making the final push for publication. Clara Platter has been just terrific in continuing Debbie’s work and in pushing the project on to greater heights and her advice and patience have been invaluable. Constance Grady has been extremely helpful in providing swift responses to my many queries and in keeping me on track, while Alexia Traganas has worked wonders in helping me refine the final product. I would also like to thank Emily Wright for her excellent copyediting. Everything I have achieved in life has been done with the full and unconditional support of my family. My parents, Hillary and Nor- man Boulton, never questioned the many daft things I have decided to do with my life, and they were always there in whatever capacity I needed. My brother Huw has had a greater impact on my life than he will ever know. Whether it is my questionable music tastes or my interests in aviation and astronomy, so much of what I have done has been in his shadow. But most importantly he has influenced the way I see the world through our many “TB” sessions at the Glan- cynon or the White Rose: Long may that continue. The hiraeth that I regularly feel being so far from home has been eased by the won- derful support I have received from Bob and Mary Brown and the whole extended Brown/Froeschner clan. I am forever appreciative of their willingness to accept a Welsh bloke from the valleys so openly into their Missouri family. All of which brings me to the person I

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need to thank most of all—my lovely wife Cinnamon Brown. Every day she inspires me as a teacher and a scholar, but more impor- tantly as someone who embraces life fully and always greets the world with a smile. Having such a loving and understanding partner makes everything possible. Despite what Tom Waits said, a bird and a whale can make it!

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