I had the honor of participating in the Twentieth Century Warfare and American Memory Symposium on November 13th & 14th, 2009, in Denver, Colorado. The event was hosted by Regis University's Center for the Study of War Experience, and co-hosted by Fort Hays State University and War, Literature & the Arts, an international journal produced by the English & Fine Arts Department at the Air Force Academy.

I was one of the speakers on The Vietnam War and Memory panel. My paper, titled War Stories for Beer, covered three areas. First I talked about my work, mostly focusing on The Second Tour, but also including four short stories. Next I covered the concept of war & memory, emphasizing the possibility that memory, especially war memory, is flawed and shouldn't, perhaps, be trusted. Then I offered my thoughts on what we should have learned from the Vietnam War.

I think I can say my talk was successful. I have been invited back to Regis to speak to a seminar class, and I have been asked to submit War Stories for Beer for publication.  I have also been invited to Fort Hays State University and to the Academy next year. You can't ask for much more than that.