Ninety copies, 30 of each of Jerry Engler's Just Folks books, are being boxed by American Legion volunteers March 4, for shipment to the 30 soldiers currently serving in the military in Afghanistan and Iraq from Marion County.

The books are predominantly humorous fiction short stories with a mix also of history, romance and poignancy. As Engler says, "They're mostly uplifting, fun stories, but you can hit a serious one here and there, if you really have to."

His third book, Highly Embellished Truth & Some Poetry: Just Folks Three, also includes 30 poems in the mix of 140 short stories total among the three books. The other two books are Just Folks: Earthy Tales of the Prairie Heartland, and A Heartland Voice: Just Folks Two.

Engler says, "I hope I have done what little I can do to raise the spirits of the troops. They are doing a hard thing for their country that can't be compensated by mere money and benefits. Our people need to remember them."