'Now It Is a Disaster … Called Iraq'

Sept. 28, 2006 — -- A father's reunion with his children, and vivid descriptions of the destruction of war were among the emotional stories illuminated in New York City on Wednesday when a group of actors read from the letters and e-mails of soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Writing just helps me keep everything in perspective," said First Sgt. Richard Acevedo who has spent time in Iraq.

"It was catharsis. It was a venting, a letting out," said Capt. Montgomery Granger, an Army reservist who has been on three tours of duty and is a father of four.

Their words are part of the book "Operation Homecoming," which was commissioned by the government in a writing project bringing distinguished authors including Tom Clancy and Mark Bowden to help soldiers and their families write about their experiences.

The book includes letters, e-mails, poems and narratives with soldiers such as Granger, describing his homecoming.

"Benjamin jumped out screeching: 'daddy, addy, daddy.' I hugged him hard and I kissed his cheeks … I held his head against my belly," Granger writes.

Even though the book was commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is under the direct control of President Bush, its contents are often raw and critical.

Troops describe anger at the government, post-traumatic stress, alcoholism, suicide and the brutality of war, including this piece from Staff Sgt. Jack Lewis, 41, who writes about the victims of a military related accident.

"It's hard to describe the contents of the car. They had been a young man, only moments earlier in the night. A cop or a fireman or a soldier would simply have said, 'it's a mess in there.' I used to be a fireman. I'm a soldier now. It was as bad a mess as I've ever seen," Lewis wrote.

During Wednesday's event, actor Matthew Modine read one portion, reflecting on the devastation in Iraq.

"It is sad to see what history has done to this area. It was the beginning of everything we have now. It was beautiful, there were forests nearby, the people were proud. Now it is a disaster. Now it is called Iraq," he read.