– We recognize the significant value veterans, military members, and their families find in putting their thoughts, experiences, and creative thinking on paper, and/or in print.
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors is a creative writing anthology of poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, and photography submissions by and about veterans from across the nation, and spanning generations—from WWI to Iraq and Afghanistan. The stories contained within support and reflects the creative expression of our nation’s veterans, military personnel, and military family members.
Proud to Be is an annual series, which was first released in November 2012. The anthology is funded by MH, edited by Dr. James Brubaker, and published by Southeast Missouri State University Press. Submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges for inclusion in the anthology, with a $250 first prize in each of the five anthology categories. No fee to enter.
Charity Winters reading her work from a previous Proud to Be book release.
Submissions are now open for Proud to Be, Volume 12.
Entries must be submitted through SEMO Press. Click the submit link for entry guidelines. Deadline is April 21, 2023.
In Case You Missed It!
PAST EVENT: Proud to Be Virtual Reading & Roundtable with Mark Bowden – Watch the Recording!
On Wednesday, January 25th we hosted a live reading of original creative writings and a roundtable discussion featuring veterans, military personnel, and military family members published in Volume 11 of Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors. The discussion was moderated by Mark Bowden, contributing writer at The Atlantic and the author of Black Hawk Down and Huế 1968.
Together the reading and discussion provide an intimate insight into the lives and personal experiences of those who have served and bring to light stories revolving around our nation’s military experience. Published in partnership with Southeast Missouri State University Press, each volume of Proud to Be results from a juried competition, and Mark Bowden served as one of the writing competition judges for the first volume.
Bowden’s original connection to the series and his experience in journalism and military-based writing make this thoughtful and engaging discussion with our veteran writers well worth the watch!
Transcript available upon request! To request a transcript, please email lisa@mohumanities.org
Watch past readings of original creative writings from from local and national veterans, military personnel, and military family members published Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors.
The video above is a virtual reading from Proud to Be, Volume 10.
The video above highlights Proud to Be, Volume 6.
Thank you to our book contributors, judges, editors, and readers for making PTB possible. A special thanks to Deborah Marshall, founder of the Warriors Arts Alliance, who laid the groundwork for this successful program.
Purchase Proud to Be, Volumes 1 – 11
For more information on Proud To Be, or with issues purchasing Volumes 1 – 11
email Lisa Carrico at lisa@mohumanities.org.
– Proud to Be: Writing By American Warriors, Volume 11
Edited by James Brubaker, Foreword by Virginia Brackett
Award Winning Fiction
Adam Straus – Crisis and Response (Winner)
Benjamin Inks – Honeycombs (Honorable Mention)
Sandra Tow – Not Even the Trees (Honorable Mention)
Award Winning Photography
Niko Eden – Last Hoorah (Winner)
Michael Day – Losing Focus (Honorable Mention)
Scott Meehan – British APC in the Green Zone—Baghdad 2005 (Honorable Mention)
Award Winning Poetry
Eric Chandler – Tar (Winner)
Jacob Reisinger – My Combat (Honorable Mention)
Charity Winters – War Tourism (Honorable Mention)
Award Winning Essays
Charlie Jacobson – Tanks (Winner)
Robert Brewer – Baby, It’s You (Honorable Mention)
Charity Winters – Thomas Stearns Eliot, I Salute You (Honorable Mention)
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 10
Edited by James Brubaker, Foreword by Bill Glose
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
(The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book)
Fiction Winner
“On a Mountain in Logar” by Benjamin Inks
Fiction Honorable Mention
“Emergency Leave” by Elaine Little
“We Go Together” by Kristine Otero
Poetry Winner
“The Wounded Cry Out for Their Mothers First” by Harry Gordon
Poetry Honorable Mention
WE FORGOT” by Jessica M Granger
“Army Brat” by Ryan Stovall
Photography Winner
“Combat Boots” by Christian Tillett
Photography Honorable Mention
“Prepping for ‘The Box”’ by Randy Brown
“The Well” by Ruth Snipes
Essays Winner
“Incident at Range 27” by Rob Silverman
Essays Honorable Mention
“UXO” by Anne Boaden
“Cursed” by Michael Farwig
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 9
Edited by James Brubaker
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition. The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the ninth in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Fiction Winner
“What Wouldn’t Stay Buried” by Bill Glose
Fiction Honorable Mention
“Over the Rainbow” by Paul Hellweg
“What Was Taken” by Ryan Stovall
Poetry Winner
“Roasting Hatch Chilis” by Sarah Colby
Poetry Honorable Mention
“Tripped Up By Mefloquine” by Ryan Stovall
“Gun Trucking” by Charity Winters
Photography Winner
“CH-53D Ramp Gunner” by Anne Boaden
Photography Honorable Mention
“A Rush to Treatment” by Felicitus Ferington
“Play” by Bree Pye
Interviews Winner
“Hometown Hero: Master Gunnery Sergeant Carroll W. Braxton” by Charleetah Lankford
Interviews Honorable Mention
“Feet of the Messenger & Beyond: A Conversation with Vietnam War Veteran, Poet, and Kansas Native H.C. Palmer” by Thomas G. McGuire
“Will I Ever Sing Again?” by John Hornbeck
Essays Winner
“Going to War” by Troy D. Allan
Essays Honorable Mention
“A War Zone Question” by Rick Fahr Jr.
“Ghosts” by Cody Mower
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 8
Edited by James Brubaker
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition. The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the eighth in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Fiction Winner
“Artificial Reef” by Robert Morgan Fisher
Fiction Honorable Mention
“How to Schedule a Nervous Breakdown” by Amie Charney
“Sacrifice and Service” by William Watkins Jr.
Poetry Winner
“What the Bomb Wants” by Bill Glose
Poetry Honorable Mention
“The Blue Angels at Naval Air Station Jacksonville” by Aaron Wallace
“The Watch” by Wes Smith
Photography Winner
“Sugar Rush” by Bree Pye
Photography Honorable Mention
“Day Job” by T.S. Johnson
“Documenting Work on the Saigon River” by James Rifenbar
Interviews Winner
“Keith Eugene Fiscus: A Life of Service” by Billie Holladay Skelley
Essays Winner
“Broken Ribs” by Kristin Otero
Essays Honorable Mention
“Hindrance” by Jessica Granger
“Like You Mean It” by Bree Pye
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 7
Edited by James Brubaker
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by Emma Bolden (author of the poetry collections House Is an Enigma, medi(t)ations, and Maleficae), Seth Wade (BFA Universtiy of Dayton, MFA University of Cincinnati), Ron Austin (author of the forthcoming story collection Avery Colt is a Snake, a Thief, a Liar), Missy Phegley (Director of Composition at Southeast Missouri State University), and Philip MacKenzie (MFA from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a PhD from the University of South Dakota). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the seventh in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Fiction Winner
“Gurkha!!” by Cynthia Teramae
Fiction Honorable Mention
“Half Moon” by Jessica Evans
“Rose’s Blink” by Ken McBride
Poetry Winner
“Kitchen Firefight” by Michael Eaton
Poetry Honorable Mention
“The Ground Truth” by Randy Brown
“Desert Rain” by Ryan Stovall
Photography Winner
“Patrolling the Arghandab” by Breanne M. Pye
Photography Honorable Mention
“Desert March” by Bill Glose
“Reunited” by Billy Jenkins
Interviews Winner
“Haven in the Jungle” by Nancy Brewka-Clark
Interviews Honorable Mention
“Vietnam Vignettes: The Trauma and the Therapy” by Billie Holladay Skelley
“Raymond’s Journey” by Rod Martinez
Essays Winner
“Georgia on My Mind” by Lauren Stevens
Essays Honorable Mention
“Accidental American” by Shane Griffin
“What it Means to Serve” by Bill Glose
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 6
Edited by James Brubaker
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by Dr. Jenny Yang Cropp (author of the poetry collection String Theory, Assistant Professor at Southeast Missouri State University), Justin Dambach (photographer and videographer), Brandon Hobson (Pushcart Prize winner and author of Where the Dead Sit Talking), Dr. Joel P. Rhodes (Professor of History at Southeast Missouri State University), and Amanda Woods (Acting Director of the Office of Military and Veterans Services at Southeast Missouri State University). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the sixth in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Fiction Winner
“Thanks for Your Service” by Mark Hennion
Fiction Honorable Mention
“Homage to Shamu” by Matthew Alexander Burrell
“They Wanted Food” by Jason Poudrier
Poetry Winner
“Academy Barracks 5:00am, Tuesday, mid-February” by Ian Tyson
Poetry Honorable Mention
“Army SMART Book: This Page Left Blank Intentionally” by Karen Skolfield
“Dear Wadih Sa’adeh” by Lisa Stice
Photography Winner
“An Education in Fear” by Jarrod L. Taylor
Photography Honorable Mention
“Role Model for a Young Girl (Poland)” by A. Sean Taylor
“Fallujah*009” by Billy Jenkins
Interviews Winner
“Emergency Landings: An Interview with WWII Pilot Irwin A. Stavin” by Bill Glose
Interviews Honorable Mention
“Living In-Between” by Lauren B. Stevens
“The Path” by Charles Jacobson
Essays Winner
“Going Home” by Billy Jenkins
Essays Honorable Mention
Baggage by Charity Winters
“The Reluctant Voyeur” by Doug Elwell
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 5
Edited by Susan Swartwout
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 5 presents essays, fiction, poetry, interviews, and photography by military-service personnel, veterans, and their families.
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by Dr. Adam Criblez (director of the Center for Regional History, Southeast Missouri State University), Fred Lynch (photographer, Southeast Missourian newspaper), Terry Lucas (co-executive editor of Trio House Press, son of WWII veteran, and author of poetry collections If They Have Ears to Hear, In This Room, and Dharma Rain), Dixon Hearne (author of Delta Flats: Stories in the Key of Blues and Hope, From Tickfaw to Shongaloo, and Plantatia: High-Toned and Lowdown Stories from the South), and Dr. Susan Kendrick (associate professor of English and chairperson of the Department of English at Southeast Missouri State University). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the fifth in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Essay Winner
“Section 60”—winner Jarrod L. Taylor
Essay Honorable Mention
The Massillon Boys by Ken McBride
The Forgotten War: A Personal Reflection on the Korean War by Leonard Adreon
Photography Winner
Always Time For Chai— by A. Sean Taylor
Innocence Reflected by Jarrod L. Taylor
Forgiven Too by Journey Carolyn Collins
Poetry Winner
Questions Raised by Black Scorpions— by Bill Glose
Poetry Honorable Mention
Runaway Slave by Bryan D. Nickerson
First Blood by Milton J. Bates
Fiction Winner
A Bird— by Tessa Poppe
Fiction Honorable Mention
Into Dust by Kyle Larkin
Bottle Rockets and Bad Memories by Jason Arment
Interviews Winner
90 Minutes— by Caleb Nelson
Interviews Honorable Mention
Interview: Preserving a Dying Legacy by Casey Titus
Interview with Major (R) Jonathan Silk by David Chrisinger
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 4
Edited by Susan Swartwout
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 4 presents essays, fiction, poetry, interviews, and photography by military-service personnel, veterans, and their families.
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by David Armand (associate editor for Louisiana Literature Press, Teacher at Southeastern Louisiana University, author of The Gorge, Harlow, The Deep Woods, and The Pugilist’s Wife), Dr. Missy Nieveen-Phegley (Director of composition and assessment, Southeast Missouri State University), Jennifer Geist (professional photographer and publisher of Brick Mantle Books), Jarrod L. Taylor (history teacher, infantryman in the U.S. Army from 2000 – 2009.), and Gerardo “Tony” Mena (teacher, Iraqi Freedom veteran, author of The Shape of Our Faces No Longer Matters). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the fourth in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Fiction Winner
No Travel Returns by Christopher Lyke
Fiction Honorable Mention
The War Within by Scott Owen
Four Shots and Three Funerals by dutch franz
Essay Winner
That Which Is Unforgotten: Combat Trauma, Grief, and the Need for Remembrance by David Chrisinger
Essay Honorable Mention
Korea 1951—Marines Don’t Cry by Leonard J. Adreon
Da Nang ‘Dust Off’ Diary by Robert B. Robeson
Interview Winner
Finding My Way Home by Victoria Otto Franzese
Interview Honorable Mention
Korean War Vignettes: Stories Behind the Scars by Jim Gilstrap
The Hearts Within the Military by Tia Mitchell
Poetry Winner
nights by Nicholas J. Watts
Poetry Honorable Mention
Jay by Bryan D. Nickerson
A Radio-Telephone Operator Writes Haiku by Charlie Sherpa
Photography Winner
Planning For Peace by Jay Harden
Photography Honorable Mention
Missing My Father by Russell Nielsen
Relay by Jeremy Warneke
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 3
Edited by Susan Swartwout
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 3 presents essays, fiction, poetry, interviews, and photography by military-service personnel, veterans, and their families.
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by Daniel Simon (editor-in-chief of World Literature Today), John Mort (Soldier in Paradise and The Illegal), Geoff Giglierano (historical consultant), Bradley Phillips (professor of photography at Southeast Missouri State University), and Colin Halloran (poet, veteran, and teacher). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the third in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities and the Warriors Arts Alliance.
“The stories and poems of service and sacrifice are essential in understanding what has so broadly been termed ‘the American experience.’ For me, Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors is required reading and worthy of a thousand tears.” ―St. Leger Monty Joynes, veteran, Vietnam
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Essay Winner: Lisa Miller for “Still Falling Snow”
Essay Honorable Mentions: Diane Cameron for “Iambic Pentameter and the Meter of War” and Jay Harden for “My Mother of All Letters.”
Poetry Winner: Dominika Wrozynski for “Retrieval.”
Poetry Honorable Mentions: D.A. Gray for “Whistling Past the Graveyard” and Paul Hellweg for “Ghosts.”
Fiction Winner: Jay Harden for “Bramble Fire.” Fiction Honorable Mentions: Katherine Bell for “The Sulphur Sink” and Frederick W. Cutter for “Something’s Wrong.”
Photography Winner: Sheree K. Nielsen for “jimmie (pier)”
Photography Honorable Mentions: Jay Harden for “For the Arc Light Fallen” and “War’s Shiny Things.”
Interview Winner: S. Lorraine Norwood for “D-Day, Korea, Vietnam: An Old Warrior Lives to Tell the Tale.”
Interview Honorable Mentions: Casey Titus for “Interview of Vietnam Veteran Jim Lewis” and Gloria Pape Caviglia for “Epiphany of Maturity.”
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 2
Edited by Susan Swartwout
Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 2 presents essays, fiction, poetry, interviews, and photography by military-service personnel, veterans, and their families.
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by John McManus (September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far), Mary Troy (Beauties: A Novel), William Trowbridge (Poet Laureate of Missouri, Ship of Fool), Destinee Oitzinger (Art Director of National Veterans Art Museum), and Tom Cushman (Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the second in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities and the Warriors Arts Alliance.
“The stories and poems of service and sacrifice are essential in understanding what has so broadly been termed ‘the American experience.’ For me, Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors is required reading and worthy of a thousand tears.”―St. Leger Monty Joynes, veteran, Vietnam
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Essay Winner: Jay Harden for “My Metal Mama”
Essay Honorable Mentions: Jason Arment for “Grim” and Gerardo Mena for “How to Build a War Hero”
Poetry Winner: Ryan Smithson for “Babel”
Poetry Honorable Mentions: Danielle Sellers for “Talk” and Amanda Hilles for “Taps”
Fiction Winner: John Mort for “Pitchblende”
Fiction Honorable Mentions: Kathleen Toomey Jabs for “Acts of Contribution” and Rolf Yngve for “Pointed Fair”
Photography Winner: Sheree Nielsen for “Dear Kindred Spirit”
Photography Honorable Mentions: A. Sean Taylor for “National Training Center” and Amanda Cherry for “Ft. Leavenworth Cemeteries 279”
Interview Winner: Jay Harden for “Interview with a Land Girl”
Interview Honorable Mentions: Phyllis A. Robeson for “Interview with a Warrior” and Jan Morrill for “Warrior Marriage”
– Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 1
Edited by Susan Swartwout
Winner of the 2013 Stars and Flags Book Award Gold Medal for an Anthology/Collection
Publication: Fall 2012
The anthology Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors showcases writing from military veterans and their families from across the nation, including writing about WWI and WWII, Vietnam, the Gulf Conflict, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
The volume also sponsored a veterans’ writing competition, judged by stellar writers Mark Bowden (Black Hawk Down), William Trent Pancoast (WILDCAT), and soldier-poet Brian Turner (Here, Bullet and Phantom Noise). The winners and finalists are spotlighted in the front of the book.
The anthology is the first in an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in Cooperation with the Missouri Humanities and the Warriors Arts Alliance. The Missouri Humanities plans to expand the partnership to include additional organizations that are both concerned and supportive of American veterans.
Winners of the Warriors Anthology Writing Competition:
Nonfiction Winner: Paul Mims for “Rockhappy 1944-45
Nonfiction Finalists: Jarrod L. Taylor for “Sadr City” and Jimmy Castellanos for “Desert Snow”
Poetry Winner: Gerardo Mena for “Baring the Trees”
Poetry Finalists: Carol Alexander for “Rewind” and Bill Glose for “Desert Moon”
Fiction Winner: Monty Joynes for “First Day at An Khe”
Fiction Finalists: Edie Cottrell Kreisler for “Remembering Cu Chi” and Ryan Smithson for “Tap Shoes”
“After all this time, Michael finally shared his story of Vietnam, over the past year since Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors was published . . . [He] has opened up more to me about Vietnam than he has in our 39 years of marriage. Perhaps after reading what others shared, he feels it is now okay for him to do so as well. History will always be written by professionals, but a personal story of what a man experienced in his lifetime is priceless for our future generations.”