SIX WORD WAR |

Name: Charlie Sherpa
Previously embedded: with former unit in Afghanistan
Hometown: Boone, Iowa
Milblog: Red Bull Rising
Email: SherpaatRedBullRising.com

 

Through Kickstarter, two U.S. Army veterans are currently crowd-funding a hardcover collection of Iraq and Afghanistan war memoirs, each delivered in punchy six-word shot groups.

I wish I'd thought of that!

West Point classmates Mike Neman and Shaun Wainwright are seeking $4,900 through a fund-raising campaign that ends Aug. 30, 2013. Neman is also an author of humorous parenting books, and has previously conducted two other Kickstarter projects.

At the time of this writing, the pair have raised more than $4,000 toward their objective. Donors of $20 or more can receive a copy of the book. An accompanying video further describes the project:

"Six-Word War" is the first-ever crowd-sourced war memoir. It will give you unique perspective on our nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of a traditional war memoir that may give you just one person's perspective, this book will give you hundreds, hopefully thousands, of short stories from soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines.

Previously submitted entries range from pissy and punny, to provoking and poignant. Here are a couple of examples:

Simple people – complex problems – harsh terrain
— OEF IV 12-month deployment with 2-27 Infantry out of 25th Infantry Division.

PowerPoint Storyboard. Or it didn't happen
— Bobby Ragsdale

Running over soccer balls creates terrorists
— Nate Nahm

News stories must contain no downers
— Posted all over our 4ID office in Tikrit, per General Odierno

Where is your reflective belt, you?
— Will F.

Hearts and minds are only targets
— Anonymous

Veterans and military family members can submit their own six-word memoirs through a project website: www.sixwordwar.com.

For more information on the fund-raising campaign, click here.

There is also a Facebook page here.

Comments

[Ray Lampe]

After reading the samples of six word contributions, I am disappointed in my hope to receive new depth or perspective understanding the Middle East wars as known by the Warriors. I would presume to suggest that the wars and the Warriors would be better served if each contributor was allowed a bit more to say, perhaps 30 words. Less buzz, hopefully more rapport.

[Seth]

What A Wonderful World Of Shit

[Braylen Scott]

Thank you alot for sharing and i really appreciate your work. I think the idea of 6 word experiences is a very interesting thing to do and i will for sure look to buy the book. Thank you again!