You Know When the Men Are Gone, by Sibohan Fallon

I loved this book, but beware strong language used in military (and family) settings. This book will leave you inspired by the incredible sacrifice that is made every day on your behalf. This is a collection of short stories that all have common characters (so fun!) and messages about current military life (not so fun, but very worthwhile).

I have an immediate family member who served in the armed forces for several years and can personally attest to many of the facets and facts shared in this book, and willingly believe the rest. This is not a book that one can convey the message of - it's one that simply needs to be read and understood by the millions of Americans who have little or no idea what our service-men and -women and their families go though every day. It was powerfully moving.

     In a world where it is normal for a thousand men  pack their bags, meet on a parade field, and then disappear for an entire year... (p9)

     She wanted to worry about ordinary things like whether her husband forgot his lunch or got a bonus, not that he might get shot or that he'd be crossing a street in Baghdad and never get to the other side. (p 22)

     He glanced up in time to see Staff Sergeant Torres, on of the most laid-back guys he knew, walk straight over to the private and stomp the radio to smithereens.

     The private leaned back in his chair to get away from flying bits of plastic. Nick and two other soldiers moved in close, ready to pull the men apart if Staff Sergeant Torres planned on smashing the private's face as well.

     Instead Torres looked down at the shards under his boots. "I'll pay for that," he said, then turned and walked back to his tent.

     None of the men looked at each other, as if refusing to acknowledge what they had witnessed. They knew there was only on thing that would make a guy snap like that, make him want to crush those words out of existence, and it didn't have a [darn] thing to do with life in Iraq. (p 177)

The themes are adult. The moods are somber. The feelings are overwhelming. The effect awakens the reader to understanding and gratitude.