Operation Homecoming is an audio CD featuring the literature of war, read in the voices of ten of America’s most esteemed writers, most of whom served in war themselves. Narrated by NEA Chairman Dana Gioia, the CD presents fiction, poetry, letters, and memoirs from the Civil War, World War I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Operation Homecoming CD will be given free to troops to help them explore and realize their own literary potential.
A special audio program, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts, featuring: Will D. Campbell, Shelby Foote, Barry Hannah, Victor Davis Hanson, Bobbie Ann Mason, Marilyn Nelson, James Salter, Louis Simpson, Richard Willbur, Tobias Wolff, and narrated by Dana Gioia.
[Site owner note: In pursuit of making this CD available to active servicemembers and veterans alike, these tracks were created from an original CD purchased at a thrift store. You can find this CD on Amazon (as of 4 May 2025).]
Background image credit: Daniel Hadman Photography
Track Listing:
Welcome (1:34)
Letters Home
- Hugh Alexander Leslie, Read By Edward Gero (WWI) (3:14)
- Hazel Jane Raines, Read By Diane Cooper-Gould (WWII) (4:41)
- Samuel Cabble, Read By Ed Bishop (Civil War) (2:28)
- Sullivan Ballou, Read By Edward Gero (Civil War) (3:45)
Fiction
- Shelby Foote, From Shiloh (Civil War) (2:13)
- Bobbie Ann Mason, From In Country (Vietnam) (5:56)
- Barry Hannah, From “Testimony Of Pilot” (Vietnam) (2:31)
Memoir
- James Salter, From Burning The Days (Korea) (4:05)
- Tobias Wolff, From In Pharaoh’s Army (Vietnam) (5:15)
- Will D. Campbell, “A Christmas Gift” (WWII) (3:15)
- Will D. Campbell, The Return Of The Enola Gay (WWII) (2:00)
- Victor Davis Hanson, “A Ring” (WWII) (4:10)
Poetry
- Richard Wilbur, “First Snow In Alsace” (WWII) (2:27)
- Marilyn Nelson, “Star-Fix” (WWII) (3:16)
- Louis Simpson Recalls The Battle of the Bulge (WWII) (2:23)
- Louis Simpson, “On The Ledge” (WWII) (2:15)
On Writing
- Tobias Wolff On Literary Influences (0:45)
- Shelby Foote On Literary Influences (1:22)
- Richard Wilbur On Writing (1:35)
- Louis Simpson On Military Experience (1:07)
- James Salter On Writing (2:21)
Credits (1:05)
Source: National Endowment for the Arts, Operation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming is made possible by The Boeing Company.
Copyright Notice © 2004 Southern Arts Federation and the individual contributors.
This website is independently owned and operated, and is not affiliated with Boeing, the Southern Arts Federation, or the National Endowment for the Arts.
