Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien grew up in a small prairie town in Minnesota. He completed his bachelor's degree in political science in 1968 and contemplated becoming a writer. However, two weeks later he was drafted for military service.

In 1968 the war in Vietnam had reached its bloodiest point in terms of American casualties. Although O'Brien had attended peace rallies during his undergraduate years, campaigned for Eugene McCarthy, a presidential candidate who opposed the war, and considered fleeing to Canada to avoid the draft, in the end he yielded to what he has described as pressure from his community to let go of his convictions against the war and went to boot camp. He served a 13-month tour as a foot soldier and was sent home in 1970 with a Purple Heart.

He first wrote about his war experience in a memoir If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, published in 1973. He then switched to fiction but continued to write about war and the strain soldiers and veterans experience as they try to reconcile what they saw and did during the Vietnam War with the values they had learned growing up.

Tim O'Brien now lives in Texas with his family and teaches creative writing at Texas State University.

Tim O'Brien will come to WCSU on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss his book. It will be followed by a Q & A with the audience. Books will be available for purchase and signing. More information (PDF flyer)