This course is designed to bridge the ever-widening civilian-military gap in the United States by examining the twenty-first century war experience through literature. The course will explore stories in multiple genres such as fiction, poetry, memoir, drama, and blogs to gain insights into the value of stories portraying combat and its aftermath. The course will also explore representations of military families on the home front. In addition to assigned readings, learners will have the opportunity to design research projects tailored to their own interests. This course provides insight to those who work with veterans and/or military families in the fields of behavioral health, health care, business, or education, and to anyone exercising their civic duties in a democracy.