I saw so many radically different versions of Iraq. It would have been difficult for me to come back and think, 'This is the Iraq experience.' Phil Klay backdifficultexperience Change image and share on social
I always wrote - not about war, necessarily, but I always wrote stories. I tried to write while I was in Iraq. It's not really - I didn't do a very good job, and not about war. Phil Klay goodiraqjob Change image and share on social
It's a professional military. You sign up and agree to allow your countrymen to use your life as they see fit for the next four years. And I think we all should have a greater role in ensuring that we use those lives wisely. Phil Klay agreecountrymanensure share on social
I have, for a very long time, been a huge admirer of Marilynne Robinson, whose work I just love. Phil Klay admirerhugelong Change image and share on social
The notion that war forever separates veterans from the rest of mankind has been long embedded in our collective consciousness. Phil Klay collectiveconsciousnessembed Change image and share on social
I went straight from the Marine Corps to the MFA. The way that you would express things among Marines is somewhat different than the way you're supposed to express things in a creative-writing workshop. Phil Klay corpscreativeexpress share on social
The civilian wants to respect what the veteran has gone through. The veteran wants to protect memories that are painful and sacred to him from outside judgment. Phil Klay civilianjudgmentmemory Change image and share on social
The Iraq I returned from was, in my mind, a fairly simple place. By which I mean it had little relationship to reality. It's only with time and the help of smart, empathetic friends willing to pull through many serious conversations that I've been able to learn more about what I witnessed. Phil Klay conversationempatheticfairly share on social
'Redeployment' is a military term. It means to transfer a unit from one area to another. Phil Klay areameanmilitary Change image and share on social