When I first came back from Iraq, I of course found myself thinking a lot about it. Not just my experiences, but those of people I talked to, friends, and colleagues. Phil Klay backcolleagueexperience Change image and share on social
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'd been in college studying English creative writing and history when I made the decision to join the Marines in the runup to the Iraq war. Phil Klay collegecreativedecision 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
Bombs do very, very bad things to human bodies. It's incredibly shocking to see. Phil Klay badbodybomb Change image and share on social
There's a very particular way that the military speaks. There's a lot of profanity and a lot of acronyms. Phil Klay acronymlotmilitary Change image and share on social
The First Battle of Fallujah was called off in part because of the intensity of non-U.S. media coverage of civilian casualties from outlets like Al Jazeera. Phil Klay battlecallcasualty Change image and share on social
War is complicated and intense, and it takes time and thoughts to understand what it was. Phil Klay complicateintensetake Change image and share on social
Treating war as farce is one way soldiers deal with it. Phil Klay dealfarcesoldier Change image and share on social
People lie to themselves all the time about what they've been through and what it means - I'm no exception. But you write those lies down - lies that really matter to you and that are really painful to let go of because they've become a part of who you are - and they don't work. Phil Klay exceptionhavelie share on social
