Fall 2021 Schedule

Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog

By Mike Dowling

September 16, 2021 – 5:30 Library 3^rd Floor Conference Room (L301) or on Zoom

Animals have played an important support role in the military for millennia.  Dogs in particular have been valued for their keen sense of smell, their scouting ability, intelligence and loyalty.  This gripping true story tells the story of Sergeant Mike Dowling and his military working dog Rex who were part of the Marine Corps military K9 teams sent to Iraq, the first on the front lines of combat since Vietnam. It was Rex’s job to sniff out weapons caches, suicide bombers, and IEDs. 

Exciting News!  The author will be joining us virtually for this discussion

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain

Oct 21, 2021, – 5:30 Library Conference Room (L301)

This biting satire of commercialism and celebrity culture tells the story of a protagonist thrust into the limelight after his squad returns from Iraq. The book was critically acclaimed, and was the winner of the National Book Critics’ Circle Award and a finalist for the National Book Award.  However, the author Ben Fountain is not a veteran, and many military readers have criticized the book as a civilian take on military experience that doesn’t ring true.

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII  by Chester Nez and Judith Schiess Avila

Dec 2, 2021,  – 5:30 Library Conference Room (L301)

Chester Nez was an American veteran of World War II and the last surviving Navajo code talker.  The Navaho code is the only spoken military code never to have been deciphered. This memoir describes Chester Nez’s work in the Marines.  It also covers his early life; losing his mother at the age of three, and being sent at eight years old to a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs where he was given a new name, and discouraged from speaking his native language.  

About the IU South Bend Veterans Book Club

The Veterans Book Club is open to everyone interested in veteran’s experiences, stimulating discussion and good books.  We usually have a group of 10 -15 participants, both veterans and civilians, including students, faculty, staff and members of the community.  We’ve explored a wide gamut of genres including novels, memoir, short stories, poetry, philosophy, in-depth journalism, graphic novels and history.

For more information contact Rhonda Culbertson (rculbert@iusb.edu, 574-520-5598) Free copies of the book are available for each book club meeting. 

The book club is supported by a generous gift from Jerry and Dorene Hammes.

Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog by Mike Dowling

First Fall Meeting – Thursday September 16. 5:30 Library 3^rd Floor Conference Room or on Zoom

The IU South Bend Veterans Book Club will be meeting to discuss the true story of a military working dog and his trainer during their deployment to one of the most dangerous areas of Iraq in the early years of the war.  This gripping autobiographical tale describes multiple missions where Rex and Mike detected explosives and secured areas, saving countless military and civilian lives.  They were part of the Marine Corps military K9 teams sent to Iraq, the first on the front lines of combat since Vietnam. Animals have played an important support role in the military for millennia.  Dogs in particular have been valued for their keen sense of smell, their scouting ability, intelligence and loyalty. Mike Dowling will be joining us virtually to tell us more about his experience with military working dogs and his subsequent work on behalf of veterans. You can see his TEDx talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMeLHZjYOrI

We will be meeting at 5:30 (room 301 of the Schurz Library or via Zoom)  You can request a free copy of the book by contacting Rhonda Culbertson at rculbert@iusb.edu .  If you would like to participate via Zoom you can also contact her for the link. In person attendees must wear masks while in campus buildings.