Norwich University will host the 2016 William E. Colby Military Writers’ Symposium on Wednesday and Thursday, April 6-7.
The only program of its kind at an American university, this distinctive event brings together some of the most influential writers on current affairs and military history. Authors gather for a two-day residency on the campus of the country’s oldest private military college to share their work and debate past and current affairs and military issues.
A series of presentations, a book signing, and the panel take place over two days. Many events are free and open to the public.
This year’s theme is “Going to War: The Cost to Families, Communities, and Nation.”
The panel discussion, which is free and open to the public and will be aired live in central Vermont on WNUB 88.3 FM, is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, from 1-3 p.m. in Plumley Armory. Book sales and a book signing will follow the panel in Milano Ballroom. The panel discussion audio can also be livestreamed from the Colby website here:http://colby.norwich.edu/.
This year’s panel includes:
Karl Marlantes, author of “Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War,” a New York Times bestseller, and “What It Is Like To Go To War.”
Documentary filmmaker Benjamin Patton, executive director of the Patton Veterans Project and I WAS THERE Film workshops, and author of “Growing Up Patton: Reflections on Heroes, History, and Family Wisdom.”
Jason Redman, founder and spokesperson of the nonprofit Combat Wounded Coalition and Wounded Wear, and author of “The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader.”
Kirsten Holmstedt, expert on women in combat and author of “The Girls Come Marching Home” and “Band of Sisters.”
Jon Coffin, retired U.S. Army Colonel with 49 years of military service. COL Coffin spent most of the recent wars on active duty traveling to demobilization sites and meeting and debriefing soldiers and units returning from Theater of Operations.
Other symposium participants include the winner of the 2016 Colby Award Nisid Hajari, Asia editor for Bloomberg View and author of “Midnight’s Furies: The Deadly Legacy of India’s Partition.” The book was named one of the "Best Books of 2015" by National Public Radio, Quartz, the Daily Beast, Amazon, the Seattle Times and Shelf Awareness. Listen to a podcast interview Hajari gave to Norwich’s Peace & War Center here.
Founded in 1996 by Carlo D´Este and W.E.B. Griffin, the Colby Symposium has brought more than 100 authors, journalists, and filmmakers to Norwich University in Northfield, Vt.
“The William E. Colby Military Writers’ Symposium aims to expose students, faculty, and the public to the works and views of authors, historians and national figures, to educate, enlighten, and inspire. Participants come to Norwich hoping to make a difference in the lives of our students through their interaction in lectures, social functions and lively in-class sessions. They also come to further the debate on current issues,” said D’Este.