target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="#ulink_dba0853a-56ed-59e5-a5d1-a8a1931c8751">Pressed Into Service June 2003
Put Out Your Hand February 1966
My Alcoholism, My War February 2002
Door to Door Sobriety July 1998
Around the World October 1965
A Postscript From the Sergeant October 2005
No Matter How Far Away a Meeting May Be, It’s Always Somebody’s Home Group October 1996
Is That You Again? October 1994
Women soldiers share their experiences about getting and staying sober
Woman Adrift May 2005
Desert Oasis May 2005
Making Her Meeting September 2010
Walking the Walk October 2017
Navy Lady July 1979
Heart to Heart August 2001
My Guardian Angel October 2017
Experience, strength and hope from sober veterans
Me Against the World January 1997
Eternal Point January 2007
A Soldier Comes Home January 1997
The Stranger September 1989
Coming Home October 2017
Incoming! October 2017
The Last Thing in His Wallet June 2015
Welcome
“War fever ran high in the New England town to which we new, young officers from Plattsburg were assigned.”
Bill W., “Bill’s Story,” Alcoholics Anonymous
Our cofounder goes on to say that he grew lonely during his military service in World War I and turned to alcohol, ignoring the “strong warnings” of “my people concerning drink.”
To the many members of Alcoholics Anonymous who have served, or are currently serving, in the military, Bill’s words probably ring familiar. Indeed, Bill’s experiences are reflected in the many letters that Grapevine has received from servicemen and women, from as far back as 1944.
This book is a collection of 66 stories and letters, previously published in Grapevine, by military AA members. In the first chapter, early AA members recount their experiences staying sober or getting sober while serving in faraway places and under high stress situations. As you’ll read, Grapevine was often the sober lifeline that these members depended on. Starting with the years around World War II, something phenomenal happened. AA members took their programs with them as they moved around the world—into the air, across the land and under the sea, spreading the AA message and seeding groups wherever they went.
Chapters 2, 3 and 4 are divided by area of service: Air (Air Force); Land (Army, Marines and National Guard); and Sea (Navy and Coast Guard). Chapter 5 chronicles the stories of AAs getting or staying sober in remote places across the globe, often during wartime, where there was little, if any, contact with AA back home or even other AAs in the service. Chapter 6 consists of stories by servicewomen, who have served in many capacities, including in battle.
The final chapter, “Coming Home,” is devoted to AA members who are veterans. Their stories frequently recount struggles with the emotional and physical aftermath of war experiences when they returned home. Their stories can be wrenching, with touches of AA-style humor. Their desire to try to give the gift of sobriety that they received to other veterans like themselves is inspiring.
This carrying of the AA message by our members in the military to faraway locales continues today. Groups continue to start up in remarkable places and harrowing situations, whether during a civil war in Mogadishu, Somalia (see “Incoming!” in Chapter 7) or a border crossing between Syria and Israel (see “Staying Sober in the Sand” in Chapter 5).
We salute our members who have served or are serving in the military. They give real meaning to carrying our message, often under difficult circumstances, to sick and suffering alcoholics everywhere.
CHAPTER ONE
Duty Called
The early days: Grapevine provides soldiers a vital connection to AA during and after World War II
