General Issue Blues

About the Book

"Sonny Gratzer has lived a full, passionate life, and the generous, heartsprung poems in General Issue Blues reflect his wonder at the going." - Bill Kittredge, noted Montana author, editor, and former Chairman of Creative Writing, University of Montana. "Once a tough kid from Butte, Sonny Gratzer came home from Viet Nam with a chest full of medals and severe war wounds. Readers need to keep a keen eye and ear open for Gratzer and other veterans who write. Years later their poems and stories express wonder, grief and healing from some of the deepest sources." - Patrick Todd, Montana poet and humanitarian. Sonny Gratzer's poems capture the scent of combat, the dangers and miseries of war, and the many kinds of wounds suffered even after the battles have been fought." - Nathaniel Blumberg, dean and professor, editor, publisher, and author of Charlie of 666: a Memoir. "George Gratzer takes you back to the war in Vietnam - his poems evoke vivid memories of rice paddy ambushes, helicopter assaults, mines and booby traps. G.I. Blues wrenches your heart, grips your gut, brings tears to the eyes of the toughest old soldier. Well done, Sonny." - Col. Joe Clemons, Infantry US Army (Ret.)

About the Author

George Michael "Sonny" Gratzer was born in Eveleth, Minnesota on 5 May 1940, and raised from infancy in Butte, Montana. A graduate of Butte Public High School and the University of Montana (BA History 1963, MFA in Creative Writing 1976), he was commissioned a US Army officer in ROTC. He completed Airborne and Ranger training, and served with Infantry divisions in Germany and Viet Nam. His military decorations include the Silver Star (1st OLC), Soldiers Medal, Bronze Star w/V (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Silver and Gold stars), and the Combat Infantrymans Badge. He was medically retired as a captain in 1968.