Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is a renowned author, known for his works that often draw from his own experiences. Two of his notable pieces, "A Soldier's Sweetheart" and "In the Lake of the Woods," have been adapted into films, with the latter becoming a television movie in 1996.

O'Brien's life has been marked by significant events that have influenced his writing. He attended Macalester College and graduated in 1968 with a BA in political science. His plans for the future were abruptly interrupted by a draft notice for the Vietnam War. Despite his opposition to the war, O'Brien reported for duty and was sent to Vietnam with the Americal division, which was involved in the My Lai massacre in 1968. This event would later become a prominent feature in his work "In the Lake of the Woods." As an infantry foot soldier in 3rd Platoon, A Company, 5th Battalion, 46th Infantry, O'Brien served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.

After his tour of duty, O'Brien pursued graduate studies at Harvard, focusing on government. He also had the opportunity to do an internship at the Washington Post. However, his experiences in Vietnam led him to leave Harvard and become a newspaper reporter instead. His career as a reporter provided the foundation for his fiction writing, particularly after the publication of his memoir "If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Send Me Home."

Currently, Tim O'Brien is a visiting professor and endowed chair at Texas State University - San Marcos, where he teaches in the Creative Writing Program. His life experiences and career have shaped his writing, making him a respected and influential author in the literary world.