Photos: courtesy of the subject

November 6, 2023, Poughkeepsie NY – When the Iraq War began in 2003, then-NBC News Correspondent and Vassar College alum Chip Reid was embedded with U.S. Marines as they fought their way from Kuwait to Baghdad. On November 9, Reid will speak on the Vassar campus about the book he wrote, “Battle Scars,” that chronicles that experience and the conversations Reid had with those Marines 20 years later.

Reid’s talk, which will be moderated by members of the Vassar Veterans Association, will start at 6 p.m. in Room 300 of Rockefeller Hall. The event is free and open to the public and will also be accessible via Zoom.

VVA President Brittany Andrade ’24 said the event was being held to spur discussion about the meaning of Veterans Day “as it acknowledges the pathway that men and women take while in the military and afterwards.”

Reid spent six weeks with the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in Kuwait and Iraq. Twenty years later, he sat down with many of those Marines as they told him their stories of battle, brotherhood, those that were lost, patriotism, and belief in the mission. They also discussed the long-term impact of war on themselves and their families. “Battle Scars” was published earlier this year and will be available for sale at the event.

About Vassar College

Vassar College—based in Poughkeepsie, NY—is a coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college where perspectives cross, ideas intersect, and passion burns bright. Originally founded to provide women an education equal to that once available only to men, Vassar was the first all-women’s college in the nation to become coeducational when it opened its doors to men in 1969. Vassar fosters an intellectual openness and independence in students, who meet each other as equals, and are encouraged to absorb diverse thought and impassioned dialogue that give them the insight and confidence they will need in a complex world where they will make important contributions. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned for pioneering achievements in education, for its long history of curricular innovation, and for the beauty of its campus.

Vassar College strives to make its events, performances, and facilities accessible to all. Individuals with disabilities requiring special accommodations must contact the Office of Campus Activities at least 48 hours in advance of an event, Mondays–Fridays, at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available. Detailed information about accessibility to specific campus facilities can be found on the Accessibility and Educational Opportunity website.

The Vassar campus is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Contact Larry Hertz, (845) 518-3098, (845) 437-7938 (Vassar College)