I am an assistant professor in the English Department at the United States Military Academy, West Point.

Recently, I received "hostile fire pay" for a duty I performed over the summer. I was never in any danger. Using the money the government insists I am entitled to, I've purchased about 100 books to send to soldiers deployed in Iraq and elsewhere. They are actually earning their hostile fire pay and are welcome to mine. I hope these books (mostly classics and poetry) make life a little better for some soldiers far from home. If they help bring meaning to recent events, or encourage or nurture a life-long love of literature and learning, that would be nice too.