Student vets visit with Sammy the SJSU mascot outside their student activities fair both.

“Books to Baghdad” is one of many new efforts involving student vets. The Veteran Students Organization is connecting with members at student organization fairs and online. A class to be offered for the first time this fall will focus on the transition to civilian life. SJSU also recently formed a Veterans/Military Students Task Force. Major General Anthony L. Jackson, an SJSU alumnus now among the highest ranking African Americans in the U.S. Marine Corps, spoke at commencement in May.

By Pat Lopes Harris, Media Relations Director

This summer, Department of History Professor Jonathan Roth and student veterans teamed together to pack and mail 80 boxes of college textbooks to Iraq. The shipment, part of SJSU’s “Books to Baghdad” project, went to U.S. State Department Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Diyala and Basra. The teams will provide the materials to universities in those cities. Damian Bramlett, David Richardson and Mark Hanna, present or former members of SJSU’s Veteran Students Organization, have over the past several years boxed hundreds of books, all recent publications donated by professors and instructors. Since the boxes can be sent to an APO address in Iraq, domestic media rates apply, and postage is only about $15 a box.  While “Books to Baghdad” does not need more books, the group is asking for help covering the cost of future shipments. Please send checks to the Department of History, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95192-0117. Checks should be written to the Tower Foundation of SJSU, with “Books to Baghdad” in the memo line.