On February 25, 2010, "My
Last War" received the 2009
DIY Book Festival grand
prize. The awards ceremony
was held at the historic
Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood,
California.
Awards & News - Author Charles M. Grist
Author Grist Receives 2009 DIY Book Festival Grand Prize
The award is sponsored by
Modern History Press and the
awards criteria is "
Best debut
book by a veteran (fiction or
memoir)
." The award is
named for
Richard Boes who
enlisted in the U.S. Army and
served in Vietnam in 1969 -
1970 with the First Air Cav. He
was the author of two books,
"My Last War" Wins Grand Prize
at 2009 DIY Book Festival
"My Last War" Wins Gold Medal
in the "Memoir" Category of the
MWSA 2010 Awards
Military Writers Society of America
"My Last War" Wins Richard Boes
Memorial Award From Reader Views!
The photo (above) shows author Grist receiving the
award, which included a cash prize of $1,500, from
Bruce Haring, managing director of the DIY
Convention.
2010 Richard Boes Memorial Award
The Last Dead Soldier Left Alive (2007), a firsthand inquiry into
why thousands of Vietnam veterans have committed suicide,
and
Last Train Out (2008). Right up to his death, he was writing
a third,
In the Valley of Dry Bones. He passed away on February
21, 2009 at the VA Hospital in Albany, N.Y.
Florida Writers Association