Paul Rieckhoff’s war memoir Chasing Ghosts arrives just in time for the third anniversary of “Mission Accomplished.” The founder of the of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and subject of SMITH’s first Back Home from Iraq column, the book is Rieckhoff’s first-person account of his journey from National Guard lieutenant to pissed-off patriot.

Chuck Palahniuk of Fight Club fame blurbs it:

Chasing Ghosts gives us the best reporting to come out of the Iraq War—possibly the best reporting to emerge from any war. No book since Catch-22 has depicted this gruesome subject so compellingly.Rieckhoff should make room on his mantel for the Pulitzer Prize.

You can buy it here.

Or rock out with Rieckhoff at the IAVA benefit on May 10. My friend Tate says it’s well worth your 50 bones.

The benefit is for my good buddy Paul Reickhoff and his group, the Iraq and Afghanistan Vets of America (IAVA). They are a powerful weapon in the debate over the Iraq war. These guys were on the frontlines, and now they’re back, and telling the truth about the insanity over there. It’s an amazing antidote to the Cheney-Rumsfeld-Bush propaganda machine. IAVA gets mad press and they’ve really made a difference in shifting public opinion.

I particularly support IAVA because I think their truth-telling is going to be a major part of defeating the Republicans in ‘06. I know you share my desire to get these maniacs out of office. This concert is one fun way to do that. It’s not super cheap, but it’ll be worth it.