Starbucks chair Howard Schultz co-writing book on Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz is collaborating on a book about veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice” will be released by Alfred A. Knopf on Nov. 4. The book will be co-written by Washington Post correspondent and editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

“Given that less than 1 per cent of our country has served in the military conflicts of the last decade, this is a time in America when it’s crucial to bridge the divide in our society between our civilian and military populations,” Schultz said in a statement issued Monday by the publisher.

The book will tell of deeds both on the battlefield and back home, whether an orthopedic surgeon who enlisted at age 60 and saved numerous lives or a military spouse helping wives of severely wounded soldiers.

Schultz has been a prominent advocate for veterans, saying that too little has been done for them once their service was completed. He has pledged to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses and earlier this year donated $30 million for research into post-traumatic stress syndrome and brain trauma.

According to Knopf, a “majority” of author proceeds will be donated to veteran services organizations.