Central Florida Author Receives Prestigious Award From Military Writers Society of America

Online, August 12, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Winter Springs, Florida - Charles M. Grist, a Winter Springs author, has received the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Gold Medal for 2010 for his book "My Last War: A Vietnam Veteran's Tour in Iraq." MWSA recognizes its members and their creative works at an awards banquet during their annual conference.

Grist's book took top honors in the "Memoir" category. Previously, "My Last War" won the Grand Prize in the 2009 DIY Book Festival and the Richard Boes Memorial Award from Reader Views for best debut book by a veteran.

MWSA President Joyce Faulkner said, "Among the benefits for Charles and the other award nominees will be appearances on various Internet blogs and radio talk shows, features on MWSA's website and in our monthly Dispatches magazine, and interviews on radio and public-access TV during our conference in Pittsburgh."

A native of Orlando, Grist is one of the few Vietnam veterans to have served as an enlisted soldier in the Iraq war. In 2004, he volunteered to be the sergeant-in-charge of the Protective Service Detail for an Army Reserve general in Baghdad. His book is based on his detailed Iraq war journal. Grist retired from the Army Reserve in 2009 and from the Altamonte Springs Police Department in 2010. He and his wife, Debbie, live in Winter Springs, and he is a graduate of the University of Central Florida.

All awards recipients will be honored at the MWSA's conference, Thursday, Sept. 30 - Sunday, Oct. 3, at Pittsburgh's Wyndham University Plaza. The conference includes a special ceremony at the Dawn's Early Light Flag Retirement Plaza in Pittsburgh's South Park, special interest luncheons around the city, a play featuring the works of MWSA authors at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, Oral History Day, workshops, book signings, and the awards banquet. Many of the events are open to the public. Joseph Beth's Book Seller is the official MWSA Pittsburgh Conference bookstore.

Grist is among more than 900 authors, poets and artists who comprise the Military Writers Society of America. Most MWSA members are active duty military, retirees or military veterans. Others are life-long civilians who've chosen to focus on military and/or historical themes with their writings or art.

Author Grist can be contacted through his website at www.MyLastWar.com . His book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online retailers.