Sometimes it can be challenging to find the right keywords to locate the information you need. This box is intended to help generate some ideas for topics related to veterans and the military.
Two ways to search for information involve using keywords or subject headings (also called subject terms).
KEYWORD searches author, title, subject, and other descriptors of the article (or book, video, etc.). Sometimes (not always) keyword searches for words within the article. You perform a keyword search every time you search in Google. The upside to a keyword search is that it is easy, and you usually get plenty of results. The downside is that often too many results appear, and the results aren't always relevant to your search.
SUBJECT HEADINGS are specific words used by librarians to describe the main concept of an article. Once you find out what the assigned subject terms are for your topic, you can better locate relevant articles by doing a "subject" search. Subject heading searches are trickier than keyword searches because you have to figure out which subject heading works best for your topic. Subject heading searches are worth the effort because their results are most relevant to your information needs.
Have trouble finding relevant information? Here are some keyword and subject heading suggestions for topics related to veterans' health, veterans' healthcare, and military health benefits.
Looking for more veteran personal stories and narratives? Here are some suggested keywords and subject headings to help find the most relevant information sources.
Veteran stories*
Veteran oral histories
Military life
[insert military conflict] veteran stories (ex. World War I veteran stories*
Veteran biographies
United States military stories*
*use biography, autobiography, narratives in place if you are not finding relevant information
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, British
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, British
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives
Veterans' families -- United States -- Anecdotes
Veterans -- United States -- Family relationships
Veterans -- United States -- Anecdotes
Veterans -- United States -- Biography
United States -- Military history -- Anecdotes
United States -- Armed Forces -- Military life -- Anecdotes
Soldiers -- United States -- Anecdotes
Soldiers' writings, American
Veterans--Employment--United States
Soldiers--Employment--United States
Veterans--Vocational guidance--United States
Civil service-Veterans' preference-United States
Retired military personnel--Employment--United States
Vocational guidance
Career changes--United States
Job hunting--United States
Career changes--United States
During WWII, Caplan's father captains the 969th Field Artillery Battalion; they earn the Presidential Citation for Meritorious Service. Caplan reflects on hearing her father's war stories and the "epidemic of disconnection." Combat veterans are 1% of the U.S. population.
War Stories of Courage and Patriotism (CSU Only)
Bill Moyers revisits WWII veterans who are now in their 90s and one who suffers from macular degeneration. The veterans remain grateful for their lives, and some continue to tell their war stories to schoolchildren.
Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq (CSU Only)
A new generation of veterans is returning from Iraq. For the first time in American history, some 90% of wounded survive their injuries. But a greater percentage of these men and women are coming home from Iraq with amputations, traumatic brain injuries, and severe post-traumatic stress. For the survivors, two days will forever memorialize their lives. The first is their birthday. The second is their Alive Day – the day they narrowly escaped death. These are the first-person stories of ten Alive Day heroes – as told to Emmy® Award-winning actor James Gandolfini. An HBO Production.
Unsung Heroes: The Story of America's Female Patriots (CSU Only)
Margaret Corbin sheds her blood-fighting in the Revolution. Years later, in Afghanistan, Leigh Ann Hester becomes the first woman to receive the Silver Star for combat heroism. Nurses have been in harm's way since the Civil War, and during WW I, thousands of women volunteer for service as Navy Yeomanettes and Army Signal Corp "Hello Girls." In a world where front lines no longer exist, America's female patriots confront the horrors of war as never before, and more suffer the effects of combat stress than at any time in the Nation's history