Sonny Gratzer has lived a full, passionate life, and the generous, heart sprung poems in General Issue Blues reflect his wonder at the going. -Bill Kittredge, noted Montana author, editor, and former Chairman of Creative Writing, University of Montana. "Once a tough kid from Butte, Sonny Gratzer came home from Viet Nam with a chest full of medals and severe war wounds. Readers need to keep a keen eye and ear open for Gratzer and other veterans who write. Years later their poems and stories express wonder, grief and healing from some of the deepest sources." -Patrick Todd, Montana poet and humanitarian Sonny Gratzer's poems capture the scent of combat, the dangers and miseries of war, and the many kinds of wounds suffered even after the battles have been fought." -Nathaniel Blumberg, dean and professor, editor, publisher, and author of Charlie of 666: a Memoir "George Gratzer takes you back to the war in Vietnam - his poems evoke vivid memories of rice paddy ambushes, helicopter assaults, mines and booby traps. G.I. Blues wrenches your heart, grips your gut, and brings tears to the eyes of the toughest old soldier. Well done, Sonny." -Col. Joe Clemons, Infantry US Army (Ret.)