"I came to this play expecting propaganda, but instead found truth, pure and simple and beautiful. As a veteran who has been to both theatres of operation, it was not an easy transition back into normalcy. In part, this is because we will never be "normal" again. It changes you in very profound ways. I don't speak much about my experiences. They are tucked away in a box, and every attempt is made to keep them there. This play gave a voice to all of the experiences and feelings in that box. It is a true gift." -- Jamie Jansen, Veteran Iraq and Afghanistan

"A raw, honest, artful exploration of what it means to be a woman in the US military, based on writings of woman soldiers themselves. If you consider yourself a supporter of the military, or anti-war, you cannot have a clear perspective on women serving in the military today if you have not seen Coming In Hot. -- Dahr Jamail, independent journalist and author

"It's about time the voices of military women are heard! They are our daughters and sisters and their stories are our own." ---Laura X, member, Veteran Feminists of America, founder/director of the former National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape, Berkeley, California

“As an Air Force Reservist who has trained side by side with brilliant women dedicated to serving their country, I applaud Kore Press' efforts to make their voices heard and contributions recognized. This is a valuable gift to the American people. On behalf of the entire Ward 2 Office, we thank all women in the military for their service. --Rodney Glassman, Tucson City councilmember, Ward 2

"'Coming in Hot' is a stunning collection of stories told in an array of voices, each with its own unique perspective on the topic of war. These stories - emotional, thoughtful and compelling - would be impressive in any context, but are made even more so by the fact that they come from those long-overlooked heroes - the women of the American military. In that vein, I think you should run to see this show; not simply because you'd enjoy it, but because it's your duty." --Jeremy Cole, director, Amnesty International Activist, CiH script consultant, San Francisco

“I originally joined the military to help fund my education. I enjoyed the community that exists within the military family. During boot camp the USS Cole was bombed in Aden, Yemen. This attack was only a prelude to the devastation of 9/11, which came as the wake up call to me that my nice quiet enlistment would be anything but, yet I felt pride that I would be part of the defense of my country. Unfortunately, the leadership that held the reigns was not whom I would choose to send me or my comrades into battle. Only time will tell if our current leadership can correct the past mistakes. My mother [Jeanmarie Simpson] is a pacifist and a peace activist and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I believe that diplomacy should never be exhausted but I also believe that our enemy (an enemy that our own foreign policy did, unfortunately, create), will not accept our apologies. The damage has been done and innocent people’s lives are at risk. I am in a position to help protect them. I do not serve those in power; I took an oath to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States, and that is my misison. I can only hope that my mother and the peace movement can one day convince the leadership of not only this country, but of all nations, to approach conflict with non-violent means and work toward the preservation of life.” --Donald Paul Stockton, Active Reservist with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 18, Afghanistan

"Our American Armed Services have been, for a very long time, an important way that our society has honored our principles of equality and social mobility. I know that in my life, my service in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam was a very important set of experiences that helped me as an American and as a person. Thank you for helping bring forward an important story about the expanding role of women, as well as another chapter in the life of our country making its promise come true. --Steve Leal, Tucson City Councilmember Ward 5

"This book, and this play, offer an incredible opportunity to engage in discussions with individuals who may not currently share WILPF's vision of a world without war. The play provides an opportunity to make connections between military and peace communities, setting the stage for enlightening dialogue. The DVD that will be produced as a part of this can serve WILPF members as a great educational tool-local showings will likely draw new individuals to see it, and will offer an opportunity to engage with them on issues of WILPF's concern. This could enhance our membership as we're likely to find new individuals interested in our work, and should also demonstrate the fact that WILPF women do not shy away from hard conversations. I wish that I could have been at the live presentation of the play. I'll have to settle for the DVD, and I look forward to seeing it when it reaches me in Geneva." --Susi Snyder. Director of the International branch of WILPF in Geneva

My best friend's brother was the first soldier from Tucson to be killed in Iraq. I have seen how his death has affected his widow, children, siblings and parents, as well as other family members and friends. But I never had any real idea of how it must feel to be a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan. Coming in Hot, while a topnotch production brimming with extraordinary talent, was a very difficult play to watch. It drove home HARD the feelings and challenges that a soldier endures. I can't imagine anyone leaving this play without a deeper desire for peace, a strengthened wish for our troops to come home. It is a most powerful performance, and its messages stay with you long after the curtain comes down. --Billie Stanton, former opinion editor, Tucson Citizen

"Radical democracy" is a noble ideal to strive towards -- abstract as it is, even approaching ineffable. This dialog might benefit from similarly rethinking the word "war," which could have us consider it not only as organized violence against a people for political reasons, but more broadly, the actions and beliefs that lead to violence. From this perspective COMING IN HOT addresses a war much larger than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a war that is ancient: the systematic and culturally condoned violence against women -- a war in which the battleground is the female body and psyche, and the casualties are the unrealized potentials of a society in which women are not subjugated. The play’s moral stance on this larger, ancient war is courageous and unambiguous; it encourages a macroscopic view of the complexities of the contemporary American military experience, a view that shines light into the shadows of sexual violence and discrimination, and won’t let us forget what is kept hidden in the dark. --Christopher Nelson

"Coming in Hot" was not just a well written and acted play, it was a necessary play. During the Vietnam War my brother served two tours of duty in Vietnam and I was prepared to go to prison as a Conscientious Objector having exhausted all my appeals to the draft board. It took many years for my brother and I to find our common ground but we did. We did because our hearts ached to express our love and respect for each other. I eventually discovered one of the most honorable, caring, loving human beings I have ever known. Likewise, so did he. After getting to know him better, "Make Love Not War," took on a personal meaning for me. Why wage an emotional war on someone I love? I don't have to become a warrior to love my brother. I do have to find peace on its most fundamental level. -- Frank Parker, Facebook