Reed Kuehn MFA’25, a general surgeon in the U.S. Army and a graduate of Fairfield University’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, has been awarded first place in The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans. His short story, Cheese, earned top honors in the competitive national contest hosted by The Iowa Review.
“It’s thrilling news, but not surprising to see Reed achieve that recognition. I had the privilege of seeing early drafts of his award-winning story during his time at Fairfield, and each successive version not only pushed the language and voice further, but carved out new and unexpected emotional terrain, leading to an exceptionally rich work,” said national book award-winning author and Associate Professor of the Practice in the MFA program Phil Klay. “Fairfield has an exceptionally strong contingent of veteran writers, supported by a generous veterans fellowship, as well as two veteran instructors, and it’s one of the unique aspects of the program which enhances the diversity of our student body.”
Founded through a gift from the family of Jeff Sharlet (1942–69), a Vietnam veteran, antiwar writer, and activist, The Jeff Sharlet Memorial Award for Veterans recognizes outstanding literary work by U.S. military veterans and active-duty service members. The contest has continued to thrive thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts 2016 Art Works Grant, donations from Amy B. Kretkowski Veterans Law Office, and contributions from supporters of One Day for Iowa 2024. Open to veterans and active-duty personnel writing in any genre and on any subject matter, the award honors the power of storytelling within the military community.
Kuehn, who describes this recognition as “by far the biggest literary achievement of my writing career,” expressed his gratitude for being honored at this level. “It’s humbling in light of the quality of work of previous finalists and the caliber of writing The Iowa Review publishes,” he said.
His story, Cheese, draws from his Wisconsin roots, where eating cheddar cheese with apple pie is a longstanding tradition. “I distinctly remember all holidays, especially Thanksgiving, where apple pie was always served with cheese. I built the story around what would happen in a tradition-laden family when someone forgot the cheese on Thanksgiving,” Kuehn explained. The narrative follows a teenage boy and his uncle as they search for cheese in winter weather, but at its core, the story explores deeper themes of military service and familial obligation. “While the piece is completely fictional, themes are drawn from my family experiences,” he said. “Both of my grandfathers served during WWII, and my father served during the Vietnam Era. While I didn’t feel pressured to join, there was a reverence in my family for military service.”
Reflecting on his time in Fairfield’s MFA program, Kuehn credits the experience with shaping his development as a writer. “Fairfield’s program is unique in its strong faculty and student veteran presence, in addition to bringing together a diverse student cohort in a supportive, creative atmosphere,” he said. “The work and in-person residencies were challenging but incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling. The program fosters creativity, regardless of genre or topic.”
Kuehn highlighted how the program encouraged him to explore different genres, which ultimately enhanced his fiction writing. “I spent a semester working in nonfiction and took specialty workshops in poetry and nonfiction that brought different elements to my fiction writing and, in doing so, elevated my work,” he shared. “Specifically for stories that do involve the military, having access to and guidance from veterans like Phil Klay and Matt Gallagher was invaluable.”
