An annual award consisting of $5,000 and a 24k gold-framed citation of achievement honoring the best fiction set in a period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction for young adults or adults.

Publishers or authors are requested to submit seven copies of books which meet the following criteria:

novel has been published during the year prior to the award
incidents of war can constitute the main plot of the story or merely provide the setting

Young adult and adult novels only

Juries will examine each book for excellence of writing, attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to hold the reader's interest.