Two of our authors at Inverted-A Press are World War II veterans: John Wheatcroft, the author The Portrait of a Lover and Jesse Bier, the author of Transatlantic Lives.
John Wheatcroft speaks about his experiences during the war:
In his novel Transatlantic Lives, Jesse Bier, who was himself awarded the purple heart, had this say:
Here’s treacherous truth, at least for men, the way
it’s always been—immemorial, probably genetic, dire—
rev’d up, insurmountable—over-coming pain, obviating
death—more shameful and unaccountable than the fear of
either or both—irresistible in its fits and starts—that war
is, in between the boring parts, Exciting. “Come and get
me!” in this instant is so confident and defiant, that you
know nobody will, that you know in this moment of
transcendent thrill you’ll last—you’ve already lasted—
forever.
Ed Nordstrom received the Purple Heart, just one,
not thirteen, but no Bronze Star for wounded bleeding
durable valor.
“Hell,” he said later, “no one, or everyone, there
should have had that, shot or not. And so what, anyway? To
stick it on a shelf somewhere? It’s only recognition, and it’s
enough I recognize myself.”
Those of us who were not there can only imagine. But sometimes it helps to read the words of someone who was there, to try to understand.
Both of my grandfathers were World War II vets and served in the Pacific. Interesting reading about the experiences of World War II vets who have published books with Inverted-A.
Thanks, Sweetbearies. Did your grandfathers share with you some of their experiences? I find that our authors each has a unique story to tell and different perspective from which to tell it.
Both of my grandfathers were stationed in the Pacific, and one was on a ship that did receive some fire from the Japanese. The other one seems to have not seen much action at all.
I think an oral history of your grandfathers’ experiences might be very interesting.
I have thought about perhaps one day writing a fictionalized account based on their experiences, but I really need to get my first novel taken care of first. I seem to keep abandoning it, but oh well.
Sweetbearies, I think a fictionalized account of your grandfathers’ experiences would be very interesting. But don’t give up on your current novel!