Book excerpts, observations and random thoughts!

September 6 – I was so honored to make a speech at the induction of my father to the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame. Our family was also proud to have my grandmother, Lucile Eve Bennet inducted on the same night. My cousin, Cheri, gave the speech commemorating her.

June 24 – Kind of an addendum to my book, The World Lost a Man… Going thru my uncle’s papers after he passed, my cousin Aaron came across a letter my father wrote to his mother, dated Oct 6, 1945. I mention in the book that Dad stepped ashore in Hiroshima and later wrote a poem about it. Now, I have his actual words describing the experience. Heavy duty, esp his reflections (I may have mis-interpreted some of his words and phrases):

“Today we finally got up to Hiroshima.  After the first looting (?) the officials honored liberty there, and a few days ago they opened it up again for tours in Army trucks.  At first, I thought I would object but today I saw it was to our advantage as it would take days to walk the area of destruction created by this single bomb, and in trucks, although our inspection wouldn’t be as detailed, it would cover much more area in much less time.

It isn’t for one to describe the destruction at Hiroshima, but it is for one to keep an eternal picture of the place in my mind, and to profit by the unimaginable destruction that took place and to aid (in) others realizing it.  But, then I see by ____, the radio and other reports that these horrors of war are already being forgotten, and that we are well on our way to another war.  As I took the tour today, that compulsory training (?) would be fruitless, but if the people of the world every five years take the same trip I took today there would be no more wars.  But these places are already being replaced by grounds of petty quarrels, envy and rivalry.  But in accordance to human nature that is how it should be and always shall be – that is why only a fool or worthless dreamer feels that the there will be no more wars.”

This is a photo taken by one of Dad’s shipmates

July 8 – I’ve had a lot of positive feedback on including Dad’s poetry in my book, which is gratifying. One, that I chose to use his poems to help tell his story, and two, that his verses are profound in their earthiness. One poem that caught my attention recently is what I titled, ‘Unnamed 2.’ The message seems all too poignant today. It begins:

Given that poem relates to Dad’s thoughts on war and based upon his experience, I have also reflected on the book’s cover photo. It’s a great picture of Dad, but I find it’s been kind of misleading in that there are a couple chapters on his military experience, but the bulk of the book encompasses much more of his life. I like this one as it’s portrays his wistful, artistic side and in his favorite place, Paris. Alas, I don’t think the quality would have reproduced well.