a book I’ll never forget
Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to trudge through the jungles of Vietnam, a knife in one hand, rifle in the other, death looming around you?
Well, me neither.
But nevertheless, now I have a better understanding of what the Vietnam War was like. I read a first-hand account of the rain and the heat, the jungle darkness, rats, homesickness, bamboo rash, sounds in the night, and coming face-to-face with the enemy.
Last night I finished Karen Ross Epp’s With Love, Stan: a Soldier’s Letters from Vietnam to the World.
Karen Ross Epp (who taught school for 30 years in Newton) and her three siblings grew up on a farm in southeast Iowa, near the small town of Mt. Pleasant. In 1968, her brother Stan, 19, enlisted in the Army.
Stan Ross fought on the front lines and wrote home nearly every day, often scribbling lines on paper from rain-soaked foxholes.
From July 10, 1969: “I guess I’m telling you too much, aren’t I Mom? The way your last letter sounded, you’re going to end up making yourself sick, worrying too much,” Stan wrote.
“But in the infantry, nothing happens that isn’t bad news, either someone gets killed or hurt. That’s all a person sees. Believe me, it’s hard to write a letter of good news.”
The letters are not necessarily grim or gory, but you do hear what it’s like to go for weeks without taking your boots off, to never be out of the rain, to long for a bed with sheets.
I wanted to go back in time and change things; I wanted to save Stan from the misery, from the loneliness, from the bullet. I got to know Stan Ross through these letters he wrote to his family. The letters reflect a sweet and thoughtful young man at 19, 20. Stan was well-liked and respected by his fellow soldiers, many of whom Karen has located and interviewed in recent years.
In the book, in between Stan’s letters, Karen adds some personal and family background information, comments from Stan’s army buddies, and also details about the war that she found in other books written by soldiers. But much of the book is in Stan’s voice.
I don’t want to say too much about the book right now because I’ll be writing a column about it, and because I’m still wiping tears from my face.
I recommend this book. Highly.
I don’t know if I could read this book. I get choked up and teary eyed just looking at the picture of Stan on the front cover.
me, too…….
I hope you will read my book. It’s a story that is timely, especially today, as so many families are going through what ours did 38 years ago.
I wanted to honor not only my brother but all the brave men and women who served their country in that unpopular war.
It’s a story about us, “the Baby Boomers.” Good or bad, I think Kansans can relate to a Iowa farm boy who went though many of the things kids still struggle with today.
If you do read it, I’d love to hear from you.
Karen
Maybe not everyone would cry. I’m just kind of a sentimental gushy person when it comes to stuff like this.
But – at any rate- it’s worth the read. It’s worth getting to know Stan and learning what it was like to fight in the Vietnam War. And, as Karen mentioned, I think it is especially valuable now, in the middle of another war – to consider what these service men and women are going through so far from home.
The letters and Karen’s background details made this book easy to read. It was put together very well. I didn’t want to put the book down and read it all in two evenings.
It felt like an honor to be allowed to read Stan’s letters. He was a brave soldier, a good guy with a kind heart.
I’ve added this to my reading list. Unfortunately our library doesn’t have much selection…
I did rearrange the order of my list so I can read it soon though. Keep your fingers crossed that I can find it.
I haven’t been around here for a while but what wonderful timing. I can’t wait to read this book. Is it available locally or do I need to order it?
I’m planning to do my next research paper on Vietnam. This looks like it may be a great source.
I have been interested in Vietnam since the day I discovered my father’s old fatigues in the closet when I was a small boy.
Welcome back, NewKid.
That book is available at Town Crier. I was just in there today and they have several copies on the shelf.
Thanks Cheryl!