Comments on: With Love, Stan – the column

By: heineken160

heineken160 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:20:57 +0000

Stan’s letters are his journal from Vietnam. His words live on, thanks to Karen’s book. The letters are more real and visceral than any blogger can post on the deliberate, safe internet. Karen honors her brother, his experience, his short life.

Cheryl, you are right to think of our soldiers over there today. Stan’s words in Karen’s book capture the history of one while it focuses thought on the many today. The publication of this book, this year helps us as a nation because it puts a face on the war of others not there.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:03:01 +0000

Thanks, Onnalee. And yes, Manda, you’ll have to read the book!

A war book isn’t normally what I’d pick up and read, but this one seemed so “approachable.”

The real story here is about Stan, the person.

It’s not about war strategies or weapons or battles.

It’s about one family who lost a son and brother. It’s about one man making his way, day by day, in desperate situations far from home.

Last night as I was getting this entry ready, I thought, hmm, photos would be SO nice with this, so everyone else could see the faces. So I wrote to Karen and she sent me these great photos which really enhanced the post.

By: Onnalee

Onnalee — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:09:39 +0000

A wonderful commentary Cheryl. I am sure Karen is very proud and grateful to you for this. And, again – the pictures make the commentary extra ordinarily special. You do every thing so well – more like fantastic!

By: mandafowler

mandafowler — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:00:26 +0000

I cannot wait to read this book! I dated a soldier that graduated from basic training right before 9/11. While he was gone he would write, yes hand write, letters to me and me to him. I still have all of his letters. They are in a scrapbook that is stretched to it’s seams and slowly falling apart. Someday I will repair it, someday, if I have children, I will show it to them, I think it’s only right that they learn about what happened and what it’s like for our men and women over there. Someday, when my children are old enough, they will also read about Stan.