Backstory Blog #1: October 22, 2021
A slip of paper, more resembling a receipt than a note, fell from the back of Peter’s hefty album of photos he compiled from his time in Vietnam while in combat and as a company clerk in Dau Tieng.
The fading ink on a slip of paper dated April 1998 was thirty years after his return from war. It listed three names with their locations on the Vietnam War Memorial –The Wall, in Washington DC. Three names of fellow “brothers” whose deaths came so quickly it traumatized all who knew them.
The first name on this piece of paper was a familiar one to me, and our family because my brother spoke reverently, sadly, and with care about the outstanding commanding officer of their unit from January - May of 1969 who was suddenly killed in action. I heard stories about Captain David Rockwell Crocker, Jr, his sense of humor, and an unusually kind leader who put his troops ahead of his own needs. “A truly decent human being,” my brother would say.
Was it the spirit of my brother, or just my curiosity that compelled me to “Google” the first name on that slip of paper? Of Course, Captain David Crocker came up in my search with his military information, a photo, and his place on the memorial wall in Washington DC. What also came up in the search was information about his wife, Ruth Crocker.
As I clicked through the links, I learned that Ruth Crocker wrote a memoir, “For Those Who Remain, Remembrance and Reunion After War.” Her book chronicles the tragic loss of her husband as well as her life then and now. I located Ruth on social media and emailed her to say how much her husband meant to my brother and mentioned I was working on a book of his letters from Vietnam. In about twenty minutes I had a reply.
We began emailing, and then talked by phone. I learned she also has a publishing company, Elm Grove Press.
We shared about our writing lives. I mentioned my manuscript; telling her it was my 2nd book. She asked to see the manuscript and after reading it she thought my combination of Peter’s letters along with my campus experience at UW-Madison during the Vietnam antiwar protest years, plus my poetry woven into the book offered a unique perspective.
As the months passed, there was editing, revision, brainstorming a title for the book, new sections written by me, copy editing, securing a graphic designer, and proofing…so much proofing. All along this process, Ruth offered her guidance, suggestions, and publishing expertise.
Added later: Ruth suggested I join the Military Writers Society of America, (MWSA) where I have since connected with accomplished authors. The book won a Gold Medal with MWSA in 2022.
Next time I will share how meeting Ruth Crocker helped to connect me with veterans, of the 22nd Infantry who served with my brother.
Annette Langlois Grunseth