Clear some space on that bookshelf

A little while ago, I wrote that I had been experimenting with the self publishing site Blurb.com.  I wanted a way to capture some of my better photos and old school picture albums just weren’t cutting it.  They just didn’t seem particularly satisfying or complementary to my pictures and in many cases, they don’t leave you any opportunity to put the photos into context with text.  I guess I could hand write notes around the pictures but given my handwriting style, I think that would just give readers the impression that I was some sort of escaped mental patient.  At a minimum, I’m sure it could be used against me at any sort of commitment hearing.

That leads to the second problem with photo albums.  They’re difficult to reproduce.  I’m not going to kid myself into thinking I’ll make the NY Times bestseller list (although with nonsense like this topping the non-fiction lists perhaps I do have a decent chance of making the list) it is nice to be able to have a way to make copies if friends, family or others would like them.

So, dear readers, because I’ve come to think of you as one big happy family (the kind that keeps meaning to visit but can’t seem to find the time because they have to lance that nasty looking boil on the cat), I’m posting my works so far on the right hand side of the screen (See?  Those nifty little thumbnail images over there?).

The “War is Heck” book contains many of the stories you’ve seen here (with serious editing to correct the grammatical/spelling mistakes and to punch up the stories) as well as a few I haven’t posted.  In addition, there are 100+ photos of my time there, most quite good, if I say so myself.  I’ve had to blot out the faces of U.S. soldiers so they aren’t recognizable just to stay on the safe side of any potential legal issues.

The books are really of quite good quality in terms of binding, paper quality, etc.  I’ve only ordered the hardcovers thus far and was very pleased.

So, help out a starving artist, and pick up one of these fine books today (Christmas ain’t that far away, after all).

NJ Veterans Oral History Project

Back in September I was in Sea Girt during my National Guard drill weekend for the Governor’s review. While I was there I had a bit of time to kill and so went to check out the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey. As I’ve said before in previous posts, I’m not a huge fan of military museums but I seem to prefer ones that have a distinctly local feel to them. They may not be particularly flashy or slick but they seem to have a much more authentic connection to the soldiers who served than the big, overly packaged ones.

Anyway, while there I got to talking to one of the volunteers who worked there who told me about an oral history project they’re working on. It’s goal is to “collect and preserve the memories of veterans through recorded oral history interviews.”

I’m a big fan of the work done by the Legacy Project (if you haven’t read any of the books by the projects director, do yourself a favor and get one today…very moving stuff) and have finally come to appreciate how much history we’re losing every day. As veterans pass away, their experiences often go with them and, at best, we’re left with second or third hand stories that lose some of their accuracy and uniqueness with each telling. So the opportunity to pass along my experiences to the ‘greater good’ was very appealing. I filled out my application and about six weeks later (the staff, as near as I can tell, consists of a part time oral historian and some volunteers and so they’ve got a lot to do with few resources) I got a call to schedule my ‘debriefing’.

The experience was really top notch. I wasn’t sure what to expect but was really blown away by the professionalism of everyone involved as well as the seriousness in which they approached the whole project. The prime interviewer, Carol Fowler, did her homework before I arrived and had found the posting I had done for my friend who had passed away while we were in Afghanistan. She asked me if I would read it to which I replied ‘No problem.’ I didn’t think about until well into the interview when she said it would be a good time to read it.

And then it happened…

I got about two lines into the reading when I, unexpectedly, felt myself choking up. Before I knew it I was crying. I was totally blown away how strongly and quickly the emotions came rushing back. It was really quite incredible.

The interview went on for about two hours (hopefully I said something of interest to someone during all that time) and when we were done she asked me if I had spoken to anyone at such length about my experiences. I realized then that I hadn’t. I talk a lot about my military experience but it’s usually in small bite sized chunks. The whole experience was very therapeutic.

Over the past two days I’ve been having countless “D’oh” moments where I’ve realized things I should have mentioned but at least I gave them a bunch of pictures and a copy of all of my blog postings from my time mobilizing at Ft. Dix and in Afghanistan (racking up an amazing 198 pages! Who knew you could write so much about so little?!).

Update (13 Dec 07):  Here’s a photo of the  interview.  Taken at the NJ Militia Museum.  Photo courtesy of Joe Bilby.

Belated Veterans Day

I know it’s a week late but here’s a video I just found and thought it was so good I had to include it here.