9-18-13
I get email, cards and letters from readers of the books and the website from time to time. When I first published A Bird’s Eye View (a hundred years ago), a woman sent me a pile of documents from her late husband’s service on the Boston. He was a young ensign who came aboard late in the War, actually during Occupation Duty. Included were pictures of her husband, Dwayne Witherspoon, pictures of the ship, pictures of the USS Colorado, and a picture of a group of Boston sailors and officers taken in front of a monument near Hiroshima. (see earlier post) Mrs. Witherspoon, who is now 89 years young, and I have kept in touch since then. Here is her latest note to me (hope you don’t mind, Mildred!):
Dear Steve: I zoomed totally out of orbit Thursday in pulling a beautiful, bonafide, personalized copy of “Baked Beans Vol. 3” from my mailbox! Since then, I have spent many long hours, day and night, pouring through its marvelous script, captivating photos, and documents along with individual quotes from shipmates. When I first encountered the blown-up copy of the men in front of the Hiroshima Statue, I ascended far beyond the stars. What a magnificent idea!
Do you have some kind of magic wand, Steve? Any ordinary person claiming to be a writer, would require years on end to assimilate masses of script, quotes and photos in distinct categories for uncluttered concentration. So thank you, Steve, for my personalized volume hot off the press! You have produced a great set of books for families of men who lived, breathed and felt events on the Boston. Volume 3 is especially spectacular! I love it! Thank you!
Forever, Mildred Witherspoon.