BROOKINGS Has anyevent or time period in American history had more written about it than World War II? Thousands of books and countless movies have portrayed that time and it seems like everything that could have been said has been. Yet local author V.J. Smith felt there were some stories left to be told and made it his imperative to tell them.
His latest book, A Sentimental Journey tells us the stories of 20 men who served in the U.S. military before, during and after the war, and did their best to help preserve our democracy. Fourteen of the men were from the small South Dakota community of Eureka, where Smith grew up and knew these men.
These are men I knew from my first memories and they all had some kind of influence on me and helped shape the man I became,” he said.
Smith said he was inspired to write this collection of stories by the chance discovery of a book in a used book store in Brookings Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley. Thecover of that book featured the iconic image of six U.S. Marines raising the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during the bloody battle for the Pacific island in March 1945. The tiny speck of land in that huge ocean was deemed by the American high command as a priority to control in the Allies march toward mainland Japan in an effort to end the war.
Smith not only read Bradleys book, he said he “devoured it.” From the reading of that book came the push for Smith to find out more and write his own book. He spent a great deal of time researching the military careers of “the Eureka Boys” and of those Marines in the photo, going so far as to travel to the gravesites of all six of the men pictured. It was a years-long undertaking. At some point, that photo has been seen by virtually every American. In his introduction to the stories of the Eureka men, Smith explains how that image and book title inspired him to seek out information about the men pictured; to visit their graves and conduct research into their service records and finally to write about how they came to be in that battle and what became of them after the raising of the flag.
While acknowledging that the war has been covered pretty extensively, Smith said, These men I knew didnt talk about their service and even their own families and kids didnt know the extent of their sacrifices. They quietly went about their lives after the war. They raised their families and helped in the community and their churches and they didnt consider themselves heroes, but they, along with the millions of men and women who answered the call to fight tyranny are truly heroes and their stories needed to be told.
He added, Ive never really considered myself an author. Im just a guy who likes to tell stories.
And he does it well with this collection. At turns, the stories are heartwarming and others will tug at the readers heart. Its apparent to the reader that Smith looked up to these men from Eureka who helped form his ideas of patriotism and service and respect and even reverence for our nations flag.
Men such as WalterFrey, who Smith consideredd “a second dad” and who presented the flag to family members of fellow veterans at funerals in Eureka for more than 30 years.
Men such as Dr. George F. McIntosh or “Dr. Mac,” who delivered Smith into the world and served the people of Eureka and the surrounding area for decades following his return from the war where he had saved thousands of wounded men, making it possible for them to come home alive.
Men such as Art Serr, who helped Smith catch his first fish when Smith was 7 years old and who ran the concession stand at the baseball field in Eureka for many years after his time in the service. His son told Smith that Art didnt talk much about that time, which is the general experience of most of the mens families.
After the stories about “the Eureka Boys,” Smith moves on the those about the Marines in the photo. Those are interesting stories and have a couple of twists and turns that may surprise readers. Along the way Smith poses questions to the reader which may make you stop and consider the veterans youve known and your own attitudes and beliefs toward patriotism, duty, loyalty, honor and teamwork. This isnt the first time Smith’s books have challenged readers to examine their own ideas and beliefs, as that has been a theme in his earlier works as well. Area residents may be familiar with Smiths those books: The Richest Man in Town, Jackrabbit Tales and “Can You Hear What I See?: How Words and Actions Matter.”
Contact Beverly Jensen at [email protected].
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