Joyce Faulkner & Pat McGrath Avery -- Storytellers

In Passing

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:23:00 +0000

There are no replacement souls. When someone moves on, their footprints fade with time -- and they leave our memories stuffed with keepsake images like a closet full of colorful quilts.

Yesterday, an extraordinary person died. His name was Valdor John. In the last three years, my writing partner, Pat Avery, and I spent a lot of time with Valdor in our heads. We interviewed him, researched him, wrote about him ... enjoyed his rich sense of humor and admired his generous character.

Yet Valdor had a dark history. He was already a soldier when the Korean War broke out in 1950. His unit was one of the first groups sent to slow the North Korean advance into South Korea. Within a few weeks, the invaders captured him during the Battle of Taejon. Together with close to 400 other prisoners, he marched to Seoul. "I had a broken leg on the entire march between Taejon and Seoul," he said.

Because he was an Oneida Indian, the communist interrogators singled him out for special treatment. They asked him all kinds of political questions. He told them, "I'm a kid. I don't know about all of that stuff."

They broke the arches in his feet. They pulled out his fingernails. "The first one was horrible," he said. "With each finger, I found myself becoming more and more numb." They dunked him in water and hung him from his wrists until his shoulder joints were dislocated. Frightened and angry, Valdor lived to spite his tormentors.

When the Marines came ashore at Inchon and headed toward Seoul, the North Korean guards hustled the prisoners out the door and marched them day and night -- barely clothed, barefoot, hungry, bearing maggot-filled wounds -- to Pyongyang. Valdor said, "I drank for years to escape the guilt of stealing food from a dead comrade." By this point, the men were dying by the dozens -- but Valdor lived on.

They weren't in Pyongyang but a few days. As American troops advanced, the North Koreans loaded the sick and dying POWs onto a train. After several days, the train pulled into a tunnel. The guards took them out in groups of twenty or thirty -- and shot them. The men all around Valdor died. He lay in the brush through the long, cold night -- with the bodies of his friends nearby -- wounded, but still alive.

Valdor said, "I was unconscious for quite awhile. I guess it was the next day when I came to. I heard someone speaking English...I yelled and they yelled back."

Several Koreans from the area had reported the shooting near the tunnel the previous evening. Brigadier Frank A. Allen, Jr. of the 1st Calvary, several ROK groups and a couple of reporters went looking for the POWs -- fearing the worst, but hoping for the best.

Wounded in his arms, legs, ribs, stomach and back, Valdor struggled to his feet and staggered toward his rescuers. General Allen rushed toward him and put his own coat around Valdor's shoulders. Valdor sobbed that he was too dirty and lousy to wear it. General Allen answered that he was promoting Valdor to a one star general for the day.

Valdor was overwhelmed by the general's kindness. It took a moment for him to compose himself and point to the piles of bodies in the fields near the tunnel.

After months of treatment in a hospital back in the states, Valdor could have gone home. Yet he stayed in the Army. "It was my job," he said simply. Ultimately, he went back to Korea and he also fought in Vietnam.

Valdor chose life even when living was hard. He dealt with PTSD back when it didn't have a name. He fought alcoholism. He struggled with ill health -- the result of wars already fought, drinks already drunk, and cigarettes already smoked. He let people down, but living people grow. He found the love of his life late and they took care of each other until Tuesday morning when he had no choice but to leave her behind.

The last time I saw Valdor was Veterans' Week in Branson, 2007, when Pat and I launched our book called "Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors." Gracious with his waning time and energy, he sat with his fellow survivors, autographing books for hundreds of lucky buyers.

At the end of the week, Valdor, who was no longer able to walk, participated in the Veterans' Day Parade on his electric scooter. Crowds of well-wishers lined the streets. Then, a small boy ran up to Valdor and presented him with an American Flag.

Valdor's smile was broad and white -- and alive. It's an image that lingers like fingerprints on a silver vase -- the old soldier and the young boy sharing a moment.

Despite the fact that I didn't see him often ... I miss him, already. Godspeed, Valdor. Our love and respect go with you as you embark on your next mission.

Flag Retirement Ceremony in Pittsburgh, PA

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:19:00 +0000

The Hanoi Taxi

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:29:00 +0000

This movie was sent to me by someone very special -- Billy D. Templeton who was a POW during WWII. Billy was a radio operator on one of the early B17s. He participated on the first group flight from San Francisco to Clark Field in the Phillipines. (Before then, the planes were brought out by ship.) They landed on November 3, 1941. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese destroyed all of those beautiful new planes on the ground.

It was just the beginning for Billy. Already hungry, he retreated with the Army into the Bataan Peninsula and worked with the Signal Corps during the ensuing battle. He was captured in the jungle after the Army surrendered to the Japanese in early 1942. He is a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March. He was at Camp O'Donnel and Cabantuan. He spent many days on the open ocean in a Hell Ship, which narrowly avoided being sunk by an American submarine. He spent the rest of the war as a slave laborer in Manchuria. Toward the end of the war,the POW Camp was mistakenly bombed by American planes. After he was liberated, the ship taking him home hit a mine.

Billy knows suffering -- and he knows how freedom feels.

He knows kindness too.

When he sends me something, it's never a nasty email bashing one politician or another. He doesn't send me complaints -- or ugliness of any kind. Perhaps because of his experiences, he doesn't have time for that.

Like Billy, I love airplanes. I hope you all find this movie as wonderful as I do.

The Hanoi Taxi (tail #66-0177) was retired from active service in May 2006.

She was the last of the 285 C-141's built by Lockheed to leave active service. She flew 100 POWs out of Hanoi on 12 February 1973, some of them tasting freedom for the first time in six years. Each POW put their shot-down date on the face of the oxygen panel during their flight to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. For her retirement ceremony, the POWs she brought home were brought back for the ceremony and one last flight. Most of them are old men now but their enthusiasm, emotions, and excitement were evident during this flight and retirement ceremony. She was then flown to Dayton, OH where she will spend her final days in the Air Force Museum.

Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors Receives Carolyn Howard Johnson's Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize from MyShelf.com

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:17:00 +0000

Joyce Faulkner and Pat McGrath Avery for The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors. This book gives voice to those who survived this Korean War atrocity, and those who didn't. Published by Red Engine Press.

M E D I A R E L E A S E

CONTACT:Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Phone: 818 790 0502
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

Columnist Awards the Noble (Not Nobel) Prize for Sixth Year

Columnist and Author
Takes on the Nobel Prize Committee

Praised or maligned, the Nobel Prize for Literature is always news. It selects the best from the world and therefore misses much of value. Carolyn Howard-Johnson, “Back to Literature” columnist for MyShelf.com, closes the gap (only slightly) with her an annual “Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize for Literature.”

Over the last years the Nobel committee has recognized authors for their literary expertise but there has also been a trend toward awarding the prize for, as Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Tim Rutten says, “an author’s particular relevance to the moral moment in which the world finds itself.”

Howard-Johnson’s prize therefore concentrates on books that address these same issues. For her Noble Prize (as opposed to the NOBEL prize), Howard-Johnson considers books written in English (which narrows the field of prospects considerably) because writers who write in English have been rather neglected over the years and because that is the language in which she . . . ahem, reads well enough..

Howard-Johnson’s lists have included well-known authors who explore discrimination in their writing like Toni Morrison and Ralph Ellison but she tries to concentrate on authors who have not been posted to bestseller lists or won major awards. Some past winners are poet Lloyd King and LA's Leora G. Krygier, Randall Sylvis and Suzanne Lummis.

The winners for 2007 just announced in January's issue of Myshelf are: Los Angeles writer and UCLA instructor

Howard Johnson, sponsor of the Noble, is no stranger to literary prizes. Her first, This is the Place, won Sime-Gen's Reviewers’ Choice Award after it was published in 2001 and went on to win 7 other awards. A chapter from the book was a finalist in the Masters’ Literary Award and another was selected for inclusion in The Copperfield Review. Her book of creative nonfiction, Harkening, has won three awards, her Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't is an Irwin Award winner and that book and her The Frugal Editor were both named USA Book News' Best Professional Book in their years of publiciation. Her book of poetry, Tracings, was named "Top 10 Reads for 2004" by The Compulsive Reader and awarded for excellence by the Military Writers' Society of America. She is also an instructor for UCLA Extension's renowned Writers' Program.

Learn more about Howard-Johnson at http://www.authorsden.com/carolynhowardjohnson.

Her "Back to Literature" column that features winners may be found at http://myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm . Past columns with winners are archived.

###

(Pictures, media kits and other support materials

are available upon request electronically or by post.)

December Salute

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:32:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

I thought you'd like to see the latest version of Salute! In it, we have Larry Wikoff's wonderful photos of the Branson Veterans' Week events, articles about veterans Dottie Bolton, Charlotte Winters and Raymond Perry. Columnist Feather Schwartz Foster is back with her series on CinCs (Commanders in Chiefs) and Chris Avery has a great book review.

We have a new feature too. Check out our new crossword puzzle with clues from the ezine itself. Click here to work it online.

I hope you all enjoy.

Branson Veterans Week Slide Show

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:22:00 +0000

Many thanks to Larry Wikoff, our photographer. Larry was a Lt. in the Air Force during the Vietnam War -- an engineer who spent most of his time in service in California. It was his first time in Branson and he spent a great deal of it taking pictures for Pat and me. He was moved by the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors and their stories. He was thrilled to meet Judge Robert Decatur and George Boyd who were Tuskeegee Airmen. He loved the kindness of people like Steve Wehyer, Marlyce Stockinger and Arlen Lipper.

Larry and my husband Johnny were classmates during highschool in Jacksonville, Arkansas. They both went to the University of Arkansas and studied Electrical Engineering. They were roommates and friends. I first met them both in January, 1967. It was a blessing.

In 1970, when Johnny and I spent almost a year in Japan, we brought Larry back his first Minolta Camera. I'm sure he'd been interested in photography before, but this seemed to release his inner shutter bug.

I'm hoping that Larry will continue sharing his wonderful photographs with us.

Be sure to take a look at the slide show at http://www.rrpstorytellers.blogspot.com. It's in the upper right hand corner.

Joyce

Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors Prepublication Launch

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:00:00 +0000

My co-author, Pat McGrath Avery, and I did a prepublication launch of "Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors" in Branson on November 6. As many of you already know, Veterans' Week is THE big even of the year there. It was a busy, overwhelming, dizzy time -- perhaps one of the must moving experiences of my life.

First, I'll tell you about the event itself. For those of you who are authors, and paid to have ads in Salute, we thank you. We gave out hundreds of copies to the thousands of folks we encountered throughout the week. Vendors village was in the front building of "Celebration City" site -- and there was a theater adjoining it. Red Engine Press and the Military Writers Society of America shared the theater facility as well as manning a booth in the front part of the building. We had our launch and several speakers in the theater itself -- and during the first part of the week, there were author booths in the lobby of the theater as well. During the launch and other events and throughout the week -- the slideshow was always playing 'somewhere'. When possible, it played on two huge screens on either side of the stage. At other times, it played on one or two different laptops at the various booths. (For those of you who were new to the slide show this late in the game, Pat and Everett will be duping the cd and sending you a copy so that you can play it at your events.)

On Monday, two of the survivors (Walt Whitcomb and Valdor John), Pat and I were on a Christian Radio show. The interviewer was wonderful. He maneuvered to get as much air time for Walt and Valdor as possible. We offered prelaunch copies of the book as giveaways and were gratified at how quickly people phoned in to get them. Throughout the week, I had several people mention that they'd heard us on the radio.

Opening ceremony was that afternoon. They showed a video of Sherman Jones' graduation from highschool and introduced Sherm to the crowd. The Lennon Sisters came out and serenaded him. Then, after it was over, Pat and I introduced him to someone very special. Sherman had a friend named Gene Putzier -- who trained with him, went to Korea with him, fought with him, marched with him. In Pyongyang a few days before the massacre, Gene died in Sherman's arms -- crying out for his Momma. Gene's brother and baby sister -- who knew almost nothing about how Gene died for most of the last 57 years -- were there. When we told Sherman who they were -- he grabbed both of them and held them tightly -- wailing for his lost friend. Nancy and Dick Putzier were shocked I think -- but they too cried together with Sherman -- for Gene. That got me and Pat going too. I must say that Pat cries at the drop of a hat...

The newspapers of Branson gave us (and our other author, Eddie Beesley who was a VIP guest of Branson for the week) lots and lots of coverage. Almost every day there was an article or photo of the guys.

On Tuesday, November 6, we launched three books -- Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors, Hodge Wood's "Chum Water" and Mary Nida Smith's (Submarine Vets). At around 9am, I realized that there was no ramp to get either Hodge Wood or Valdor John onto the stage (they are both in wheeled scooters)...I presumed that it was simply stashed away somewhere and approached one of the people in charge of the facility. They asked me when we needed it. Still thinking that they were going to get it out of storage, I said we'd need it at 10am. Here's the amazing thing -- these guys BUILT one for our guests. I was so moved...they carried it in...and waited respectfully until we reached the point in the program when it would be required.

Branson celebrity, Penny Gilley, sang a song and spoke briefly -- inviting the whole audience to her show that evening for free. (After the show that night, Walt and Ed went up on stage and presented her with her own copy of the book.) She also agreed to let us sell copies of the books in her gift shop.

Hodge and Mary each spoke briefly about their books.

Six of the nine survivors were there (Walt Whitcomb, Valdor John, Ed Slater, Jim Yeager, Bill Henninger and Sherman Jones)-- plus one of the men who escaped before the massacre (George Snodgrass). Samuel Clark, a member of the 187th Airborne RCT -- the unit of paratroopers dropped to try and block the retreating North Korean Army and rescue the POWs in the train -- spoke. When I introduced him, he came up on stage and gave me a hug, whispering in my ear, "Pray that I don't mess this up." Then, he told the survivors of the attempt to save them. Weather delayed the drop for six hours. He told them that when they found them -- they found mostly bodies -- and he told them how that felt. With tears in his eyes, he told the survivors that he wanted to personally apologize for failing to get there in time. The audience gasped. Sherman Jones, who'd been shot in the head during the massacre, rocked back and forth in his seat. One of the others cried out -- "it's not your fault." Pat and I choked back sobs.

The Comets (Bill Haley and the Comets were a famous group in the early 1950s) came up on stage and spoke about their new buddies -- the survivors. We had created a cd to accompany the book that included an electronic version of the book, all the photos and maps in color, audio recordings of the men telling their stories -- and "Rock Around the Clock," donated to us by the Comets. They also invited the audience to their two o'clock show -- for free. Amazing.

Then it was time to sign books. We set up two stations on stage -- one for Mary Nida Smith and Hodge Wood and one for the seven survivors, Pat and me. I've been to lots of launches and book signings, but the veterans and people of Branson were amazing -- and eager to get books that had been signed by all of the guys. We sold T-shirts with the cover on the front and a picture of the survivors on the back -- and of course, we sold the accompanying CD as well.

Throughout the week, the guys shook thousands of hands. Pat and I and two of the survivors had the opportunity to be on the pilot episode of a reality TV show being filmed in Branson. We also appeared on a show that Penny Gilley was filming for RFD-TV which is a cable network serving 30 million homes.

On Saturday, most of the survivors and other authors went to Forsythe for breakfast with the local VFW and to be interviewed by a local glossy magazine. George Snodgrass, Jim Yeager, Walt Whitcomb and I appeared on a Pittsburgh PA radio show dedicated to veterans. The host, Ron Morris, gave us a full hour and a half of air time. The guys did very well. It was a first for George and he was very nervous, but the other guys encouraged him and he was able to tell his story. During a break, the host switched to a private line and told me -- this is GREAT radio.

We ran from event to event -- there was a POW Network Gala, a Luau -- a hoe-down. Our guys and Pat rode in the Military Vehicle Preservation Society's jeeps in the Veterans' Day Parade. Evelyn and Paul Harless coordinated that (and each also spoke in the theater -- people enjoyed Paul's presentation on the history of the jeep -- and Evelyn's photography. Two of the Tuskeegee Airmen also spoke in our theater -- George Boyd and Judge Robert Decatur -- both amazing men who truly changed our world. We attended the closing event which was performed by Tony Orlando. We worked the booths -- selling books and meeting folks. We spent hours and hours -- signing hundreds of books -- assembly line like. Every once in a while, Sherm would open the book to a picture of himself before the massacre -- and cry. Or someone would tell a joke and we'd all giggle. Then Pat would crack the whip and we'd all start signing again. It was wonderful.

Most wonderful was the time that we spent with the guys. Pat and I worked so hard to get this book ready for them -- and they loved the attention. It had been 57 years -- but the people of Branson welcomed them home with tenderness. Knowing that much of the proceeds went directly to the guys, folks bought many of our books. That kind of support made us cry again -- well at least that crybaby Pat...

Pat says that we have been getting phone calls from people who bought and read the book -- and wanted to get in touch with one or another of the guys. We are hoping that this kind of attention will bring out new information -- jar memories -- perhaps help the government identify some of the remains, perhaps give families a little more of their lost loved ones. We did have some important information come in the last couple of days, but I'll share that with you after we investigate it further and verify these new stories.

On top of all of this, the Military Writers Society of America held it's events at the same facility -- showing movies, selling books, having an awards banquet -- etc. Lloyd King and Pat worked hard to make sure that all of these events were beautiful and well thought out. They deserve so much praise. To make things even better, Pat and I received an award for Salute -- validating our efforts to write stories about and for veterans.

For me personally, after so much work, I was thrilled that the survivors liked the book -- and took ownership of it. Pat and I had hoped for such -- but you never know of course. It was a special week for me in other ways too -- my husband Johnny made the trip with me and made it so much better for me. Also, our friend Larry Wikoff took photographs of the events -- and as a result of his participation -- has decided to join the contributors to Salute -- as staff photographer.

Even though we are still in prepublication phase, it looks like we'll have to do another printing in order to get books to send to reviewers -- that's so gratifying.

One last thing -- I wanted you all to know how proud I am of Pat. She is an amazing woman who worked her heart out for these guys -- and for me -- and for the MWSA -- and for Branson. You should have seen her on stage. You could tell how much she loved these men -- and wanted the world to know their stories. I'm so lucky that she is my writing partner and co-author.

Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors

Lloyd A. King

Hodge Wood

Red Engine Press

Ed Slater -- How it felt to be a POW

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:39:00 +0000

Spade High School Last Graduation

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:55:00 +0000

Sherman Jones is one of the survivors of a massacre near Kujang-dong in North Korea in October 1950. See new book, "Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors", due out fall of 2007

Sharks on Wounded Fish: Chum Water

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:46:00 +0000

A friend of mine has published his book, "Sharks on Wounded Fish: Chum Water". It's about how he broke his neck in a car accident in 1977 -- and how he struggled to recover. It's an incredible read and well worth your time to take a look. Enjoy the video on his website too. His website address is: http://www.hodgewood.com/. You can purchase his book directly from him or at Amazon. Over the next few weeks, it will become available at bookstores across the country.

Check out his blog at http://hodgewood.blogspot.com

Salute -- August 2007

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:09:00 +0000

This month's Salute features Pat McGrath Avery's interview with William McGinley -- a World War II veteran who was reported KIA -- but is still alive and kicking more than 60 years after his adventure hiding from the Nazis in Belgium. Columnist Feather Schwartz Foster introduces John Adams -- the father of the Navy. Lloyd King discusses the history of the Medal of Honor. Chris Avery reviews Ron Greer's book, Fire From the Sky: A Diary Over Japan, the story of his father's exploits during World War II. Colleen Tucker's charming memoir, "Everlasting Memories" takes us back to the days when everyone leaned into the harness together. Mary Nida Smith focuses on the Sea Fox and it's role during the Korean War.

Since so many of our readers enjoy the Branson Night Life (and morning and afternoon life), we've decided to offer reviews of the shows from time to time. This month we review a new act -- SIX. Poet Rudy Garcia's moving verse "M.I.A." is a must read. Don't forget cartoonist Lloyd King's Beans & Frank.

Also, Hodge Wood announces the publication of the first book in his Sharks on Wounded Fish Series, "Chum Water". It's a wonderful read -- and a sobering one.

I hope you enjoy.

Second Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors Reunion -- Memorial Day, 2007

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:55:00 +0000

The second Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivor Reunion took place in Branson, MO in May 2007. From left to right,

Everett Avery, Connie Beesley,
Author Pat McGrath Avery(They Came Home: Korean War POWs Tell their stories), Survivor Bob Sharpe (Sunchon Tunnel), Author Eddie Beesley (Lucky Enough), Survivor Ed Slater (Kujang-dong), Survivor Walt Whitcomb (Kujang-dong), Author Joyce Faulkner(In the Shadow of Suribachi), Survivor Jim Yeager (Sunchon Tunnel), Survivor Sherman Jones (Kujang-dong).

They Came Home: The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:13:00 +0000

Coming soon!

Launch will be in Branson, MO during Veterans' Week (November 4 - 11, 2007). Several of the survivors will be in attendance. Please come by Celebration City Theater to meet them and get your copy of the book.

Flag Retirement Plaza

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 23:24:00 +0000

I met the most interesting ex-Marine the other day. He contacted me to tell me about a special project he's been working on for several years. It came about when he realized that while there were flag retirement ceremonies, there didn't seem to be a special place where folks could go to dispose of worn flags according to the proper protocol.

He took his idea to Allegheny County and the result is a beautiful spot in South Park near Pittsburgh, PA where folks can come for ceremonial purposes, to leave off worn flags and to sit and contemplate our connection as Americans.

Designed with the help of John Kovach, Jr., a former Marine and sergeant first class in the Pennsylvania National Guard, the hexagonal plaza is surrounded by seven flag poles - one for each branch of the military and one for the American flag - with a burn pit in the center. A deposit box on the site allows visitors to leave soiled, damaged and tattered flags to be incinerated during future ceremonies.

That's me posing with John Kovach and Craig Rizzo, another ex-Marine with two tours in Iraq. We are standing in front of a wall that will one day be covered with a ceramic mozaic. John also dreams of six-foot figurines donated by different people to represent the various services -- as well as memorial flagstones around the hexagon.

For more information, check out "Dawn's Early Light" Flag Retirement Plaza.

Salute! July, 2007

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:05:00 +0000

Salute! July, 2007

Hadong, South Korea -- Memorial

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:20:00 +0000

A monument honoring US Soldiers who fought in South Korea, placed in Hadong by greatful South Koreans in 2002.

Sherman Jones

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:08:00 +0000

Captured in Anui, South Korea, in July 1950, Sherman Jones was part of a 'death' march that lasted almost three months. In the end, the North Koreans shot everyone with him in what came to be known as the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre. Sherman was criticially injured and it took many years to restore him to health. Pat Avery and I will include his story in our upcoming book, They Came Home: The Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors".

Japanese Flag flying over Philippine Internment Camp

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:03:00 +0000

Historian and collector Rick Libby with a Japanese flag that flew over the Santo Tomas internment camp in Manila in 1945. It has the names of all the men in the unit that participated in the liberation.

In the fall, Red Engine Press will launch a book about a young American girl whose family were internees of the Japanese from December 26, 1941 until the end of the war. At that point, they were being kept at the Biblibid prison in Manila.

Military Vehicle Preservation Association Convention

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:57:00 +0000

Pat Avery and I attended the MVPA Convention in Little Rock, AR the end of June 2007. We met lots of interesting folks with a variety of stories. This picture is of Pat and I with William McGinley who was shot down over Belgium in World War II and rescued by the Belgian underground. For seven months, he evaded the Germans and during that time the military notified his parents that he was KIA. Throughout it all, his mother prayed for his safe return -- and when he was rescued and sent back to London, he sent her the telegram she'd been waiting to see. "Hi Mom. I'm okay."

2007 Memorial Day in Branson

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:53:00 +0000

Pat Avery and I attended the 2007 Memorial Day services in Branson MO with five of the survivors of the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre. We are currently writing a book, due out in November, about this event. This photo includes, l-r, Ed Slater, Bob Sharpe, Walt Whitcomb, Jim Yeager and Sherman Jones.

May and June Salute Newsletters

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:02:00 +0000

June Salute Newsletter

May Salute Newsletter

World War II Veteran & Author, Billy D. Templeton

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:55:00 +0000

World War II veteran, survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March and author of "Manila Bay Sunset, Billy Templeton with Evelyn Harless at the 2007 Military Vehicle Preservation Society Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas.

www.ManilaBaySunset.com

Sharon Rogers

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 19:50:00 +0000

Researching material for a book on the WWII-era all-girl band, The Sharon Rogers Band, led Joyce and me to a delightful day spent with Sharon, the leader of the band. Sharon now lives in a suburb of San Diego. We met her on Monday and shared photos, stories and a delicious lunch.

She delighted us with her charming personality and love of life. Music has always been important to her and she played the bass until recent years. We met her daughter and granddaughter.

Sharon spoke of the plane crash, managing the band and the USO experiences. Thus far, we've found that every member of the band was creative, adventuresome and talented. What a fantastic group of women - they make great role models! We're really pumped about starting on the actual writing.

Military Writers Society of America

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 06:36:00 +0000

Military Writers Society of America

katieseyes@aol.com (Joyce Faulkner,Pat McGrath Avery) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 06:30:00 +0000

Pat McGrath Avery, Eddie & Connie & Beesley, Lloyd King and I attended the Military Writers Society of America "Salute to Veterans" in San Diego October 12-14. Lloyd King won the 2006 Gold Medal for a Book of Poetry for "From 'Nam With Love". My book, "In the Shadow of Suribachi", won the 2006 Gold Medal for Historical Fiction award. It was a wonderful few days and we met lots of other authors with interested in writing about military and veterans' issues.

Joyce Faulkner

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