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A.C. Sanders III Writer
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What follows is a forward written for the collection of stories, essays, and poems based on
Vietnam experiences entitled Remnants of a War which is published in part on the virtual
archives of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University.
Vietnam experiences entitled Remnants of a War which is published in part on the virtual
archives of the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University.
| A FOREWORD |
Sanders, as a 27 year old captain and unit
commander in Vietnam, points to a satchel charge
like several catapulted into the firebase the
previous night. This was a dud. Fortunately only one
in ten actually detonated.
commander in Vietnam, points to a satchel charge
like several catapulted into the firebase the
previous night. This was a dud. Fortunately only one
in ten actually detonated.
I picked up the writer's quill twenty
years after returning from that war. I
danced with those demons through
the years, and spilling onto paper
some of what I witnessed in Vietnam
helped set my thinking straight.
These papers were trashed once
there therapeutic value had been
exhausted. I never set out to actually
WRITE, never thought I could.
years after returning from that war. I
danced with those demons through
the years, and spilling onto paper
some of what I witnessed in Vietnam
helped set my thinking straight.
These papers were trashed once
there therapeutic value had been
exhausted. I never set out to actually
WRITE, never thought I could.
My wife and I traveled to Santa Fe, New
Mexico one weekend in the early
1990's. While there we visited the
studio of a renowned artist with whom I
had grown up in Lubbock, Texas.
Commissioned to sculpt the Women's
Vietnam Memorial now ensconced at
"The Wall" in Washington, DC, Glenna
Goodacre was just beginning to put the
clay on the superstructure. We were
shown the prototype sitting on a table.
One of the three figures sprang to life in
Mexico one weekend in the early
1990's. While there we visited the
studio of a renowned artist with whom I
had grown up in Lubbock, Texas.
Commissioned to sculpt the Women's
Vietnam Memorial now ensconced at
"The Wall" in Washington, DC, Glenna
Goodacre was just beginning to put the
clay on the superstructure. We were
shown the prototype sitting on a table.
One of the three figures sprang to life in
Upon returning to El Paso, I wrote the story of that nurse, told my first tale. After
much editing by writer friends and several rewrites, it evolved into He Never Knew
Her Name. It's a love story, an affair never consummated, but one that lives within
the captain forever. For her, the never-ending torrent of wounded soldiers
streaming through became a gory blur. He was simply one more john coming
through the door. Collectively they surely took their toll on her, but the love she
tendered each man became her legacy, her immortality.
much editing by writer friends and several rewrites, it evolved into He Never Knew
Her Name. It's a love story, an affair never consummated, but one that lives within
the captain forever. For her, the never-ending torrent of wounded soldiers
streaming through became a gory blur. He was simply one more john coming
through the door. Collectively they surely took their toll on her, but the love she
tendered each man became her legacy, her immortality.
Since then, I have written stories of various genres. There is now a former high
school English teacher spinning in her grave at the thought of that Sanders boy
writing seriously.
school English teacher spinning in her grave at the thought of that Sanders boy
writing seriously.
These remnants of war are fictional, but based on actual events. I have not the
originality to invent the episodes of war, nor have I the words with which to paint the
canvas accurately. These are attempts to allow the reader a peek into the window
of life at its most intense state of being. Once in war, nothing evermore measures
up, the highs never as high, the lows never as low.
originality to invent the episodes of war, nor have I the words with which to paint the
canvas accurately. These are attempts to allow the reader a peek into the window
of life at its most intense state of being. Once in war, nothing evermore measures
up, the highs never as high, the lows never as low.
The Vignettes have their own introduction, and they have offered me the most
satisfaction. In Memoriam was written on Memorial Day, 1998, a couple of
months after Mary and I visited The Wall. That annual holiday has taken on a more
powerful meaning for me since that visit. All the men I write about, alive and dead,
dance in my thoughts that weekend, now a time for m editation and reflection.
satisfaction. In Memoriam was written on Memorial Day, 1998, a couple of
months after Mary and I visited The Wall. That annual holiday has taken on a more
powerful meaning for me since that visit. All the men I write about, alive and dead,
dance in my thoughts that weekend, now a time for m editation and reflection.
Writing represents an opportunity to stoke the fires of the spirits of these men, to
immortalize their deeds in some way, and to assuage the survivor's guilt most of
us bear. To present these remnants to no less than my family, the men with whom I
served, and their families, is an honor. May it shed some light on the dignity with
which each of them endured.
immortalize their deeds in some way, and to assuage the survivor's guilt most of
us bear. To present these remnants to no less than my family, the men with whom I
served, and their families, is an honor. May it shed some light on the dignity with
which each of them endured.
Sincerely,
Your Brother in Arms
A.C. Sanders
my brain. Whether the hair style or what, I cannot put my finger on, but the image of that
nurse who cared for me in the evacuation hospital at Chu Lai came vividly to mind. I had
often ruminated about that experience, but never dwelled on her. She haunted my
consciousness the remainder of the trip.
nurse who cared for me in the evacuation hospital at Chu Lai came vividly to mind. I had
often ruminated about that experience, but never dwelled on her. She haunted my
consciousness the remainder of the trip.