by J. L. Salter
As she gently smoothed the fine silk, Kelly felt something hard. She carefully peeled back the final fold and discovered a small object wrapped in burgundy silvercloth. Her whole body tingled as she slowly removed the protective covering and revealed a tiny jewelry box of tarnished silver. Where has this been? Why had Kelly never seen it? What was inside?
Gently pulling back a corner of the silk victory quilt, Kelly sat on the edge of her bed and placed the box in her lap. “Aunt Mildred, what on earth did you put in here?”
With no reply, Kelly cautiously un-latched the box and opened its lid. Two folded pieces of paper on top. Lifting those out, she noted several tie clasps and cuff links and what was probably a lodge pin. Somehow she knew the papers were more significant.
The one on top had in Mildred’s hand, “Daddy”. Kelly unfolded the paper and found inside a partly-frayed multi-colored ribbon with a large medallion below. In her aunt’s handwriting: Daddy’s Victory Medal, the Great War, 11-11-18. That was the first time Kelly was even aware her grandfather served in World War I. She gently refolded the medal into its protection.
On the second piece of paper, also in Mildred’s hand, the outside was marked, “Edgar”. Kelly unfolded that page and found inside another military medal, with a dark purple ribbon attached. On the inside surface of the page, also in Mildred’s hand, was the explanation: Edgar’s Purple Heart, Hickam Field, 12-7-41.
As her fingers traced lightly over those words, Kelly could again hear her aunt’s June Allyson voice: “He was scared, but he went anyway.”
Three large tears splashed to the brittle, faded paper before Kelly could damp her eyes with the backs of both hands. Now she understood.
The End
Author’s Note
This is a companion piece to my novel, Called to Arms Again, published by Astraea Press in May, 2013. The chapters of Echo Taps dovetail, roughly, by intersecting before the full novel’s Chapters Eight, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, and Fifteen. Therefore, the entire sequence of Echo Taps occurs before Kelly attends the funeral in Called to Arms Again.
Originally included in the early drafts of that novel, these flashbacks about Kelly’s uncle helped her reach an understanding of what motivates military people to risk their lives, how they cope with their fears, and why many of them cannot discuss much about those experiences. But, partly because my original story was way too long (at some 165,000 words), I had to carve out several plot threads, including this one. So I was delighted when Astraea Press announced they would allow publication of short companion pieces of less than 20,000 words. Now these important scenes can be revealed.
The anecdote about (my character) Edgar’s experience at Pearl Harbor was taken directly from the real-life situation of my wife’s uncle, Fisher Eugene Williams. Her Uncle Gene, whose military career spanned 1936-1968, was stationed at Hickam Field during the Pearl Harbor attack. As she was growing up, my wife always heard that Uncle Gene, on that Day of Infamy, had been blown out of his boots running to the chow hall.
Many years later, my father-in-law (a younger brother of Gene), mentioned that his sibling had been blown out of his boots at Pearl Harbor. But he added that Gene’s good buddy was “blown to bits” right behind him; they’d both been running toward a gun pit on the flight line. When I told him the sanitized variation I’d always heard — which was the version told to my wife and the other young children of that large Williams family — my father-in-law had a reaction (and explanation) quite similar to what I’ve expressed here, in the words of my character Commander Coffey.
Uncle Gene’s parents and siblings knew where he was stationed when the shocking news of the Pearl Harbor attack reached mainland America. But, of course, they had no means of contacting him… and no way of knowing if he was among the thousands of dead or injured. But a few days later, Gene’s Kentucky family received a telegram: “Tell Mom, I am OK.” Those words, and the date (7 Dec. 1941) and place (Hickam Field, Hawaii) are featured on Uncle Gene’s tombstone.
Acknowledgements
I continue to be grateful to Stephanie Taylor, founder and CEO of Astraea Press, to the wonderful editorial team of Kay Springsteen and Traci Pollitt, to the talented and patient cover artist Elaina Lee, and to several others who work behind the scenes at AP to keep things running smoothly.
I greatly appreciate the helpful suggestions from my brother, Charles A. Salter, and my wife, Denise Williams Salter, after reading this short companion piece.
Now available, in a variety of digital formats, from Astraea Press.
Also available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, among other outlets.
Called to Arms Again
By J. L. Salter
Grit doesn’t fade away… it just becomes crusty. With harrowing elements right out of today’s headlines, this story reaches back into the sturdy heartbeat of people raised during the Depression and tested during World War II. Though the old uniforms haven’t fit in many decades, their resilient spirits still have that same intensity which helped save democracy.
Needing only a fresh angle to write her Veteran’s Day special, Kelly discovers first-hand that the Greatest Generation still has enough grit to fight back. While all the authorities are occupied during a massive Homeland Security drill, an urban gang of thieves targets an isolated retirement subdivision… figuring the crippled geriatrics would offer no resistance.
Though Kelly’s widowed boyfriend came along only for a post-funeral luncheon, Mitch soon finds himself leading a mismatched flanking team. Kelly’s good friend Wade has his own assignment, with a home-made mortar and lots of illegal gunpowder.
Maybe it’s difficult to remember everyday things like taking pills, but these octogenarians have never forgotten it was up to them to defend family, home, community, and country. The outcome of their courageous stand depends on the resolve and resourcefulness of an unlikely ensemble of eccentric elderly neighbors, several American Legion members, and others spanning four generations.
About the Author
My published novels (with Astraea Press) are: “Called to Arms Again” (May 2013), “Rescued By That New Guy in Town” (Oct. 2012), and “The Overnighter’s Secrets” (May 2012). Romantic comedy and romantic suspense are among seven completed novel manuscripts.
I’m co-author of two non-fiction monographs (about librarianship) with a royalty publisher, plus a signed chapter in another book and a signed article in a specialty encyclopedia. I’ve also published articles, book reviews, and over 120 poems; my writing has won nearly 40 awards, including several in national contests. As a newspaper photo-journalist, I published about 150 bylined newspaper articles, and some 100 bylined photos.
I worked nearly 30 years in the field of librarianship. I’m a decorated veteran of U.S. Air Force (including a remote tour of duty in the Arctic, at Thule AB in N.W. Greenland).
I’m the married parent of two and grandparent of six.