This week Pegman returns to the Western Hemisphere to take us on a tour of Littleton, West Virginia. Although I missed the challenge last week, a story formed pretty quickly for this one. I’m a day late and see that this group is growing. Nice to see. Thanks to Karen and Josh for hosting. I so appreciate the two of you on more than one level. 😉
To enjoy this week’s stories or to submit your own, visit the inLinkz button:
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 150
This story is dedicated to the forgotten veterans, the women who unassumingly served as nurses and ‘Donut Dollies.’
COUNTRY ROADS
“My dearest Jimmy,
Remember 1971? We came home from Vietnam that year—the same year John Denver’s song became a hit. I think he must’ve written it with you in mind.
‘Littleton,’ you laughed, your eyes shining like the stars over the Shenandoah River. ‘It’s just a Podunk town in the middle of nowhere.’
Nonetheless, to you it was home…’almost heaven’.”
Sharon set aside her pen and paper. Picking up Jimmy’s guitar, she strummed the melody and sang, “…West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountain…” She closed her eyes. “Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains…”
A gentle breeze riffled her hair. “You promised to bring me here after the war. And so you have.”
She folded the note, tucked it inside the guitar and propped it against his headstone. Forever she would carry his face and hear his last words, “Nurse, please don’t let me die.”
*
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*
In this image provided by the U.S. Army, the 2nd Brigade was faced with a new problem at their Bien Hoa, Vietnam base: from Fort Rilay to Vietnam come the 93rd Evacuation Hospital complete with nurses on Dec. 19, 1965. The problem of getting a private shower for the girls fell to Company B 1st Engineer Battalion. In the interests of the health, welfare and cleanliness of the nurses, the men of Company B decided to give up their own air-conditioned shower. The dressing area of the shower was boarded up and the entrance-way closed off. An appropriate “Off Limits” sign was made and posted. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Oh, this is a sad one. Poignant, too. I’ve been watching the Ken Burns documentary in dribs and drabs (hard to take in big doses) and reading Michael Herr’s excellent book Dispatches. This fits right in. Well done.
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Dear Josh,
Sad to say, I’ll have to catch up on the Ken Burns Documentary when it comes out on DVD. I was a teenager during the Vietnam era. So much changed in this country during that time.
At any rate, I’m glad you liked me story. Those nurses really are the forgotten vets. They went above and beyond the call with quiet dedication. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely and moving. I got all choked up with this one. WOW.
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Dear Karen,
I’ll always accept a WOW. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a sweet, poignant, heartfelt story, Rochelle. I feared it would end as it did.
You, as usual, so know how to grab us by the heartstrings in so few words.
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Dear Dale,
I didn’t set out to end it this way but the muse had other ideas. (Damn her eyes.) 😉 Thank you for your lovely, heartfelt comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That muse… we just can’t control her. Ever.
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And do we really want to?
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Not one whit!
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Once again, Rochelle, you have me sitting here with a lump in my throat. Well done on that and using the John Denver song title and perfectly selected lyrics.
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Dear JS,
Sorry about that lump in your throat. Not really. 😉 Thank you for reading and leaving such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome Rochelle. By coincidence tonight the BBC showed a documentary, filmed in Huntington, WV, about the heroin epidemic affecting that state and others (a topic focused on in some of the other Pegman stories).Sadly real life has much more capacity to induce sadness than fiction does, even when the writing’s as good as yours. I’d never thought heroin misuse, particularly intravenous, was a major issue in the US, as I’d believed other drugs were the ones that were widely misused. So, I’ve learned something (that I was probably happier not knowing).
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Well done lady. You know how to jerk the strings.
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Thank you, m’luv. You know how I am about those stringed instruments. 😉
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Unfortunately, there are far too many crappy moments in history to mine for a story.
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Thanks for stopping by…I think.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome. I wasn’t criticizing your story, just the terrible sadness of it as well as what the prompt pulled out of most of us.
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Okay. I wasn’t sure what you meant. Thanks for clarifying.
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A beautiful and sad story, Rochelle.
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Thank you, Luccia. 🙂
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Powerful little story. Excellent take on the prompt. I am also watching the Ken Burns documentary, but it’s a bit too much to take all at once. Probably will be a while before I finish them all.
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Dear J.M.
Many thanks for your thoughtful comment. At some point I hope to see the documentary, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sending a million likes for this one, Rochelle. Such a loving tribute to all the nurses who risk their lives to tend to the wounded in battle and who have rarely if ever been acknowledged for their service. Thank you! Kudos! Shalom~ Jelli
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Dear Jelli,
I agree. Not enough is said about these women (and men) who serve their country in this way. Thank you for all the likes and kudos.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My brother (half) served as a chopper medic in Nam. He refused to carry a weapon to take another life, so that’s where he was put.
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Some things don’t change…you still write so very well.
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Dear Scott,
What a sweet thing to say. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I always say “truth is easy.”
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Very sad but beautifully written.
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Thank you, Ali. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very sad, Rochelle. I’m from Ohio and I’ve been through a part of West Virginia. When my Dad drove Mom and me there for a short trip some of the lovely valleys were full of smog. They’ve cleared up since the Clean Air standards were put into effect but may smog up again under the Trump Administration. I was in college from 1963 until 1967 and sometimes wonder how many of the young men in ROTC didn’t make it back alive. Good writing as always. —- Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I’ve never been through West Virginia. The first thing that came to mind was John Denver singing about it. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My sister and I volunteered at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville when we were in high school – through the Red Cross. I remember one boy (who was really cute) that had a cast on his leg. He got to go home thank God. Great story Rochelle – tear jerker!
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Dear Nan,
That says a lot for you and your sister. Not many teens would volunteer at the Veteran’s Hospital, particularly in the days when it was clearly uncool. Thank you for your comment and for sharing your experience.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The first time I read it I was so moved. A brilliant piece of writing. I should have left it at that instead decided I had to read it to my husband. This time I was reduced to tears and have struggled to stop crying since. This resonated.
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Dear Irene,
An author can’t ask for a better compliment. Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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made me cry- a heart breaking one Rochelle
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Well done, that was emotional.
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Thank you, Kelly. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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