Historian, author, editor, educator Remy Benoit's ongoing weblog for Veterans, writers, students, others who believe in learning from and making history. Thousands of articles and posts and a free writing seminar, Using History for Healing and Writing.
—"The best works by living writers on the heart of New Orleans." Miz' Remy is the author of Annie.
10 most recent articles out of 5,373.
Gordon Brown: Girls in the Crosshairs | How about a car that floats and doesn't need gas! | Sgt.Christopher Gaynor: American Hero Quilts | Review: William Peterson: Missions of Fire and Mercy Until Death Do Us Part | Iraq and Cancer | Native American Gardening | Josette Keelor: Home At Last | John Scura and Dane Phillips: Battle Hymn | Gulf War Illness Symptoms | Want to start vegies/herbs earlier to supplimant food budget?.
by Remy Benoit
At RSN Girls in the Crosshairs.
While we try to bring freedom to other nations so girls will be treated as intelligent human beings, some try to undermine the rights of women here.
That is not what so many, in so many ways, have fought for.
Please stand behind the girls trying to learn and to help protect this young girl. Sign if you think a 15 year old raped by her father should be lashed 100x for "sex outside of marriage.
Tuesday, April 2 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
Monday, March 25 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
American Hero Quilts struggles to continue its mission
I am sitting with my cherished friend Sue Nebeker, co-founder of American Hero Quilts, at the breakfast table in her Vashon Island, Washington home (on three levels directly below us are the workshops and storage for American Hero Quilts. See my Album of photos). We are enjoying excellent cups of coffee and looking out over South Puget Sound on this, the first day of spring. The view from our vantage point is spectacular. The clouds have been swept away by the strong winds from the west and the water sparkles. Sue calls my attention to the eagles that have nested at the top of a tree very near her house. An adult eagle soars past us, its huge wings catching the updraft as it expertly touches down on a branch next to the nest. We have been comparing notes on the progress of our respective diseases, as we usually do when we meet, her MS, my Parkinson’s.
But, as enjoyable as it always is to chat with my friend, this is not purely a social call. I have just handed her a check for $500 on behalf of American Legion Post 159 in my capacity as 1st Vice Commander. I ask her, “How is American Hero Quilts doing?” The short answer, “We’re in trouble”. Sadly, this fine organization, which has delivered 12,486 quilts to wounded warriors since its founding in 2004, has run out of funds(each quilt costs about $300 in materials, all labor is donated). One company which has been donating essential materials is no longer able to do so, and donations have fallen off sharply because of the mistaken impression that the war in Afghanistan is winding down.
Please donate to help create these beautiful quilts for our soldiers. American Heroes Quilts.
Saturday, March 23 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
I am of an age that saw the transition of helicopters, which, as kids, we all looked up to see with excitement, become the choppers of the American War in Viet Nam with all the mixed emotions that very name carries with it.
I have never physically been in one, not one much for flying, but I just spent a year with Bill Peterson and his crew flying in one over, and into, the green. It took me several weeks to read this book as Bill's words, descriptions, adrenaline highs, terror, doubt, pride all seized my heart, soul and mind and I could hear the blades cutting through the air; feel the vibration; smell the cordite and fuel; and taste the very soul of their missions of fire and mercy.
I had to stop, put down the book awhile to process it all, even though I write with veterans of Viet Nam all the time. Bill's words are so open, so on target, that the reader has to come down from the mission.
That is real writing; that is Bill's truth that he is sharing with readers.
The crew took the soldiers into cold or hot LZ's, knowing they would come back for them, perhaps later that day seeing their fear going in; carrying some out grievously wounded; bringing some out for whom the war, for whom life, was over. They flew in with adrenaline highs to stay alive; to shoot at the enemy from the air; to feel the impact of the enemy shells on the skin of their flying machines. They knew, absolutely knew, each time they went out that this could be the last mission; that they might crash and burn, crash and explode, be shot out of the air as they went on these missions of fire and mercy.
They lost their buddies, their fellow crew members; they made bonds that would last for a lifetime. They manned their flying ships, hating the enemy; questioning the impact of the war on the Vietnamese; bewildered, and yes, angered, by the ineptitude of those in Washington running the war, doctoring kill rates, white washing the Five O'Clock Follies.
They rejoiced at letters and packages from home; they sweltered in the heat and humidity; and they carried on, each and every day, revving up those engines, taking those birds on missions only with the thought of protecting, supplying, transporting those consigned to fight their way through the boonies, the jungle, the night that belonged to the enemy.
They sought cover as their base of operations was leveled and they lost the few precious personal possessions and letters they had; the witnessed first hand the nightmare of Khe Sanh. And each morning, they got up before dawn, revved up those engines, and went at it again.
I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough if you want to know; really want to know, really want to feel what it was like to be in one of those metal birds: flying over, into the green, defying enemy guns, defying death each time you rev up an engine and take to the air; each time you come down to drop off soldiers or supplies; each time you drop down to pick up soldiers running on their own, being carried by the buddies with their innards spewing out of them.
Purple Heart Awards, 36 Air Medals, Presidential Citation, Vietnamese Cross of Galantry tell you something of what Bill knew; but what is open heart, open soul is what Bill shared with a refugee from Viet Nam, a woman who became an American citizen, years later, who brought him coffee, breakfast, and perhaps some healing for both of them. What bond did her time starving in the jungle and his in the air form between them?
If you want truth, if you want reality, if you want to know war and what those we send come to know when we send them, the open your heart, your soul, and your mind to what Bill Peterson has to tell you. It just might change your thoughts on oh so many realities only those who have been there know; it just might make you work harder so less get to know those horrors. So less live forever after with post-traumatic stress. Live or die with the legacy of Agent Orange of the chemical du jour.
Monday, March 18 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
At Truthout Iraq Wars Legacy of Cancer. by Dahr Jamail.
Monday, March 18 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
These are tough economic times, and I assume that no one is handing you bailouts. So, let's back up and learn to live with nature as our Native Americans do, and some still do. From Mother Earth News Native American Gardening. From William Woys Weaver
Sunday, March 17 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
Home at last: Family welcomes return of POW 62 years after his death.
Saturday, February 23 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
Wondering where the American Dream went? You might
find some answers here Battle Hymn.
Saturday, February 16 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Veterans for Common Sense Gulf War Illness Symptoms.
Saturday, January 26 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
by Remy Benoit
From Mother Earth News and Niki Jaboor The Amazing Cold Frame.
Thursday, January 24 2013 | Permanent link | Comment | Print
Continue to Archive
Both Sides of the Wall: Reflections of the West Point Class of 1968 (Edited by Remy Benoit).
Read Jerry Wenstrom's review of Loving.
Rhea and Jordan Devereaux had it all: undying devotion, a tender love, and a grand passion. And then the Vietnam War separated them. Follow the course of their love across time and space. Journey with them through the steaming jungle; dance with the Mardi Gras revelers while revolution unseats Louis XVI and protestors on the Washington Mall scream, Hell, NO. We won't Go. Sail with Laffite's pirates into Devil's Isle and rejoice as an unconditional and timeless love emerges victorious.
Purchase a signed first edition of Loving for $20 including S&H:
