The Rohna And Then Some - Hardcover
The Rohna and Then Some is a beautiful collection of poetry, short stories, and life experiences give the reader unique insight into the life of a distinguished member of America's Greatest Generation. With wit and charm that has been cultivated for nearly a century, Mr. Stewart blends fiction and reality into an entertaining, hilarious and sometimes poignant reading experience. In a uniquely clever manner, Mr. Stewart recounts the unusual circumstances surrounding his birth, his exploits as a young boy in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1930's, his induction into the army, his marriage to his "sweetpea", and other mostly-true tales. An eyewitness to one of the most secretive disasters in World War II, Mr. Stewart allows the reader to experience the sinking of the HMT Rohna as he saw it from the deck of his ship, the HMT Banfora, the ship closest to the infamous British transport vessel now resting at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea along with the 1138 men that perished with her. At 90 years young, this is Mr. Stewart's first published work, however not likely his last. In his words: "Some years ago I expressed a desire to die quickly when the time came rather than a slow agonizing death. "On a scale of one to ten", I said, "being shot to death at age ninety by a jealous husband would be the tenner." I no longer think like that. I'm a different person now. My recent birthday set me to thinking more in terms of like age 100." Both moving and light-hearted, Mr. Stewart has captured a beautiful slice of Americana.
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About the Author:
James Russell Stewart, was born on December 12, 1914 in Stevenson, Alabama. His childhood was spent in Memphis, Tennessee where he met Elma Alford whom he married on January 21, 1940. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 as a member of the 96th Signal Battalion, serving 25 months in the China/Burma/India theater. After the war, Mr. Stewart was employed by Lummus Cotton Gin Company. Eventually his work required a move to Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1962, and he and Elma currently live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grand children.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
A Mother's Day letter written by the author to his mother while in Burma during World War II.
May 14, 1944
Dear Mother:
I don’t suppose there is a red rose in all the jungles of Burma, but it is Mother’s day nonetheless. We have long ago departed from the conventional celebrating of the red letter days, but they do not go unobserved. It is impossible to explain the feeling that is within me or even to interpret it. It seems the many thousands of miles between us and the unpleasantness of this place have served to give me an even greater appreciation of the things all mothers stand for and a yearning for the little personal effects that you alone could bring about. If the decision had been left in the hands of all our mothers, there certainly would never have been war and that alone is worth more than all of man’s power and ingenuity, which are now converted almost completely into weapons of self destruction.
Why, as a child did I come to you for dimes while Dad was giving out quarters with less sales resistance? Simply because you knew ten cents was the price of ecstasy for me while he was merely paying a quarter for the privilege of reading the paper undisturbed. Fathers rule the household ‘cause their vanities demand it; mothers make it a worth while place to rule. It is impossible for me to send anything more than my deepest affection, but I can say something that will keep you happy because you are my mother: I am well and safe.
Love,
Jamie
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherAmswin Pr
- Publication date2004
- ISBN 10 0976246007
- ISBN 13 9780976246008
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages168
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