Over There

MWSA Review

In "Over There" a central figure slowly learns of his grandfathers service to his country and the values he held close. Lessons that would serve the grandson throughout his life.

Both their lives would take similar roads, Tommy's many years after his grandfather passed away and was buried at Arlinton National Cemetary.  His grandfather had earned the Medal of Honor in the Argonne, the grandson would earn his own Medal of Honor some fifty years later in Vietnam.

The author weaves five seemingly separate stories together, outlining the journey of each that would see their lives intersect. The reader will surely shed tears reading this well told tale.

Reviewed by: jim greenwald (2015)

Author's Summary

The book is actually a combination of five short stories told by Thomas Ventline Hunt, the grandson, of the main character George Hunt.

George is a World War I Medal of Honor recipient who, with the lead characters in the subsequent three stories share a day in the Argonne Forest.

Walenty Toblinsk an immigrant from Skopje, southern Serbia. Tells the how and why he came to America, met George, and ended up in the Argonne. He relates what happened that day and the days that followed.

Charles Reynolds, before entering by draft into the US Army, played baseball for a living. He was the catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics. When his day ended in the Argonne his mother, Estelle, went from a blue star mother to a gold star one.

Tobias Z. Herrmann III, a retire General officer. He served as the Platoon Leader, that day in the Argonne. His story is one of leadership, devotion, and service to his men and his country.
The book pulled together in the final section, The Amalgamation, by Tommy, who relates his experiences in “The Disneyland of Southeast Asia.” and the parallels of the experiences.