To read part 1, click here. To read part 2, click here.
Cendrine Marrouat: How have people reacted to Cherries so far?
John Podlaski: "Cherries" is getting excellent reviews on Amazon.com and also on my personal blog. I am finding that many spouses and children of Veterans are reading the book out of curiosity because the father/husband will not talk about his war experiences. I’ve even heard from a few Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who said they can relate to many of the experiences in "Cherries."
CM: The other day, you mentioned to me that Canadians had fought in Vietnam. Tell us a little more about that.
JP: ***Many Americans believe that Canada played no part in the Vietnam War, and that is false. Though the Canadian government tried its best to remain neutral, about 30,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in Southeast Asia. Among the volunteers were fifty Mohawks from the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal. One-hundred ten Canadians died in Vietnam, and seven remain listed as Missing in Action.
Like Vietnam Vets in the U.S., Canadian Vietnam Vets also returned home to despicable treatment. This was especially noticeable in Toronto and Vancouver where U.S. draft dodgers had settled. These large cities were often the sites of anti-war hostility.
No Veterans Administration Centers in Canada existed to assist the returning men or the families of those who had died in Vietnam. The Royal Canadian Legion did not welcome these men as they did men from other wars. This began to change with the completion of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
Canadian Vietnam Veterans began to form their own organizations in 1986, and today a loose coalition of groups exists in most major Canadian cities. In 1995, the North Wall found a permanent home in Windsor, Ontario. It is a great tribute to those Canadians who served and sacrificed all for what they believed in.
[***Taken in part from an article written by Mary Alward - © 2002 Pagewise]
CM: What do you wish to achieve with your book?
JP: I want people to see the non-glorified side of war. These boys were naive, fearful, and even their worst dreams could not prepare them for Vietnam. As such, they were hardly ready to absorb the harsh mental, emotional, and physical toll that the conflict would eventually take on them. These teenage soldiers not only had to fight against elusive and clever enemy soldiers, but they also fought personal battles with the many insects, reptiles, arachnids, rats, wild boars, tigers, and other beasts in the jungle.
The backdrop for this story might be Vietnam, but there have been Cherries in every war! Even today in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, the soldiers are better trained than we were in Vietnam, but they will also experience the same fears, awe, doubt and concern about survival as those young men did in Vietnam. Perhaps after reading"Cherries," a person will have a better appreciation for the young soldiers that go to war, and understand why they are so different upon their return home.
CM: Where can people find more information about you and "Cherries"?
JP: I have a blog site.
CM: Do you have advice for novice writers?
JP: When working on your story, write whatever is in your head as it comes to you. Don’t try to edit or work on structure until you have completed at least a chapter. This process takes a lot of time and requires patience. Do not give up! There is no greater feeling than holding the first copy of your published book in your hand.
CM: Any last words?
JP: Thank you so much for your interest in "Cherries" and for taking the time to schedule this interview. I wish you continued success and hope your article is able to spread the word through Canada about this special story. Of course,"Cherries" is dedicated to all soldiers past, present and future.
End of the interview.
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CendrineMarrouat is a freelance writer/reviewer, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
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