Yesterday evening, I taped an interview for the “Veterans for Peace Radio Hour” in Louisville, KY. Peter Berres, Vietnam vet and writer and the host for this month’s program, says in his intro:
Today’s program is an interview with author Dr. James Wells who is completing a book about his, and his family’s history – after the death of his father in 1965, in Vietnam.
Our program today has two titles – or actually two adages: “THE FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR IS TRUTH” as the first part and the counterbalancing adage: “ TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.” Both are commonly mentioned, but often left without context or example. This program – and James’ book – both reflect on and provide substance to these sayings, both in the persona of James’ father, and in James’ own journey of discovery for truth about his father’s death.
As part of the program, Peter will be playing some of my favorite music, including the Rolling Stones “Paint it Black” and Phil Ochs, “I’m Gonna Say It Now” and “When I’m Gone.”
The interview, which discusses my in-progress memoir, focuses on the trauma my family and I experienced and what veterans and others can learn from my book and experiences. If interested, it airs 3/27 at 1 pm and 3/28 at 7 pm on WFMP-LP 106.5 FM at https://www.forwardradio.org/onair.
James B. Wells 