Richard, my husband, rarely talked about his time in Vietnam.
Richard, my husband, rarely talked about his time in Vietnam.
The only thing he ever mentioned was that he had been shot by a sniper.
One of his most treasured items, though, was a grainy black-and-white 8×10 photo he had taken at a USO show—Ann-Margret in front, Bob Hope just behind her.
A few years ago, Ann-Margret was scheduled for a book signing at a local bookstore. Richard hoped he could ask her to sign that special photo, so he arrived at noon for a 7:30 p.m. event. When I joined him after work, the line wrapped around the store, circled the parking lot, and went behind a nearby garage.
Before Ann-Margret appeared, the bookstore staff announced that she would sign only her book—no photos or other items allowed. Richard was disappointed, but he still wanted to show her the photo and tell her how much those USO shows had meant to lonely soldiers so far from home.