A few months ago I received the Minnesota Humanity Center “2017 Veteran’s Voices Award.” The following week I was interviewed by our local television station–I guess I forgot to post it on my blog.
Indiana University Visit
I will be visiting Indiana University, South Bend, on April 18, 2017. During the day, I will discuss my Vietnam memoir, Muddy Jungle Rivers with two history classes who are using the book. There will be an evening event, open to the public, on campus, at Franklin D. Schurz Library. A little extra event I’m …
Muddy Jungle Rivers Book Discussion Wednesday, April 23, 2014
(Written by Patt Rall, Bemidji Pioneer Previews, published Sunday, April 20, 2014.) •Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning continues their spring season of talks with “A Healing Journey with Wendell Affield,” who is the author of “Muddy Jungle Rivers.” Affield will talk about his life after publication of his book, and his speaking engagements when he …
Muddy Jungle Rivers Book Discussion: A Healing Journey——April 23, 2014
Sponsored By: Northern Exposure to Lifelong Learning (NELL) Program will be in Gonvick Community Center: Coffee at 9am, program at 9:30 and wrap up around 11 or so. depending on questions. Open to the public (From NELL Newsletter) In January 1968 Wendell Affield went to Vietnam as the cox’n of Armor Troop Carrier 112-11 with …
Ambush on Hai Muoi Canal, Vietnam 18 August 1968
Within the first twenty seconds of the ambush, Armor Troop Carrier (ATC) 112-11 takes 3 rockets in the well deck, incapacitating a full platoon of army troops A black army sergeant manning this 50 caliber machine gun was severely maimed when a B-40 rocket burned through the one inch armor. He was a true hero. …
Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference 2013
This past week I participated in a writing workshop titled “Nonfiction and the Archeology of Memory,” taught by Joni Tevis. Joni’s website, http://www.jonitevis.com/ Joni’s class was a perfect fit for the project I am working on, reconstructing our family’s past from the wealth of primary documents I have. The biggest takeaway was when Joni told …
Muddy Jungle Rivers Current Events
Tuesday, April 16, will be a busy day: At 8:30 AM I will be on “Coyote Country Radio” KKWB 102.5 FM discussing Muddy Jungle Rivers. At 7:00 PM Fosston Community Library and American Legion have teamed up to host a book reading and discussion. The public is invited. This past month I visited with …
Chickenhouse Chronicles: WWII Letter about my Grandfather’s Ship sinking
I discovered this terribly water-stained letter in a packet I am currently reading. The tone of the letter seems fatalistic. Frederick Pierce, the author, has a son on a coastal patrol craft in the Mediterranean—perhaps one of WWII’s famed PT Boats. Fred Pierce is my great uncle, an elusive link to our past. The Pierce family …
My Grandmother Studying Abnormal Behavior, Circa 1953, New York City College
Sixty years ago my grandmother began attending a psychology class at New York City College, studying abnormal behavior. For over half a century she searched in vain for a cure, trying to understand why her daughters had been cursed with mental illness. She left behind thousands of pages of New York City Mental Health booklets, …
Self Published Author Lessons Learned
This past year has been very rewarding with the publication of Muddy Jungle Rivers. In December it was nominated for the Minnesota Book Award. On January 26 the four finalists for each genre will be announced. Bemidji State University used the book in a Fall 2012 History Class and will use it again in a …