THE DUTY CREW

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

synopsis

Synopsis

THE DUTY CREW chronicles December 25, 1972, the last Christmas of the Vietnam War at Queens Naval Hospital, Long Island. The North Vietnam president’s goal is to accelerate peace talks by bringing violence to all military hospitals in the United States. Ho Chi Minh has an agenda of terrorism and murder for the Duty Crew at Queens Naval Hospital to incite U.S. public reactions against the war, while President Nixon wants to end the war by political arbitration. Three women become aware of the internal and external assault on Queens Naval Hospital. Movie Star Iona Dell spends Christmas in Hanoi as her fans promote an activist presence at the U.S. military hospitals. She realizes too late that Hanoi has American sympathizers directing terrorism outside and within their walls. Newswoman Thule Thornbush wants only anti-war slanting of the adverse events on this Christmas Day in the hope she will obtain a position on the staff of the New York Times. LT Minerva Zettler as the Duty Crew Nurse-of-the-Day identifies the deaths as murders and raises the issue of intrigue inside the hospital. Her fiancé, LT Paul Norman as Junior Medical Officer-of-the-Day realizes that Zettler’s life is in danger by the murderer inhalation therapy technician. It takes the small Navy and Marine Security Duty Crew and mobilization of the Hospital’s Vietnam returnee patients to stem Ho Chi Minh’s plans for death and destruction on American soil. The events on this Christmas Day forever alter the lives of the three women.

bio

Author Biography

As a retired physician I’m devoting my time to writing novels, memoir-based fiction and short stories. My life as an author of fiction began in 2003 after a few years at Toastmasters International delivering captivating stories and speeches. I believe literature should be educational, fun, serious, full of feelings and always with a touch of fantasy and a thread of truth. Like all my novels true lifetime situations are interwoven with suspenseful and intriguing story lines. My 13 novels and short story book bear that philosophy out. Reviews of my books in Amazon.com have been 5-star. Comments for WHO WILL WEEP FOR ME such as “high school coming of age makes the story feel authentic and make the reader want more” is typical of reader satisfaction. I live with my wife in San Antonio near my daughter and her family with four of my grandchildren. My goal as an author is to publish several novels a year with my novel portraying terrorism in the US, - OCEAN CITY HQ - recently published..

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Author Insight

Ever work Christmas Day?

I was in the Navy for 5 years during the Vietnam war. I was also the JMOOD (Junior Medical Officer of the Day) every Christmas. I did get every New Year's Day off but Christmas Day was one of large air-evac admissions and my wife and son having Christmas Dinner at a 2100 bed Navy Hospital. THE DUTY CREW chronicles the last Christmas Day of US involvement in the war. Babies were born, a few patients died, and smuggling prostitutes in as Christmas presents kept our security cadre in perpetual motion. Every day, especially Christmas Day, civilian activists protested with large picket lines and bull horn shouted slogans against the war, against our wounded warriors, and against doctors like me for caring for soldiers who put their life on the line so the activists could have the privilege of legal protest. God Bless Navy and civilian nurses who still have to work Christmas Day.

Book Excerpt

THE DUTY CREW

December 20, 1972

“My fellow Americans, it is our sincere wish for the war in Vietnam to be ended. For those patriotic soldiers who have been wounded in action, we give our heartfelt thanks. This Christmas, it is my direct order to return as many American casualties as are able to withstand prolonged air evacuation back to the United States. In keeping with former President Johnson’s policy, these gallant souls will be sent to a military hospital closest to their home of record. It is my Christmas present to their parents, relatives and loved ones. Merry Christmas to all.”

The President of the United States signed off after reaffirming his campaign promise to do everything in his power to bring the war in Vietnam to a conclusion. It was no longer about winning. It was about getting out as gracefully as possible and if graceful was not to be a reality, then “getting out period” would be enough.

President Nixon’s message meant different things to different people. To families of the wounded, it was a message sent from heaven. To the U.S. Air Force Air Evacuation Command, it would be a nightmare task. For the combat casualties, it meant going home for Christmas and getting out of Vietnam forever. For Ho Chi Minh and the North Vietnamese forces it meant an opportunity to escalate their carnage and establish more combat fronts throughout North and South Vietnam and continue to hide in Cambodia and Laos after border ambushes.

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Peter Glassman

THE DUTY CREW

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Ever work Christmas Day?

Book Excerpt

THE DUTY CREW

Comment on this Bubble