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Peter Glassman

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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

"No Thank You for your service"

My 5-years of Navy service during the Vietnam War was beset with political activism against the war. As a medical officer I took care of the wounded warriors who risked life and limb so the ever-present anti-war protesters could picket us-all of us. A directive from the CO advised against wearing our uniforms outside the confines of the main gate for fear of physical harm from these people. TV news showed wounded war returnees being "spat upon" and worse by anti-war sentiment. Today is different. I wear my Navy baseball cap year round and I receive a "Thank you for your service" comment by all ages. Schools honor us on Veterans Day. I'm retired now and wrote books like THE DUTY CREW to educate others and promote patriotism and gratitude for those who make up the military and risk all for their country.

Book Excerpt

THE DUTY CREW

Pustacia surveyed the main gate. A Navy SP Jeep and an olive drab military ambulance with its red cross on a circle of white were parked behind the small sand brick guardhouse inside the main gate. The guardhouse was the size of a two-car garage. An armed Marine MP stood on the building’s curb facing the single lane entry road. An identical set-up was directly opposite the single lane road exit. It was actually one road with a white line down the middle. The sentry house contained two additional marines each facing the entry or exit behind the 4-foot by 6-foot thermo-pane glass fronts and sides. The roof was covered with snow left from the storm 5-days ago. Pustacia contemplated the hand held posters. There was nothing new. The signs carried slogans they had used before:

HELP NIXON END THE WAR

BRING THEM ALL BACK

IT’S THEIR WAR NOT OURS

LIVE AND LET LIVE

THEY WANT COMMUNISM – LET THEM HAVE IT

YOU AMERICANS GOT WHAT YOU DESERVE

QUEENS NAVAL PATIENTS ARE TRAITORS

QUEENS NAVAL PATIENTS WERE SMITTEN BY GOD

NO JOBS FOR NAM RETURNEES

NORTH VIETNAM IS ALL VIETNAM



Inside the guardhouse Marine Sergeant Gavin Stibbit blew smoke through the small circle cutout in the entrance side window used for speaking to the outside guards. “You know what really frosts me? You know what really grabs me by the balls about those people picketing out there?”

“Yeah. I know Sarge. You say the same thing alla time.” PFC Guerra had worked the main gate several times with Stibbit.

“Well, I’m gonna say it anyway and if the Press gets close enough I’ll tell them too.”

“No newspeople, Sarge.” Guerra reminded the team inside the heated guardhouse. “No one but real hospital visitors today can even get this close. Memba what Norton tole us.”

Stibbit ignored the 19-year-old Puerto-Rican American from Brooklyn and opened the door and shouted: “We all risked our lives and bodies so you can have the privilege of picketing and protesting. Without us you all would be jailed.”

His statement could not be heard over the oval marchers drone and chanting as each one read their sign aloud or joined others grouped around a particular slogan.



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Peter Glassman

THE DUTY CREW

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

"No Thank You for your service"

Book Excerpt

THE DUTY CREW

Comment on this Bubble