Mine has been a truly remarkable journey, beginning with the introduction of my first book, Finding My Father’s War, in October 2009 (republished as Hidden Hell by Patton Publishing in June, 2011). Since then, I have spent much time in Europe promoting my book and meeting new people from all walks of life. Many a… Read More
Mine has been a truly remarkable journey, beginning with the introduction of my first book, Finding My Father’s War, in October 2009 (republished as Hidden Hell by Patton Publishing in June, 2011). Since then, I have spent much time in Europe promoting my book and meeting new people from all walks of life. Many are veterans with harrowing stories of survival from the wars in which they served. I have been fortunate to meet veterans from many wars, heads of state from four countries, and mayors and dignitaries from sleepy little towns in France, England, and Germany. Every World War II story I have heard has left an indelible impression on me. I will remember all of them forever.
On June 5, 2009, I had the great good luck of meeting Helen Patton on Utah Beach in Normandy, France, during the sixty-fifth anniversary commemoration of D-Day. Helen is the granddaughter of the iconic World War II general George S. Patton, and she has spent most of her adult life carrying forward the concerns for soldiers and veterans that her father, George S. Patton IV (also an army general), and grandfather shared. I humbly shook her hand on that day and instantly knew she was someone very special. Helen’s caring, confidence, and passion clearly radiate from her heart. Her deep concern for and commitment to veterans of all wars is unwavering—part of her core DNA. I believe to this day that our meeting was not a chance encounter, but destiny.
Because of Helen’s efforts the name “Patton” still rings strong throughout Europe. After visiting her Stiftung Foundation in Germany on numerous occasions, attending several veterans’ memorial celebrations in France, and making one special trip to visit with the entire Patton family at their Green Meadows Farm north of Boston, I now find myself immersed in and committed to the newly formed Patton Foundation here in America.
I have been named its first executive director, and I am deeply honored and grateful to have been asked by Helen Patton to represent and lead her foundation. I know the task ahead of me is a daunting one, but I look forward to putting into practice General George S. Patton’s concern for the welfare of American soldiers and their families. I also anticipate with excitement meeting many more veterans.
My association with Helen Patton has also resulted in my meeting Andrew Wakeford, who serves as the project manager at Patton Stiftung. Andrew and I are both seasoned professional photographers, and it did not take long for us to establish a strong friendship. Within months, driven by a shared passion and a burning desire to make a difference, we came up with the idea of photographing veterans from all recent wars. Combining our shared interests in photography and writing, we set as our goal the creation of a book centering on veterans. Portraits of Service: Looking into the Faces of Veterans will be the result of our combined efforts, and I am very proud to have embarked on this project with Andrew.
In conclusion, I am honored to walk in the shadows of all the veterans in the world. War is an unfortunate by-product of human disagreement. It is fortunate, though, that at times of war men and women have responded and been willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary for all of us to live in freedom. Our book takes a cross section of veterans from many countries and gives them the opportunity to express themselves as they wish. Although it is not possible to photograph every veteran, it is our hope to capture the thoughts and feelings of those we do photograph and convey the importance of what they have done on behalf of humanity. Read Less
