The Jade Puppet

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This project is now underway. Coming Soon.

While working on several other projects, this remarkable story came to us through the website and after discussing it with the family, I felt that this story needed to be shared with priority. The family had read A Flower in Auschwitz and inspired them to reach out to me. As a veteran who served his country honorably for six years, I was honored and privileged to be chosen to compose and share the story of this remarkable woman. 

Mariella died about ten years ago from the date of publication of this book from cancer believed to have been caused by her exposure to Agent Orange while she served during the Vietnam War. 

Oral history filled in the gaps for the majority of what Mariella shared with her family and in her diaries prior to her death. We promised the family that all names would be changed for obvious reasons. Though views on LGBTQ communities are changing, the family was not comfortable disclosing her real name and of those she served with, so basically, all names have been changed. There are no secret missions, classified operations or information disclosed herein, if that is what the reader hoped for, sorry to disappoint. However, if you wish to read a story of the incredible journey that this woman shared from before graduating high school, until her discharge as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War then this story is for you. 

This story is primarily transcribed from her diary and what an incredible story it is and not necessary to embellish or fabricate facts. Until her enlistment in the army, Mariella wrote mostly in Italian which we painstakingly translated. 

This book honors only one of the many nurses that served during the Vietnam War and helped so many to return to their families including a couple friends of the author. If you have the honor of knowing one of these remarkable women, thank them for their service.