Townsend

This is a Dedication for those who have always stood by me in the hardest of times to make my dreams come true. The soldiers who have fought for what they believe in, loved with all their heart and have lost and been forgotten. This is a softer story from my heart. As you probably know that I have a bur in me with my previous novels of calculated moves of a forgotten soul in the modern world. This is also a dedication to a new hometown that I have come to love even though I only spent a week there before I returned to Japan. That new hometown is the name-sake of this book. Townsend Montana. A little country town near Canyon Ferry Reservoir. For those who read this book now that I am sitting back having a drink as a cheers to all brave souls who have loved, lived and died. Those who have had the courage to live, to keep going beyond all odds. Cheers. Love is precious. A love that is impossible, A love that is forbidden, Heartbreaking thought it maybe, It makes life all the more… SWEETER. Sean O’Hannan 1949

Give me an ear and I will tell, Tell you that where there is Nothing, This is when you have it all. One man‟s sweetest and gentlest story, Wracked with hardship unbelieved, But adorned with the most Blessed Memories. This tale may seem to you a tragedy. As for me it is the Vision of Purest Love. Andrew Kim 2008/01/16

Chapter One It was July 13th 2007 when an unexpected trip turned into an unforgettable adventure. I am a student of History at Carrol College in Helen Montana. I was attending an early morning class in Modern World History when the professor gave the class an assignment that most would find easy to complete. The assignment was to write an essay about someone from the Second World War era. In the case of my classmates this would be a simple matter of research names like Patten, McArthur, or even they would ask their grandfathers. In my case it would not be so easy, you see I am Korean/American. My grandfather died in the resistance against Japan and my other problem is I don‟t want to give an essay about people who have had thousands of essays written about them. So this is how, why, and where my journey begins.

*** “So Tom who are you going to write about?” Andrew asks. “I am going to visit my father‟s uncle in Billings. He was a pilot in the Pacific Theater. How about you Andy?” “I am not sure. I don‟t know any veterans from World War II and you know me Tom. I really don‟t care to spend my time staring at a computer screen. You have any suggestions?” Andrew asks sipping his hardy cafeteria coffee. “Well Andy the only thing I have in mind is to enquire with the local V.F.W.” Tom suggests. “Yeah, maybe I will try that. So what are you doing after class?” “Right after class I am going to drive out to Billings and start my research. What about you? It‟s Friday and I know you pretty well Andy, you are not partying.” “I was thinking of throwing some poles in the car and drive out to Canyon Ferry for a little fishing. Then I might do a little camping.” Andrew says finishing off his lukewarm, wake you up coffee. “Wet a line for me. If you can‟t find any one for your research I will help you when I get back.” Tom says, looking at his watch, “well it is time. I have to get to my next class. I‟ll see you next week.” “Thanks Tom. I think I will go over to the bookstore first. Just to see if I can find something.” As the two young men depart company to go their separate ways a

wind of fate begins to blow. A wind that has determined to reveal the simplest and sweetest tragedy. For one man‟s memories shall give deeper meaning to another man‟s life. Since Andrew was in Jr. high he has always been a bookworm and thus has amassed a great collection of materials ranging from history to poetry. So to relieve his mind of his current problem he fortifies his decision to go to Hastings, the only major book-seller in Helena. Spending nearly two hour flipping through various books and magazines about WWII, Andrew finally becomes discouraged. Selecting a book about Operation Market Garden he takes a seat and pulls out his notebook. Slowly browsing through the book and taking a few notes here and there. “I wonder what it was really like to have actually been apart of Market Garden? Interesting, but I wonder what it is like for the boys in Iraq and Afghanistan, too?” Another hour goes by before Andrew gathers his things to leave. He has decided to purchase the book he has been reading. Another one to add to his ever growing collection. After leaving Hastings Andrew goes next door to the Target and grabs a nice cold coke. Then throwing his backpack in the passenger‟s seat he get in and drives to the Wal-mart to pick up a few things to feed the fish and a thing or two for his own stomach. Why should the fish have all the edibles? Getting what supplies he needs, Andrew sets out for Canyon Ferry. As he drives he turns the radio on to the Public Broadcasting Station. Andrew is not like many men in their early twenties. He rarely goes to parties and when he does they always turn into a bore. In a sense you could say that young Andrew is more or less a square. He enjoys his classical music, books, and spending his free time in the outdoors. To get to Canyon Ferry from Helena there are a couple of options. But as Andrew drive something start to dig at him, makes his insides squirm. SO due to this strange and unknown feeling Andrew decides just to drive around. It has become a custom of his, just to take a drive when he is feeling down or depressed. Besides Montana lives up to it‟s nickname as Big Sky. The open land and wilderness always seems to bring a easing comfort to him. On the south-west side of Canyon Ferry, Andrew comes to the small town of Townsend. Stopping at the intersection to Townsend‟s Main Street he decides to go down the main street and head out to the south-east side of Canyon Ferry, this way he can take the back road back toward Helena. Passing the few shops, taverns and banks Andrew notices a small used bookstore named Lucky. Ofcourse as an addict he too must please his

most beloved vice and give the new place a look. Pulling to the side and parking he goes to investigate. “Good Afternoon young lad.” Says an old man dusting off books and replacing them on their shelves. “Afternoon Sir. By any chance do you have any books on World War II?” Andrew asks. The old man slowly turns his gaze toward Andrew, in his eyes a glint of hope and pain, then he gives the most comical smile to Andrew and says, “Well it depends on two things. What you need it for and what are you exactlly interested in!” “The truth is is that I am not really sure about what I am interested in. You see my professor gave my classthe assignment to write a report about someone from World War II. It is due next month.” “Ah I see. Well there are many books about the subject. Here is my small collection, you might get lucky, eh!” The old man says showing Andrew his half shelf collection. Many of which Andrew has already read. Take a light gaze around the shop Andrew notices that this place is full of historical books, “Excuse me but are you some type of Historian, Sir?” “I guess you could say that but I have no formal education in the subject and what little I have written has been on the side.” The man says. “Well I am a History Major, my name is Andrew Kim.” He says with a smile. “Nice to meet you Andrew, you can call me Sean.” The man says with an even greater smile. “So myboy what do you do after school? I mean you have a job?” “No Sir, why?” “If you would like you can work here. As you can see I am getting up there and I could use some realiable help.” “Sure, that would be great.” Andrew says almost bursting with joy of getting a chance to work amoung so many historical tomes. “Great I will pay you every week on Friday. Also you can use what I have for your research if that helps.” “Thank you Sean.” “You seem like a good kid. So come in Monday after school and help yourself.” Sean says spreading his hands out toward the books as if he were Moses spreading the Red Sea. Andrew starts looking around again, then coming to a stack of what looks like old journals, “Sean what are these books?” “I am not sure they were in a box in my attic or at least that is what my last help said. That can be your job on Monday to figure out where they

go.” “Well then I will take one for the weekend and during my breaks in my homework I will review it and see were it goes then.”Andrew says while holding one of the journals and inspecting its cover. As much time as Andrew has spent around books he knows these journals are about 50 to 70 years old. “Sounds good to me.” Seans says. “Well I should go now. I will see you on Monday Sean.” Andrew says while placing the journal he was looking at in his backpack. “Thank you again.” “See you on Monday Andrew and you have a great weekend.” Sean says as Andrew leaves. “You too Sean.” Andrew returns to his car and continues his little trip. As he turns down another country road that will take him to the back side of Canyon Ferry and back to Helena, he starts to wonder and worry about his history assignment. Just about the time he starts to lose his concentration a deer runs out in the road, right in front of him. Andrew slams on the brakes and skidds to a stop. As for the deer it just stands there looking at him as if to say, „are you crazy?‟ But as it is said, „most miricles come as a surpris.‟ Andrew looks around to see if everything is okay. „Thank goodness there is no one else on the road.‟ Andrew says to himself. Pulling to the side of the road Andrew gets out of the car to make sure everything is okay. As Andrew gets out the deer finally decides to move on. Andrew after checking everything opens the trunk a grabs a can of A&W then gets back into the car. He notices that some of the sontents from his backpack have fallen out on the floor. Leaning over to put everything back into the pack he finds the journal from Sean‟s bookshop opened. A sense of wonder comes over him as he reads the date on the top right of the left page. The date read September 10th 1947 and the following is written, „Waiting in England, maybe tomorrow or never shall be my first jump.‟ At reading this Andrew‟s head shoots up, looking out the windshield something has rattled his memory. The date of September 1947, jump. Andrew starts to rumage throught his bag to find the book he bought at Hastings. Excitedly flipping through the pages, bingo... Operation Market Garden started September 17th 1947. This journal entry was written seven days before. Andrew coulld not contain his trill as he pulled up the journal and inspects the cover again. On the bottom part of the cover is written SGT. S. O‟Hannan. Opening the journal again to the same page Andrew reads on. This is what is written. September 10th 1947

Waiting in England, maybe tomorrow or maybe never shall be my first jump. We arrived yesterday to replace those killed or wonded. It is not easy. We have recieved the unit citation for the unit‟s service at Normandy. Some of the Originals are offended by us bes getting this award and wearing it. I understand because it makes me feel like a liar to wear something I have not personally earned. So I hide it away. Again nothing during mail call for me. The food isn‟t bad but then again they are celebrating victory. Today I wrote a letter to my parents and my sister Mary. Hopefully I will get a letter in return by the time we move to a new place. Lastly it is raining again and that makes it easier to tell the difference between the vets and us greens. They walk around as if it were the middle of summer and their eyes are... well I will explain later when I understand. For now. S. O‟Hannan „Is this it? Is this what I am looking for?‟ Andrew thinks to himself. Andrew flips to the last page and finds the date November 7th 1947 and a letter. Opening the letter he reads the following. April 8th 1951 Dear Mr. O‟Hannan; My dear how I miss you. As you are in Chosen and I am here in Japan, things here are still bad and hard. Though I know you have no way to contact me I Love You. The children are good and studying hard. I wish you return soon. Love Chiyo Ota „This O‟Hannan was married to a Japanese woman, was in the Korean War as well as World War II!‟ Andrew wonders. As he continues to ponderwho this S. O‟Hannan is and then comes to the conclusion that this man, the man who wrote this journal would be the person he would write about in his report.