OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, December 30, 2017-January 2, 2018 The Park Record C-3 Continued from C-2 Biography is about a local WW II veteran One of those atrocities was the practice of collecting “war trophies.” “Back during World War II, in order to dehumanize the Japanese, there was a common trend of (Americans) bringing home skulls of a dead Japanese soldier,” Zuckerman said. “These were known as ‘trophy skulls.’” Another atrocity was cannibalism of prisoners by their captors, Zuckerman said. “These things kind of get swept under the rug and ignored in history classes, but these were some of the things that my subject touched on,” he said. Throughout the interviews and his research, Zuckerman also saw how the media covered the war. “We know now that the depictions of that war that have been portrayed by the media as a clean war where the soldiers were perceived as more virtuous than the later wars, particularly in the Vietnam era,” he said. “I think that has to do with the fact that there was no news footage like what we had during the Vietnam era where it was on TV.” While those elements show up in the book, Zuckerman had a clear goal of what he wanted to do with the story. “My initial goal was to tell my subject’s story in a first-person biography,” he said. “I wanted to be nonjudgmental and stay impartial and tell about his PTSD that followed him throughout his life for 70 years.” To do this, Zuckerman also interviewed many of the surviving members of his subject’s battalion and waded through government documents. “It was a joy talking with these men, and to be able to tell the stories of even those who only played just a little bit in the war,” he said. His subject’s family also gave Zuckerman full access to all the letters the veteran sent home. “His daughter had a scrapbook her son found in the garage,” Zuckerman said. “To this day, I have the letters in my possession. I excerpted them in the book.” Zuckerman is grateful for the trust the family had in him. “Even through the interviews, his daughter never asked me what her father told me,” he said. In addition, Zuckerman interviewed his subject’s psychologist. “He gave me permission to interview her and said she could tell me all the things he divulged to her,“ Zuckerman said. “But he didn’t give me permission to tell her what he had told me.” The last interview Zuckerman did with his subject took place more than four years ago. “It was quite poignant, because our relationship had come almost full circle, much to my disappointment if you will,” Zuckerman said. “As we kept peeling back the layers of his story, things became Iceland and China 18 v4.pdf 2 12/21/2017 12:51:39 PM IMAGE COURTESY OF SUNBURY PRESS Scott Zuckerman’s “Dreams of My Comrades: The Story of MM1C Murray Jacobs” is a biography about a World War II veteran that suffered from post traumatic stress disorder for 70 years. more and more uncomfortable. And at one point the discomfort on his part led him to withdraw, and we, once more talked about superficial things. He lived a few months longer after our last interview, but we never talked about the war again.” Still, Zuckerman is happy with how the book turned out. “At its core it’s my subject’s biography,” he said. “It’s also the story of the relationship we formed, and it’s also the story of my own journey in seeking out the truth.” Zuckerman said reconciling truth and history was his biggest challenge. “One of the important elements of the book is that history isn’t always what we think it is,” he said. “My research took me to different accounts with multiple eyewitnesses who gave different stories. And there were also times when I came upon willful distortion of the facts.” Those findings leads Zuckerman to believe the book is pertinent to the modern day. “Even thought it’s set in World War II, we are now facing the term ‘alternative facts,’ but there have always been alternative facts,” he said. After winning the Utah Arts & Museum’s 2015 Utah Original Writing Competition, Zuckerman shopped the book around and landed at Sunbury Press. “I am grateful for the support of my subject’s family and my wife,” he said. “The book couldn’t have been completed without them.” For information about Scott Zuckerman’s “Dreams of My Comrades: The Story of MM1C Murray Jacobs,” visit Sunburypressstore.com and Amazon.com. June 23July 6 ,2018 Led by Dr. Windy Zhao, University of Utah Architect Any trip to China must include the C Forbidden City and the Great Wall, but few M include the simple beauty and rich culture Y of the Yunnan Province in rural China CM where time seems to freeze in the past. MY This educational tour focuses on Chinese CY history, architecture, and culture of CMY imperial, modern, and rural China. This tour K includes the must-see sites in China as well as eight World Heritage Sites, six historic towns and villages in the Yunnan Province and along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Gain a profound understanding of Chinese history and culture on this cultural adventure of a lifetime. WITH THE golearn.utah.edu | 801.581.6980 HAPPY LOCATION, LOCATION, HOLIDAYS & NEW YEAR HAPPY TO ALL OUR CLIENTS & FRIENDS OF PARK CITY! PC HANDY HELP MARK NEWMAN CONSTRUCTION LOCATION. Immaculate townhome on Daly Avenue in the heart of Old Town. Three bedrooms, two 1/2 bathrooms, featuring a spacious master suite with its own deck, jetted tub, separate shower and walk-in closet. The kitchen has custom cabinetry, granite counters and backsplash, as well as stainless steel appliances. Lovely yard backs to open space with a Trex patio and electrical ready for a hot tub. Large storage area under stairs that locks is perfect for those who plan to rent nightly, or extra toy storage for full-time living. 10% OFF with this ad (Up to $500 • Handy man services only • Must present ad) Park City Handy Help, LLC Repair & Remodel Specialists Licensed & Insured Cell: 435.655.5376 pchandyhelp@gmail.com Post Office Box 681198 • Park City, Utah 84098 125 DALY AVE Adorable, light and bright turn-key Non Historic Old Town Property. One car garage, great floor plan, private back yard. $987,500 NO HOA FEES! Chateaux Realty Deer Valley Valley •• Park City • Canyons Canyons Meet Sara Werbelow, Principal Broker and President, Park City Board of Realtors and Melissa Band, Associate Broker, ABR, RSPS, SRS. They bring impeccable expertise, service, and savvy to the table. ChateauxRealtyParkCity.com | 435.940.3100 |