Ashland grad Greg Gorrell book signing on campus April 23 for “Vietnam: Survival There & Home"
Chapter 1: Viet Cong Enemy Approaching, describes a February 1967 night during the Vietnam War in his newly published book, “Vietnam: Survival There & Home," that Ashland University alumnus Greg Gorrell (’73) will never forget.
After a radio call from the watch tower of “an undetermined number of enemy approaching,” Gorrell and a fellow soldier, who were the only ones in their unit awake, sounded the alarm without their captain’s approval to fire off “illumination” rounds to light up the sky to see what was coming and for the mortar gunners to get to the mortar pit “NOW.”
“Once the VC (Viet Cong) were discovered by the illumination rounds, they knew what else would be coming and likely withdrew back into the jungle and beyond,” Gorrell wrote in his book. Or “the result could have been the eradication of our entire unit.”
“Once this night was over, for me – and I suspect of others in our unit – the reality and serious nature of the war fully set in,” Gorrell also wrote in this opening chapter, the only one of the 30 in his book that isn’t sequential.
Like Gorrell’s book, this article will be arranged in sequence except for the next few paragraphs, which we will call Chapter 1: Book Signings Approaching.
Gorrell will begin his barrage of book signings at Ashland University’s Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Resource Center on Wednesday, April 23, from noon to 2 p.m., followed by similar events at Hot Shots Shooting Center in Ashland at 2112 Baney Road (May 3), Ashland Public Library (May 10 and 22) and Ashland County Historical Society (May 22).
With all those events approaching fast, Gorrell realized on Tuesday, April 15 that he should order more books NOW.
“I ordered 500, but I’m down to 350 and I haven’t had any book signings yet,” said the 80-year-old retiree. “I have friends who knew I was writing the book and want copies. I’m speaking at my former employer, Spring Smith Insurance Co., so there’s 13 books. A man who relieved my unit in Vietnam wanted 15 books. I just shipped those to him yesterday.
“Hot Shots Shooting Center wants me to drop off five books for presales and the Historical Society wants 25,” added Gorrell, who has done several interviews with local media recently to promote his book signings. “It takes about two weeks for delivery, and some of those events are coming up pretty soon.”
Gorrell then ordered another 400 books.
Chapter 2: How Did I Get Here?, of his book also works for a “chapter” of this article.
In his book, chapter two begins his life journey, followed by chapters three through 18 describing how he ended up in Vietnam with the U.S. Army and his experiences there.
It is best if you read his book to find out about this time in his life.
His book, which is available only in paperback and only through Gorrell or his book signings, costs $20 to cover the cost of its production. Any additional proceeds will go to American Veterans Appreciation Events – Ashland.
Most of this article’s “chapter” involves talking about his time as a student at Ashland University, Ashland College then. He has been heavily involved with AU, the Ashland community and his church throughout much of his life.
Gorrell grew up in Ashland and stayed in town for college after high school even though he said he wasn’t ready. His mother had just died from cancer and his father was suffering from heart issues.
Doing poorly academically and making some other poor decisions, Gorrell said he was asked to leave Ashland College and, with that, lost his military draft deferment.
When he returned from Vietnam, Gorrell said he knew he needed an education and was grateful Ashland College gave him a second chance, graduating with an accounting/finance degree.
“Had I not been able to come back, I’m not sure what the outcome would’ve been,” he said.
More about this is covered in his 23rd chapter, which it and the previous four chapters also cover his struggles returning to civilian life.
Chapter 28 Memorial Day Address – 2016, includes the speech he gave after the annual Ashland Memorial Day Parade, the first time he talked about his Vietnam War experiences publicly.
For many years, he didn’t go to Memorial Day parades because of the mostly negative way Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home from the war. Instead he recognized Memorial Day in his own private way.
A return trip to Vietnam with his two sons in early 2016 (chapter 27) and other circumstances (see Chapters 24, 25 and 26) helped him decide to eventually attend Memorial Day parades and finally tell his story publicly on Memorial Day 2016.
“I was never going to do this,” Gorrell said pointing to his book during the interview for this article’s “chapter.” “Memorial Day services are one thing, but when you’re writing a book about your personal journey regarding the good, the bad and the ugly, you’re exposing yourself to not only your strengths, but also your weaknesses – and I had plenty of those. I talk about them in the book.”
Chapter 29: Faith, Forgiveness, Redemption, Recovery, Healing.
Friend Ralph Tomassi, who is retired from AU after a long career at the college, was the first person to say he should write a book about a year ago, Gorrell said.
After talking with his wife and six adult children about it, Gorrell decided to go for it and dedicate it “to deceased and surviving Vietnam veterans and their families.”
“If this book is read by a Vietnam veteran who has never talked about the war and it helps him, perfect,” Gorrell said. “If it will help a widow or a spouse of a Vietnam veteran who doesn’t know much about her husband’s experience, this may help them understand.”
Gorrell said he hopes his book will also “help anyone who has suffered from war, trauma, rape, physical assault or any other form of abuse.”
When asked how happy he was with how “Vietnam: Survival There & Home.” turned out, Gorrell told this interviewer to read Chapter 30, Reflections, but only after reading the rest of the book.
“The ultimate purpose of the book is about finding faith and hope and forgiveness – and healing,” Gorrell said. “This is not ‘just another war story.’ The war triggered the events in my life and impacted me to work toward finding my way back (to faith, hope, forgiveness and healing).”