This Scuttlebutt is true.
I hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to the crisp Fall weather, time with friends, and a good football season for your favorite team. We’ve been through quite a whirlwind since May, which was just starting to settle down before our September rugby matches started up. Yes, both my son and daughter play rugby!
In May, my husband and I spent two weeks in Thailand and Singapore, then were at Wrightsville Beach, NC, the Adirondacks in NY, and Ireland.
Although my father and grandparents had traveled to the Far East, this was my first time experiencing it. The journey was long—22 hours in total—starting in Charlotte, with stops in Boston and Qatar, before finally landing in Bangkok. During our brief layover in Qatar, it became evident that we had entered a different, more exotic corner of our world.
Thailand. 🇹🇭
We visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Despite it being the “shoulder season” (or rainy season), we were lucky enough to avoid any rain. I was struck by how kind the Thai people are—both to visitors and to one another. This was active travel; we walked, ran, biked, hiked, and kayaked. The food was delicious, and if we had stayed any longer, I think we would have gained a few pounds trying everything.
Singapore. 🇸🇬
After touring Thailand, we traveled to Singapore for the 2024 Rotary International Conference, which felt like the Olympics. More than 14,000 Rotarians from the U.S. and around the world attended.
Singapore is immaculately clean, and the metro system is just as spotless and efficient. Everywhere we went, the city was bursting with greenery. Our hotel and the surrounding buildings were adorned with outdoor plants, both at ground level and on multiple floors. Singapore is also making strides to become the sixth official “Blue Zone” for longevity, focusing on creating a more walkable, biking and runner-friendly environment.
Given my love of history, I had to explore Singapore’s significant role in WWII. We visited the National Museum of Singapore, and I also took time to see the WWII War Memorial, which was conveniently located near our hotel. As you may know, the Japanese occupation was particularly harsh on Singapore during WWII.
It was interesting to learn how Singapore carefully rebuilt itself after they officially gained independence in 1965. And, yes, its airport is pretty amazing.
Ireland. 🇮🇪
In August, we got our kids off to college, and jumped on a plane for Ireland to celebrate our friend’s 60th birthday. He is from Dublin, and we had a fun time with his family and friends in Dublin, Wexford and Roundstone! The crew from the US drank a lot of Guinness🍺. In fact, many Irish people of all ages drink it as well. I have to say … I prefer a good Irish Whiskey like my grandfather. 🤣 🥃
The Book
I am still working to break the silence and promote this history, and finally got permission from our publisher to do an e-book of my original (edited) manuscript, which will be a companion to Old Breed General. Cheers to that!
2024 Author Talks
We had a wonderful time speaking at Charlotte’s Southminster Retirement Community in April, and will be speaking at Charlotte’s Cypress Retirement Community in celebration of Veterans Day on November 11. The day after the Marine Corps 249th Birthday! 🇺🇸
The Pacific War Channel
In August, this YouTube channel released a documentary of General Rupertus, based on previous interviews Don and I did with them in 2022. It is good. Though, it was one of my first few interviews. Thankfully Don, an attorney and my co author, is a pro at speaking. I am slowly getting better. The “Old Breed” General Rupertus USMC Full Documentary has already had 9K+ views: https://youtu.be/LJWgG66Iank?si=QeTIsZgMkhKWXWuT
A Special Note to Vietnam Veterans
Ahh, how I wish my Dad was alive to share his knowledge and experience in war with me. He died in 1991 of Agent Orange related cancer, yet I still miss him -and think of him every day.
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In addition to WWII and Korea War vets, I’ve have had the honor to meet so many Vietnam War Vets on this book journey, and even a Vietnam Veteran, Kirk Hauser, who served with my father in Chu Lai, and created a PDF for my sisters and me to understand a difficult operation they worked through in Vietnam.
Thankfully, there are books coming out about the Vietnam War to give me glimpses of what it was like for our father and other Vietnam Veterans.
This year my friend Tracy Himes Smith published a book called Pennies from Vietnam: A Sister at Home, a Brother at War about her brother Larry’s experience in the Army’s 1stCalvaryDiv and his 99 letters home. It is a good read I recommend it – though it’s brutally tough at times.
I also read a book called “The Women” by Kristin Hannah about women nurses in Vietnam and the surgeons and aviators they knew. Like Tracy’s book, this gives a clear vision of what hell our men and women who served in Vietnam went through at war, and when they got home.
God Bless You Vietnam Veterans. ❤️
Recent Blog Posts you can find on site:
The Critics: https://amyrupertuspeacock.com/the-critics-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
Rupertus’s Roots Began in Germany: https://amyrupertuspeacock.com/general-rupertus-roots-began-in-germany/
A Tenacity of Purpose -Original Manuscript Summary: https://amyrupertuspeacock.com/a-tenacity-of-purpose/
And, in case you missed it:
Who is General Rupertus? https://amyrupertuspeacock.com/who-is-major-general-rupertus-and-why-did-i-want-to-write-this-book/
In closing, please reach out to me with your thoughts and questions. And, share the news of our Old Breed General book!
I will continue to post videos from the Pacific, etc on his YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MajGenRupertus
On Facebook? Please connect. I have a Facebook group for the book where I share photos, thoughts and intel about our grandfather and WWII Pacific: https://www.facebook.com/groups/majgenrupertus
Best regards and Semper Fidelis,
Amy
