“Pennies From Vietnam: A Sister at Home, A Brother at War’ covers something that a vast number of American families encounter but rarely discuss – intergenerational trauma in the face of war and conflict.
In her debut book release, Pennies from Vietnam, Tracy Smith unveils a timeless narrative that resonates deeply with families touched by the silent reverberations of war. Through her brother Larry’s service in the Vietnam War, Tracy witnessed firsthand how war reshapes families. Now, 55 years later, Tracy has written a compelling account of resilience, where lingering love, truth, and trauma pay tribute to American families exposed to the brutalities of war.
Larry’s promise to send pennies home becomes a symbolic thread woven through Tracy’s exhaustive decade-long research. Through his 99 letters to his family back home in New Jersey, she discovers a boy she does not recognize. Tracy researched Larry’s military service in excruciating detail through endless record requests and searches for soldiers. She tracked down and interviewed some of Larry’s crew members and closest friends, bringing her brother’s stories to life. She found his best friend, who had searched for Larry for 48 years. She found the Air Force pilot who rescued him, but never met him. Tracy also found Miss America 1967, Jane Jayroe Gamble, who wrote in her diary about Larry the same day he wrote about showing off, as he unloaded 48 rockets into the side of a mountain in a show of 1st Cavalry bravado so the beauty queen would feel protected. They also never met.
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“As it would be for any younger sister, my brother was my hero. But when he came home from Vietnam everything about him was different,” said Tracy. “Larry would never share what was troubling him and just how much, so I’ve always had so many questions. I needed to put the pieces together to understand my brother’s sacrifice.”
As an aging veteran, Larry encountered many physical repercussions of trauma that aren’t often part of the public’s understanding. Mental health practitioners now realize that emotional trauma can manifest physically in our bodies, not just in our minds. That is evidenced by Larry’s tragic ending, inserted throughout the book in a unique trauma-responsive, second-person form.
Dr. Holly Richmond, Somatic Psychotherapist and Author of “Reclaiming Pleasure,” reflects on the story, noting, “Larry’s letters are poignant not only because of what he said but because of what he didn’t say…trauma is a creeping weed, the unattended roots of which can smother families for generations…”
Pennies from Vietnam includes anecdotes from Larry’s peers and loved ones who lived through that volatile era, while also providing a detailed account of what it was like for a teenage boy to fight in the Vietnam War at the height of the conflict. The story relates to both past and present military efforts and opens important discussions between the frontlines of combat and the Homefront the young soldiers left behind.
“I don’t have the words to articulate how this story has affected me. As an active military sailor, I feel akin to Larry, unable to articulate the complexity of emotions that swirl inside. They demand expression while being denied the tools or words to do so. Know that Larry’s story of silent pain is echoed in service members today and stories like his need to be told, said U.S. Navy Active Duty Servicemember, CTR1 Russ Sampson.
Vietnam veteran Roger Scarbrough, who drove from Georgia to North Carolina to get the book said this is “every soldiers story.” He read the book in a weekend.
Pennies from Vietnam is not just a historical account but a poignant exploration of patriotism, naivete, and the enduring impacts of unspoken trauma. Tracy’s narrative appeals to veterans, military families, active-duty service members, and anyone captivated by powerful family stories.
As co-author of Old Breed General, Amy Peacock states, “the reader takes a front seat to the bravery, camaraderie, and harsh realities of war. The portrayal of combat’s boredom, danger, and utter brutality, offers a raw and honest look at the soldiers’ internal struggles and effects on the family.”
Tracy’s fortitude to finish this book in the middle of the pandemic was a result of her own healing process from trauma. She gives credit to the Army buddies she found and befriended who kept her going through years of research and numerous edits to depict the whole truth.
“I wrote this book because I believe that when our stories go untold, we feed the monster that is trauma,” said Tracy, adding, “With the help of his long-lost friends, I am sharing my brother’s story now because he never could.”
Pennies from Vietnam is available at www.PenniesfromVietnam.com by McFarland Publishing Company, Jefferson, N.C. For more information, appearances, or interviews with Tracy Smith, contact TracySmithMathis@gmail.com.
