I have produced numerous photographic books and albums for myself and clients over the last 20+ years. Add to that some children’s books using images of our cat, Webster, and one of Benny the whale learning to dance.
I didn’t set out to write We Regret To Inform You. It insisted I write it. Let me explain.
I was asked to come to Terrell, Texas, as the house from my last paternal aunt was being put up for sale. There were “things related to the Millers” that required my attention, her executrix and cousin Linda, told me. This was a wild understatement. Boxes and stacks covered the dining table and the floor space beneath the table.
Completely ovewhelmed I began to put aside things for my brother and me. Linda pushed two boxes in front of me. Upon opening them I found things I could never have imagined existed. My Aunt Dorothy, who apparently kept (hoarded) everything, had saved articles relating to her older brother, O.L. Jr., who was killed near St Lo in World War II. Those last two facts are all I new of him. His official military portrait showed a handome man who looked like my dad, just with fuller features. In front of me was his whole life. And death.
Like I said, overwhelmed. My first thought was to give it to the Terrell Heritage Society and let them sort it out. The first appearance of my Good Angel said, “You’re just overwhelmed. Keep it.”
Once we returned to Nevada I sorted through the letters from O. L. (Son) to his mom and sisters, documents relating to his time in the Army, even the telegram telling my grandparents their son had been killed in action.
Also inluded were some letters and documents related to our father. My first thought was to publish the letters and let the reader fill in the blanks. Good Angel said, “Your being lazy.” I whined that I didn’t know what to do. “Figure it out. Tell the story.”
I tried several times to make it easy but finally caved to the Good Angel and did the research. But how best to tell his (and their) story? I finally settled on using my grandmother to tell their tale, as I could relate as a mother. Hopefully I have successfully bridged the gap between fiction and nonfiction in a compelling way that honors our family.
We Regret To Inform You was a 5 year labor of love that involved photographing all the objects, documents, and letters related to O.L. Miller, Jr’s service in the United States Army. This astoundingly complete set of materials details the service history of this small town boy from East Texas from his induction, death in France, and repatriation.
Told from the viewpoint of a farmer’s wife in rural East Texas, the hardships related here surely played out all across the U.S. and even the world.
The artifacts are being donated to the World War Ii Veterans’ History Project where they will become part of a traveling display to honor these veterans and teach present and future generations of their sacrifice. Copies can be seen at the Terrell Heritage Society.
