Dear Douglas,

I have thought of you, your incredible performance, the gift of The American Soldier, over and over again. My father joined the Marines at the tender age of 17 and fought on the sands of lwo Jima at 19. From my earliest childhood, I was always aware that my father fought on some hot, volcanic island called lwo Jima and I learned of the horror of war by his accounting. My father would tell me that war was all about waste. Waste of materials, equipment, resources, and the greatest of all, the waster of human life.

And battles like lwo Jima, wasted the youngest of men. Young men never given the chance to seed the next generation.

My father never held any hatred for the Japanese, but rather always held a collective sense with all humankind that had experienced the horrific power of war. My father's ability to share his wartime experiences was a gift, but many veterans are unable to, they are numbed into silence from what they witnessed on the battlefields.

That is why, your play The American Soldier, which I had the privilege of attending this past Veterans' Day contains a most powerful portrayal of the voices of veterans who need to be heard. You executed it with a dynamic, multi­-character performance, your spellbinding captivation gives a voice and presence to the American Soldier. Thank you, Douglas Taurel, for your willingness to share your craft and theatrical expertise, and bring the audience to its feet in a well deserved standing ovation. Thank you!

Cynthia Blackburn Robotham,
Daughter of Iwo Jima Veteran and wife to a Vietnam Veteran

These are images of Cynthia’s father which she shared with me. He’s in the second row with goggles, and the post card is a card he wrote and drew to be sent back home.