VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Thursday night, journalist Anne Montgomery promoted a new book in Knox County.
Montgomery discussed her new historical fiction book “Your Forgotten Sons” based on the true story of a Vincennes veteran from the Second World War.
The book follows the story of Bud Richardville joining the United States Army as a part of the Grave Registration Service. His unite was tasked with locating, identifying and burying the dead.
Montgomery was presented the story by her best friend Regina Liparoto, which is Bud’s niece. Liparoto gave Montgomery letters that Bud had written during his time in the Second World War, to help write the book.
“I got to know him through those letters, and I got to see how what he had to do, and war beat him down. And because you know we glorify so much of what happens in war the guys that do the shooting, guys that fly the planes. But these men what they did I don’t think anybody ever gave them any credit for it. So, Bud’s last letter home that I had was signed to his mother and it was signed ‘your forgotten son’. And so, then we realized that all of the men who served in the Graves Registration Service had been forgotten,” said Mongomery
Mongomery’s book isn’t just a way to honor Bud’s legacy, but a way to honor others with similar experiences. Bud was laid to rest in France and his remains never made it home. As far as they know, Bud has never had a true memorial service.
“That ‘your forgotten son’ line just never left me. Anybody who had to pick up bodies for two years body parts. You know a toe, foot, a finger, a head, you know you can’t, you know how do you go on? You know? And so, identifying those body parts he got to bring everybody else home, but he’s buried in France. And that’s been a mission of mine to get him home,” said Liparoto.
A memorial service for Bud will be held at the Indiana Military Museum on August 30, at 9:30 a.m.
To find out where you can purchase “Your Forgotten Son” or any of Montgomery’s other books, you can head to her website.
