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Soul Survivor
Lara’s Story
I would rather die a meaningful death than to live a meaningless life.
Corazon Aquino
Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.
William Shakespeare
CONTENTS
Disaster
Poor Little Rich Girl
A Sad Day in July
In God We Trust
School Days
The Countess and Princess
Sad Lara
Boarding School
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle
Born in the USA
Opportunity Knocks
Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
Kidnapped
Diamonds Are Forever
Lara’s Karma
Trust, but verify
Flower Power
Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out
Summer of Love
Monterey
Good Morning Vietnam
Hamburger Hill
Farewell My Love
Bend Me Shape Me
House of Lords
Give Ireland Back to the Irish
The Iron Lady
New Labour
The Final Chapter
Author’s Previous Titles
The Other Side of the Trench – The Spirit of War
Brothers in Arms
Escape – True Accounts of POW Escapes
Red Lights on the Somme
You Forgot the Sauce – An Alzheimer’s Journey You Won’t Forget
Survival – An Americans Family’s Odyssey Through Two World Wars
Boy’s Own War – Boy Warriors Fighting Through the Ages
Acknowledgements
Anna for being my wife.
Sheelagh Wedgeman For a great edit
Desma Paccito For another fantastic cover
Ian Irvine For input on the music scene of the mid to late sixties
Preview Readers:
Kim Krarup
Jane Sexton
Rebekah Grubb
Ian Jones
David Needum
Cenred Harmsworth
Disaster
Chapter 1
July 1948
Jack and Anna had been planning the family holiday at Chesapeake since war’s end when they discovered the entire family had survived the horrors of the shocking conflict in Europe and the Pacific.
Julie and Harry were taking time off from their medical practice in London and flying to New York then on to Washington. From there they would meet Tom and Peter and drive to Chesapeake. They decided to leave Lara with her nanny as they felt the trip would be too arduous.
Lucy, the matriarch of the family, was now seventy-one yet quite active, and had been living at the Chesapeake beach house since the death of her husband, Gene.
On 3rd July the family all arrived at the house; it was the first time in years that the clan had got together for a holiday.
At six that evening Anna summoned everybody to meet in the summer room overlooking the bay. She asked Peter to pop the corks on two bottles of 1928 vintage Krug. Joe, her first husband, had been storing it in the wine cellar below the house for many years.
‘I would like everybody to charge their glasses. Here’s to the Doherty family – long may we live.’
‘Hear, hear!’ They all raised their glasses.
‘Mother, this Champagne is magnificent where on earth did you find it?’ asked Tom.
‘My little secret darling. But I can tell you there’s more where that came from.’
Jack rose and proposed another toast.
‘Here’s to my father Joe and my stepfather Gene – may they both rest in peace.’
‘Thank you, darling.’ His mother smiled.
After the toasts were over, they moved into the dining room where Sarah, the maid had set a beautiful table.
The meal was excellent and included seafood and roast loin of lamb. The wine was Californian.
‘Well everybody, it wasn’t too long ago that I was sitting in the dust with my bowl and a handful of rice. When I was marched through the gates of River Valley Road Camp my weight was one hundred and eighty pounds. When I was liberated I was down to ninety pounds and here I am with the people I love most in the world eating fine food and drinking excellent wine. I thank God I am alive. By the way, I now weigh one hundred and seventy pounds.’ Tom had a tear in his eye.
‘A toast to Tom.’ Lucy held her glass up, and everybody followed her lead.
‘Unfortunately, Julie and I can tell a very similar story to Tom’s. All we would like to say is we are very happy to be with you all. And alive.’ Harry said.
‘May I suggest we retire to the lounge room? I have another surprise for you all.’
The family did as requested. Waiting for them were brandy balloons and a very impressive bottle of cognac.
Tom announced, ‘This bottle of cognac has been in our cellar for as long as I remember, unopened. It is Louis XIII. I quote Louis XIII’s cellarmaster Pierrette Trichet who said, as he held a crystal glass filled with amber liquid, “It’s one century in a glass. The idea is to be very humble in front of this glass and pay respect because it represents the effort and the know-how of one century.”’
‘Peter, may I ask you to pour a glass for each of us please?’
‘Certainly, Mother.’
‘Tomorrow I have arranged to take the launch out on the bay. We’ll enjoy our 4th of July lunch cruising. I have asked Joe Wilcox to act as skipper so we can enjoy ourselves without worrying about steering the boat, as it were.’
Gradually the family retired to their bedrooms except for Peter and Tom.
‘How are your legs holding up, Pete?’
‘Yeah, they’re OK. I get pain when it gets cold.’
‘You’d better move to California then.’
‘That’s not such a bad idea, Tom. I’m seriously thinking of doing just that.’
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, I’m thinking of leaving the Marines and enrolling at Stanford. I want to do a post-grad in neurosurgery.’
‘Wow, that’s a big one. Why neurosurgery?’
‘I