Central Michigan University

CMU prof pens novel based on Vietnam experiences

Monday, February 25, 2008

Topics in this story: American politics and society, Arts and entertainment, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Creative endeavors, People, School of Music, World politics and culture

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Media Contact(s):

Lindsay Allen
989-774-7327

Program Contact(s):

Tim Caldwell
989-774-1967 or caldw1jt@cmich.edu

It's quite a departure from his usual subject matter and writing style, but one Central Michigan University faculty member's latest writing project tells a story that has been inside him for decades.

"The Chaplain's Assistant: God, Country, and Vietnam," the first novel by Timothy Caldwell, CMU School of Music professor of voice, recently was published by iUniverse under his pen name, JT Caldwell.

Caldwell says he was a "closet veteran" for 25 years after his time in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972, including a stint as a chaplain's assistant in 1970 in Vietnam, and "it took a good therapist to break through my usual excuses for not talking about the war. 'The Chaplain's Assistant: God, Country, and Vietnam' is the story that emerged."

Caldwell was drafted into the Army as he was preparing to move to Iowa and teach at the University of Dubuque &mdash a position that would have excused him from military service, had his release paperwork not gotten lost.

Because he is best known as a vocal professor and director of music theatre at CMU and as a performer, clinician and author in the music world, Caldwell said "it has come as a shock to many of my colleagues and students that I also am a Vietnam veteran, let alone that I have written a book on the subject."

And while his military service occurred several decades ago, Caldwell said the book has proven timely due to current U.S. military involvement overseas.

"People have pointed out that the book has been issued at a time when many people have drawn parallels between the war in Iraq and the war in Vietnam," he said. "While the current war was not the reason I wrote the book, I was very aware of the similarities between them. This is particularly true as I hear and read about the treatment of soldiers returning from Iraq and how their families are often at a loss to understand the changes in their loved ones."

He also said he's been told that the book, while a novel, "should be required reading for families of veterans" because of the perspectives of war that it offers. But that cannot be much of a surprise to Caldwell, who called the writing process "a cathartic sort of thing. I tried to write in a way that dealt with the emotional issues."

"The Chaplain's Assistant" can be ordered by any bookstore or ordered online.

In addition, a book signing is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. March 14 at Book Mark, 2200 S. Mission in Mount Pleasant.

To learn more about the book, visit http://www.thechaplainsassistant.com. For more information about Caldwell, visit http://www.mus.cmich.edu/faculty/timothy_caldwell.htm.

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