Press Release - What happens to a young man who goes from the high school football field to find himself suddenly in a strange land, with the life and death responsibilities of keeping a wounded Marine alive? He is suddenly amputating legs and arms, trying to stop the bleeding of fallen comrades, trying somehow to keep them alive amid tracer rounds, mortars and rockets flying at him. How can a young man come home from this and then resume a normal life? How do you deal with the nightmares? How do you forget?

       The Names NOT on the Wall, (based on John “Doc” Hutchings’ tour with the Fighting Fifth Marines October 1968-1969) is a story of those Marines who lived because their “Doc” (a young Navy Corpsman) was there with them in the fight. He was there when rounds tore their flesh and limbs from their bodies. Based on actual experiences as a combat Corpsman, it describes Doc Bear’s metamorphosis from an unwilling Navy “squid” opposed to the war to becoming a “Doc”, face-to-face with war at its worst. He finds he deeply loves his Marines and would lay down his life for them as they would for him. He finds surprising courage as he runs to the wounded under fire or across mine fields trying to reach these 18-19 year old men in time to save their lives. Then, as quickly as he is submerged in war, he must learn to defuse when his tour is over.

       The scene is set in the steamy An Hoa Basin, Vietnam. Your own breathing will quicken as you tighten the tourniquet on the leg of your best friend who seconds ago was walking in front of you. Now he lays in pieces. Your adrenaline will pump when you hear the dreaded words, “Corpsman up!” You’ll know why Corpsmen still answer that call and why 2,051 names of the dead on the Wall in Washington, DC, are Navy Corpsmen and Army Medics.

       The story will make you sweat; the humor will touch your heart; the love will make you cry; and the blend of it all won’t let you put it down. This isn’t just a book about war, but of innocence shattered, a search for a just cause, and finally an answer to the nightmares.

       “Doc Bear” arrived in Vietnam frightened and reluctant. He left Vietnam decorated with medals and Purple Hearts, and found his own heart had drastically changed. The war had not ended for him as he had hoped and planned. Along with the medals came the guilt of surviving. All his relationships began coming unglued. Could there be an answer? Could life ever be normal again?

       This book will help bring closure and help halt the nightmares of so many Vietnam Vets who are still engaged in fighting their own wars. It will bring comfort to know there indeed was a cause, their fight was not in vain, and there can be an end to the nightmares. It will also help the wives and families of returning veterans understand the change in their loved ones and bring hope for their future!

      This book got my head "out of the sand"!, June 5, 2006

       Reviewer: M. E. Brewbaker (St. Augustine, Florida USA)

       Exhilirating and heart-wrenching! I could hardly put the book down once I got started. I went thru a roller coaster ride of emotions. I laughed, I cried. I actually thought I was THERE! Never has there been a book written like this one; from this unique point of view. WOW! Thanks to a very special "DOC" (the author), this book got my head "out of the sand" as to what I THOUGHT I knew about those who gave all in Vietnam and for those who still fight for our freedom around the world, but most of all for The Names NOT On The Wall!

       Best story of Navy FMF Corpsmen ever written, May 25, 2006

      Reviewer: Edward H. Harren "Ex Doc" (Ijamsville, Md. USA)

       Having been a Navy FMF Corpsman, and serving with the author, I can truly say that this is the most realistic and true to life story of the day to day life of the US Navy "Grunt" Corpsman. Johns' unique writing style and unbelievable ability to recall events that happened 37 years ago evoked many memories that have been deeply buried for decades.