John Hutchings
John “Doc Hutch” Hutchings served with Alpha Co. 1/5 1st Marine Division as an FMF Corpsman from Oct. 23, 1968-Oct 23, 1969. “The Names NOT on the Wall” was based on that final tour of duty.
The names of Sgt. Vincent Rios, Lauren Stuckenschmidt, Eddie Harren and Steve Brit weren’t changed and were used with permission. The events involving them are as exact as can be remembered after 36 years of trying to forget. “Doc Bear” was based on my own experiences; though, for entertainment purposes, some were enhanced or borrowed from the experiences of other Corpsmen I knew or served with.
Doc has had several songs and poems published including “From a Doc’s Point of View”, “Dear Field Med Instructor,” and “The Corpsman and the Wall”, which inspired this novel.
Purple Heart Magazine, Always Faithful, Leatherneck Magazine, and several other magazines and newsletters have honored “Doc” by publishing his works. Organizations have used them as part of their programs, either reading them in presentations or printing them on the program.
John is a retired business owner residing in Central Florida and is currently working on a second novel, “Point Man”.
Post traumatic stress disorder is so prevalent in our returning troops from current and past wars, I felt compelled to write “The Names NOT on the Wall”. It explains how war really is (warts and all) to help both the veterans and their loved ones to better understand why the man/woman they kissed goodbye was not the same as the one they kissed and welcomed home.
You can find more information on Vince Rios at http://www.vnvdv.com/rios.htm