Local veteran giving back to others who have served with book sales
By Charles Christian
A retired army colonel and Vietnam veteran is selling the stories he has written about veterans to help others who have served.
Milt Toratti has written over 140 books chronicling the lives of military veterans from the Civil War onward. He is going on a local book tour over the next three months, and all of the proceeds will go toward the Missouri Veterans Assistance League in Cameron.
“Supporting veterans is pretty darn important,” Toratti said. “Currently, the Cameron Veterans Home needs help with transportation — they really need a new van. They also have other needs.”
The three books featured on the tour include stories from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. A fourth book is a “how to” guide to writing the kinds of oral histories Toratti has been writing for nearly 70 years. They sell for $20 each, but Toratti said he never charges veterans or their families for writing their stories. Thanks to an arrangement with Amazon Publishing, the sales from these four books can go to support local veterans.
“I write all of these books for free,” Toratti said. “It’s a passion, not a business.”
Along with some local sponsors who have helped with signs for the tour, a fellow veteran, Ron Stufflebean, has agreed to assist Toratti during his currently scheduled thirteen stops over the next few months.
“It’s important for young people to learn these stories,” Stufflebean said. “These stories are also helpful for other veterans, because it gives us insight about aspects of the wars we wouldn’t normally get.”
Both veterans hope the work inspires others to carry on the legacy of telling the stories of real people, including but not limited to, military veterans.
“I hope that even school kids will take a closer look at these books,” Toratti said. “They may find a passion early in their lives like I did to tell the living history of others. There may be someone right across the dinner table from them whose story needs to be told.”
Currently, there are thirteen stops on the book tour, beginning July 12, at Roger’s Pharmacy, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The books are available through Amazon Publishing online, but there will be books for sale at the signing. The titles include “Secret War Soldiers: Abandoned but not Forgotten,” which are stories from Laos; “Honoring Veterans Forever,” which is a book on how to write personal histories; “Close to Frozen Earth and Closer to Death;” and “Serendipity Stories from the Greatest Generation.”
Inquiries and pre-orders can be directed to writetohonorveterans@gmail.com.
Tour dates:
July 12 — Rogers Pharmacy, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.
July 13 — Goin’ Postal (Car Show)
July 18 — St. Joseph Country Club Golf Course (all day)
Aug. 2 — Mozingo Golf Course, Maryville (all day)
Aug. 9 — Harley Davidson, St. Joseph
Sept. 11 — St. Joseph City Hall (9/11 Commemoration)
Sept. 28 — Jesse James Antique Mall
October TBA — Joyce Raye Patterson Center
October TBA — Reed Auto Center
Nov. 11 — Cameron Regional Medical Center
Two other dates TBA — Office Depot and Fraternal Order of Eagles
