Several times before his tragic and unnecessary death, my father, Lou Steinberg, encouraged me to make a book out of his World War II letters. He was then a US Marine enlisted man, briefly in boot camp and then shipped out to South Pacific combat zones for almost two years. During that time, he wrote to his family in New London, Connecticut, nearly every day.

After his death I decided to honor his wishes, but also to add my writings about our relationship -- when I turned against just about everything he believed in -- including the US war in Vietnam. In addition, I've chronicled the neglect that lead to his death, and named those who refuse to accept responsibility to this very day.

- Michael Steinberg