The National League of POW/MIA Families is an American organisation incorporated in 1970 to obtain the release of all prisoners, establish the fullest possible account for the missing and secure the repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died during the Vietnam War. Each year there is a fundraising event in Washington DC. I was recently contacted by a member of the League asking if I would donate a signed copy of Perking the Pansies to be auctioned off to help raise some cash. I have to admit that I was surprised and not a little intrigued. How did a book about a couple of old homos living in a faraway Muslim land (and written in a peculiarly British carry-on style) come to the attention of a Yankee society with serious business on its mind? I was told that someone specifically requested it. Good enough for me I thought and off it went in the post. Let’s hope the book raises a couple of bucks for the cause.
Perking the Pansies 
. . there have been some interesting and heartwarming reconciliations and friendships between old adversaries that have grown out of this scheme, with a number of ex-US/Oz servicemen choosing to make Vietnam their home.
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After I received the request, I did a bit of digging and found out what a conciliatory, non-jingoistic organisation it was. I’m still surprised that they wanted the book, though. I wonder how much it will raise? Tuppence ha’penny, probably.
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Reblogged this on perkingthepansies and commented:
Earlier today I suffered from a premature slip of the wrist and mucked up the publication of Going Once, Going Twice. So, I’m re-blogging the post. Please ignore this if you’ve already seen it. Apologies from knackered of Norwich.
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Not a bad repeat. Oopsie about the wrist. It happens…
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Especially at my age!
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