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The Girl in the Photo
What happens when a stranger steps out of a photograph? More U.S. troops died in Vietnam in May 1968 than during any other month of the war. Among the casualties was the author’s brother. Not yet born, the author would come to know his brother only through photos. The one with “the girl” always stood out. No one remembered the girl’s name, or knew where to find her. For more than forty years, she remained a mystery. Then the past came calling. “The Girl in the Photo” is the story of a man’s search for the brother he never knew—the truth about how his brother had lived, and how he had died—and the lessons he learned along the way: about love, loss, and coming to terms with the past.
Gaspar González has written for, among others, The Miami Herald, Village Voice Media, and Grantland. His film credits include the PBS documentary Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami. He earned his Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University.
Cover design by Evan Twohy.
Gaspar González has written for, among others, The Miami Herald, Village Voice Media, and Grantland. His film credits include the PBS documentary Muhammad Ali: Made in Miami. He earned his Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University.
Cover design by Evan Twohy.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2015
145 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 25, 2018
Easy to read ~ Heartwarming story
What a great short story. Very easy to read with lots of details from the past. The ending brought tears to my eyes. ❤️
What a great short story. Very easy to read with lots of details from the past. The ending brought tears to my eyes. ❤️
January 20, 2017
Very suspenseful.
it kept me reading. It's has a very historical background as what happened during those times. A very good book. quick read.
it kept me reading. It's has a very historical background as what happened during those times. A very good book. quick read.
January 11, 2018
Sad but beautiful story
The story was well written and moving. It helped me realize that many of the young men of the Vietnam war era did not have the escape mechanism that I did. My wife and I were both working hard to keep me in college until my graduation in 1974. By that time Americans were being pulled out of Vietnam. We didn't do it to keep me from being drafted. I would have stayed in college anyway. Ironically, my mom and dad and 3 younger brothers moved to Saigon in 1973 to do church work. I only recently found out that my mom had to hide under a table in a Saigon market in an area under fire.
All war is hell. What makes it even harder to take is when our involvement seems pointless. I honor the young men that served their country, many of whom did so through no choice of their own other than to abide by the law. I ache for the families and comrades who are still hurting today.
Thank you for sharing this story.
The story was well written and moving. It helped me realize that many of the young men of the Vietnam war era did not have the escape mechanism that I did. My wife and I were both working hard to keep me in college until my graduation in 1974. By that time Americans were being pulled out of Vietnam. We didn't do it to keep me from being drafted. I would have stayed in college anyway. Ironically, my mom and dad and 3 younger brothers moved to Saigon in 1973 to do church work. I only recently found out that my mom had to hide under a table in a Saigon market in an area under fire.
All war is hell. What makes it even harder to take is when our involvement seems pointless. I honor the young men that served their country, many of whom did so through no choice of their own other than to abide by the law. I ache for the families and comrades who are still hurting today.
Thank you for sharing this story.
July 4, 2017
The historical background on this short alone will have you glued. The author (writer and documentary film maker Gaspar Gonzales) has been obsessed with a picture of the brother he never met, and decides to trace the girl who’s posing on said photograph with his brother, a photo, presumably taken on prom night. And so begins a journey of forty plus years in the making. This is an immigrant’s tale intertwined with family, history, war and the love of one’s adopted country. I just wish the book was longer because, as it stands, it feels like a taste of a much longer story, a story which honors the legacy of the brother he never had a chance to meet, a shy and smart guy who became a quiet war hero. If you haven’t guess already; this short will hit you in the feels (is someone peeling onions around here?)
January 14, 2018
An interesting story of quest , family, and truth.
Gaspar González's quest to honor and remember his list brother is a wonderful story to me. This story is similar to my quest to find out about a friend of my father who I'm named after, but never met and love.
Remember dance of those lost are not to forgotten even if the pain of their demise is great. For all of those who are loved we shall never forget you when you are gone.
Thanks for your rendering and devotion to your brother and the girl.
Gaspar González's quest to honor and remember his list brother is a wonderful story to me. This story is similar to my quest to find out about a friend of my father who I'm named after, but never met and love.
Remember dance of those lost are not to forgotten even if the pain of their demise is great. For all of those who are loved we shall never forget you when you are gone.
Thanks for your rendering and devotion to your brother and the girl.
December 5, 2017
Wish it had been longer!
I really enjoyed this story. He set out to find out who the girl was, and discovered more about his brother than he had known. A lot of families lost their boys to the Vietnam war, and I think sometimes people forget that they were people too, not just photographs and names. After finishing this, I found myself wishing there had been more
I really enjoyed this story. He set out to find out who the girl was, and discovered more about his brother than he had known. A lot of families lost their boys to the Vietnam war, and I think sometimes people forget that they were people too, not just photographs and names. After finishing this, I found myself wishing there had been more
December 31, 2017
This was a Kindle Single edition of a story by Gaspar González about his brother who was killed in Vietnam before Gaspar was born. Inspired by a photo of his brother from a high school dance, González searched for friends and family to give him some history of the brother he never met and to honor him for his service.
Loved this story of reconnecting with the past!
Loved this story of reconnecting with the past!
January 12, 2018
Thought provoking
How many families could this same scenario have happened to? Top painful to bear, and tucked away forever.
My grandmothers first husband died in WWI -only married three months, and little is know about him other than his name and his parents names, Time for more digging!!
How many families could this same scenario have happened to? Top painful to bear, and tucked away forever.
My grandmothers first husband died in WWI -only married three months, and little is know about him other than his name and his parents names, Time for more digging!!
February 12, 2018
Great story
It
Was a time I remembered as a kid these dates and what school yearbooks meant. It was the nightly news
We and the morning headlines in the newspapers that meant another young person wasn't coming back. POW brackets, get us out those peace signs, and now older those same kids stay young, we're older,they stay young
It
Was a time I remembered as a kid these dates and what school yearbooks meant. It was the nightly news
We and the morning headlines in the newspapers that meant another young person wasn't coming back. POW brackets, get us out those peace signs, and now older those same kids stay young, we're older,they stay young
March 19, 2018
Beautiful
It takes a certain strength to track down the past, and Gaspar seems to do so gracefully.
I hope he found a connection with the brother he never met.
And also that he learned to understand a little of his family's history.
His account is lovingly written, and beautifully provides the reader with an emotional connection to the family and their lives.
It takes a certain strength to track down the past, and Gaspar seems to do so gracefully.
I hope he found a connection with the brother he never met.
And also that he learned to understand a little of his family's history.
His account is lovingly written, and beautifully provides the reader with an emotional connection to the family and their lives.
December 30, 2017
This was a very emotional read for me. Maybe because it demonstrates how one photograph can have so much meaning or maybe it is because family you've never met can still leave such a lasting impression.
March 4, 2018
A brother's journey
The most powerful piece of the story: "I think of the lives lost in what turned out to be a futile effort, and what might have been had they survived.” Thank you for sharing your journey, and giving insight to the far-reaching impact of war.
The most powerful piece of the story: "I think of the lives lost in what turned out to be a futile effort, and what might have been had they survived.” Thank you for sharing your journey, and giving insight to the far-reaching impact of war.
March 4, 2018
Vietnam from a family perspective
I thoroughly enjoyed your book. Thank you for sharing your personal story.
Written from the perspective of the little brother the man in the photo never knew.
I thoroughly enjoyed your book. Thank you for sharing your personal story.
Written from the perspective of the little brother the man in the photo never knew.
April 7, 2018
A niceish if somewhat frustrating read. In the authors search for the brother he never knew, you learn far more about his mother. But you never get closure. Her death notice is a thowaway aside in a sentence primarily about something else.
Well written and edited.
Well written and edited.
May 21, 2019
Sweet Story
Thank you for sharing your story of family and all you’ve been through. I marvel at the fortitude of your mother and how that spirit was imparted in you to find your brothers story as well.
Thank you for sharing your story of family and all you’ve been through. I marvel at the fortitude of your mother and how that spirit was imparted in you to find your brothers story as well.
May 16, 2017
Touching
Gaspar had the courage and determination required to put this story into words. This book is a loving legacy to his brother Nelson.
Gaspar had the courage and determination required to put this story into words. This book is a loving legacy to his brother Nelson.
June 5, 2017
I want more
Its a good interesting journey, I just thought there would be more. Maybe that's the point. Family history is about finding the answers you desire.
Its a good interesting journey, I just thought there would be more. Maybe that's the point. Family history is about finding the answers you desire.
June 8, 2017
A great, short read.
October 13, 2017
The girl in the photo.
Not a surprising ending. Some interesting details about Vietnam but anticipated more for interest. I would find it hard to recommend.
Not a surprising ending. Some interesting details about Vietnam but anticipated more for interest. I would find it hard to recommend.
November 30, 2017
A riveting, true story and the impact of the loss of a Vietnam soldier on the lives of his family and many others who knew him.
January 8, 2018
Really short read.
Read
January 29, 2018Great Read
Who can forget the Vietnam war? None of us who lived through this time in our lives. Very heartfelt story.
Who can forget the Vietnam war? None of us who lived through this time in our lives. Very heartfelt story.
February 7, 2018
Interesting
Brought back memories of friends and classmates who went Viet Nam. All of them came back, but none was ever the same.
Brought back memories of friends and classmates who went Viet Nam. All of them came back, but none was ever the same.
February 12, 2018
Very touching.
February 16, 2018
Good book
I like the book but wasn't what I expected. Regardless though the story that leads to peace etc was good.
I like the book but wasn't what I expected. Regardless though the story that leads to peace etc was good.
December 31, 2016
Quick read - about an hour. Heart-warming story.
March 12, 2017
Brotherly Love
This story of the diligence done to locate the girl in the photo is absolutely incredible...I enjoyed this true story of filial love.
This story of the diligence done to locate the girl in the photo is absolutely incredible...I enjoyed this true story of filial love.
January 11, 2017
quick and good
A nice short story. Has surprising depth for something so short. Sometimes in life all we get is the journey and no destination. I found both satisfying
A nice short story. Has surprising depth for something so short. Sometimes in life all we get is the journey and no destination. I found both satisfying
February 7, 2017
The Girl in the Photo by Gaspar Gonzales is a 42 page Kindle Single available through Kindle Unlimited (KU). Published in January 2015 by Amazon Digital LLC, the story is about one person's attempt to come to terms with the loss of a loved one in Vietnam. Couldn't it also be about coming to terms with the loss of a loved one in any war? The reader can decide.
Nelson Ramirez was the older brother of the author but Gaspar never met Nelson, Gaspar was born seven weeks after Nelson's death. Due to strong family ties that included a knowledge of family heritage and history, Nelson was always a part of Gaspar's life although he had never been in it. A large part of this story is spent on description of family backgrounds; the grandparents, the financial ups and downs, and the marital ups and downs. For almost all his life Gaspar carried a picture of Nelson. In the picture was a girl Nelson had taken to the prom. Gaspar wondered about her but didn't take any positive action that would lead to identification. It was only in 2010 and a chance discovery on the internet that prompted Gaspar to find out more about the events surrounding his brother's loss.
The story then turns to a history of what Gaspar did to find out more information about his brother and also about the girl in the picture. There were internet searches, searches of high school yearbooks, and phone interviews with former military colleagues. There is no surprise ending. There is a happy ending. Foe a reader interested in this type of story, look for the reason Gaspar decided late in his life to track down this information. The motive is important and I consider its revelation a spoiler so will not discuss it here.
This might be of interest to some who served in Vietnam. I did and am proud to have done so. I can understand the questioning of purpose by those who did not attend but I have little patience with those who write off the entire effort as a waste. Therefore, I did not find this account interesting. War does not happen without deaths and the death of loved ones is hard to take. Personal grieving is natural; the lack of it would surprise me. I survived Vietnam, my children did not have to go to war and my grandson survived Iraq. Which brings me back to the point I made at the beginning of this review, coming to terms with the loss of any loved one in war is tough.
Nelson Ramirez was the older brother of the author but Gaspar never met Nelson, Gaspar was born seven weeks after Nelson's death. Due to strong family ties that included a knowledge of family heritage and history, Nelson was always a part of Gaspar's life although he had never been in it. A large part of this story is spent on description of family backgrounds; the grandparents, the financial ups and downs, and the marital ups and downs. For almost all his life Gaspar carried a picture of Nelson. In the picture was a girl Nelson had taken to the prom. Gaspar wondered about her but didn't take any positive action that would lead to identification. It was only in 2010 and a chance discovery on the internet that prompted Gaspar to find out more about the events surrounding his brother's loss.
The story then turns to a history of what Gaspar did to find out more information about his brother and also about the girl in the picture. There were internet searches, searches of high school yearbooks, and phone interviews with former military colleagues. There is no surprise ending. There is a happy ending. Foe a reader interested in this type of story, look for the reason Gaspar decided late in his life to track down this information. The motive is important and I consider its revelation a spoiler so will not discuss it here.
This might be of interest to some who served in Vietnam. I did and am proud to have done so. I can understand the questioning of purpose by those who did not attend but I have little patience with those who write off the entire effort as a waste. Therefore, I did not find this account interesting. War does not happen without deaths and the death of loved ones is hard to take. Personal grieving is natural; the lack of it would surprise me. I survived Vietnam, my children did not have to go to war and my grandson survived Iraq. Which brings me back to the point I made at the beginning of this review, coming to terms with the loss of any loved one in war is tough.
April 29, 2017
More a short story or article
Fast read and interesting view from brother about brother he never met. Glad for the free read on Amazon prime
Fast read and interesting view from brother about brother he never met. Glad for the free read on Amazon prime
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews