Burned: Conversations with a Black WWII Veteran

by Michael T. Owens

WWII veteran Rollins Edwards sat before the Federal Board of Veterans Appeals wearing a long overcoat, black beret, and dark glasses. It wasn’t a fashion statement but a necessity for protecting his hypersensitive skin from the cool air conditioning. The previous night, his skin had begun deteriorating—literally falling off his body into small piles on the hotel carpet. Blood. Rotten skin. The smell. Army officials had threatened him with prison if he ever discussed what happened to him at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. The secret experiments. The chemicals. The torture. But enough was enough. He couldn’t remain silent any longer. He was finally ready to tell his story—one that most people hadn’t heard; a story he once vowed never to discuss until now...

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2017

Reviews

[Rei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago for a class my freshman year. Mr. Owens had just published it only recently, so he wanted us, his students, to be his guinea pigs while also providing us with an example of biographical storytelling. This book is absolutely horrifying to read, but a necessity. I don't typically read nonfiction but I am telling you, "Burned" is more than worth it. I was 18 when I read it, and to say it influenced my thoughts on the way history is taught and the way the US military is revered would be an understatement. Mr. Owens is not only a great professor, but also a great writer, which is evident in the way he tells Mr. Edwards' story.

[Charissa M. Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

History Maker that everyone should know about

A five star rating fits this story because it is a true account of American History that has been dismissed. I can almost hear the voices of the story teller and Mr. Edwards. It's heartbreaking and mesmerizing at the same time.