Smithsonian - 12.2019

discussion

“I DO BELIEVE the spirit of Jack London was with Richard
Grant,” Tawnya Ison in Medford, Oregon, wrote about our No-
vember cover story retracing the Call of the Wild author’s Yukon
journey. “Fantastic writing and a true adventure to read!” Don M.
Pike of Crawford, Texas, was struck by “Behind the Lines,” about
a secret mission to capture Nazi mapping data: “We’re all certain-
ly indebted to these courageous people and the risks and sacrifi c-
es they endured.” The story that provoked the biggest response
(most of it, admittedly, negative) was “Che’s Kid Hits the Road,”
about a motorcycle tour of Cuba given by a son of Che Guevara,
one of the leaders of the country’s revolution. Though the travel
article mentioned Che’s brutality, many readers said the piece
glorifi ed the rebel leader and didn’t go far enough in criticizing
the Communist government.

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FROM THE EDITORS

8 SMITHSONIAN.COM | December 2019

My father was a Scout/Ranger with the Fourth Infan-

try Division spotting artillery as a forward observer

from Utah Beach to the occupation of Germany. I

imagine the data gleaned from the recovered doc-

uments was applied by the 29th Field Artillery as it

battled across Europe: information that aided his

survival—and my eventual existence.

— George R. Clark | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Another Side to Che

What a whitewashing of the life and eff ect of Che Gue-

vara (“Che’s Kid Hits the Road”). Although he helped

Castro dispose of a dictator, what was the result? He

helped create and support an even more repressive

regime, from which thousands have been desperate

to escape over the past 60 years. No one immigrates

to Cuba, it has never been able to support itself under

this regime, and the non-elites are unvaryingly suf-

fering from shortages of food and medicine. A more

balanced article would better serve your readership.

— Darryl Engle | Chandler, Arizona

Maybe you could interview some of the Cuban-Amer-

icans who survived Castro and Che’s regime. They

would have a diff erent perspective on what kind of

man Che was.

— Steve Moore | Oceanside, California

Letters From the Front Lines

What a treasure trove! As we now head toward a to-

tally digital world, these letters (“The News From

Over There”) are an invaluable look at a world before

iPhones and computers. They give us a window into

not only the day-to-day lives of these fi ghting men,

but also the day-to-day lives of their families—some-

thing no newsreel will ever show.

— D.L. Moore | Hesperia, California

I am moved by the dedication of Mr. Carroll and his

staff in this endeavor. It is a vital opportunity and re-

sponsibility to collect, save and cherish the thoughts

and feelings of our military.

— Christy Collins | Goshen, New York

The Map Hunters
My sister Holly and I grew up with these stories and
only later when our father, Ray Johnson, committed
them to writing did we understand the impact of
these events on his life. Now, to see some of the same
observations put into a deeply researched narrative
is very powerful and moving. He never dreamed that
his manuscript would contribute to an important
and intriguing national story.
— Paula Eastwood | Albuquerque, New Mexico