By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Veteran author, Milt Toratti, has begun a series of book signings to raise money for the Cameron Veterans Home.
Toratti helped Vietnam War veteran pilot, Captain Guy Gruters, tell his story of capture and torture at the infamous Hanoi Hilton; and ultimately his triumph.
Toratti reads Gruters’ own words from “Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested” in which the veteran says his story is not a story about war, but about the indomitable spirit of man.
“It is about how men, American fighting men, trapped in the most hellish of circumstances endured. It is about how, left only with their faith in God, their country and their fellow pilots, they managed to keep fighting in every way they could without physical weapons,” Toratti reads during his appearance on KFEQmmunity.
Toratti signed copies of the book at Panera Bread Tuesday. He will sign copies at the East Hills Library June 7th and at the Cameron Golf Course on Saturday, June 14th.
Gruters tells Toratti not only his story of his stay at the Hanoi Hilton, but the stories of Bud Day, Bob Craner, P.K. Robinson, and even the late John McCain, former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate; the fellowship of the Misty pilot POWs. All suffered excruciating torture, some died.
Toratti says Gruters, as well as others, tell him they gained power to make it through torture when bitterness melted away.
“And as soon as these prisoners would actually forgive their interrogators and the guards that beat them is when they got their greatest strength: the power of forgiveness,” Toratti says.
“Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested” incorporates their stories.
Toratti says Gruters took his devotion to the limit during his time in at the Hanoi Hilton.
“He actually evangelized while he was in the prison,” Toratti says. “And when you decide evangelizing with the Christian religion in a communist situation what do you think happened to him? He got beat more, right? But he was able to tolerate it, because he knew where is strength was coming from it.”
Other book signings for Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested include at the St. Joseph Country Club Thursday, July 17th; Harley Davidson, 4020 South 169 Highway, St. Joseph July 19th; and the Mozingo Country Club in Maryville August 1st. Other signing events will be announced later.
Proceeds from the book sales go to the Cameron Veterans Home.
Gruters will be in St. Joseph September 11th for a special Patriot’s Day celebration at Wyatt Park Baptist Church.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.