Musical therapy

Susan McCormack

When Bill Nolte decided to join the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War,

he believed he was serving his country and honoring his father and uncle,

who were both career Marines.

And though he was wounded by shrapnel when his vehicle rolled over a mine

and saw his fellow soldiers die one after another, Nolte was not prepared

for the cold reception he received when he returned home.

The attitudes he encountered made him determined to change the public’s

perception of Vietnam veterans.

“I’m obsessed with the idea of helping people to remember Vietnam vets in

a positive image,” the 53-year-old said. “You want to be proud of serving

your country.”

To reach his goal, Nolte turned to the one thing he loved as a child:

music. As a child, Nolte learned to play the accordion and then the

guitar.

After the war, Nolte took advantage of the GI Bill to continue his

musical studies. He received an associate’s degree in music from OCC and

has played with his friends in cafes around the county, from C’est La Vie

Restaurant in Laguna Beach to more than a few Diedrich coffee houses.

Two years ago, Nolte sought to work through his painful memories of

Vietnam by writing his first complete song.

“It took me a long time to come up with the right words,” Nolte recalled.

“It’s a very personal song. I wanted to say goodbye to my friend Jack

Burke, and at the same time, all the veterans that made the ultimate

sacrifice for this country.”

Burke was a friend of Nolte’s from Boston who was killed in action.

“They said you weren’t supposed to get close to others, but you have to

talk to somebody,” Nolte said. “We talked about what we wanted to do when

we got out of there ... He was killed when he was just two months from

going home.”

A mix of piano, guitar and oboe support Nolte’s tenor voice in his “So

Long Song.”

o7 Don’t forget your native sons

They’re the brave, courageous ones

Who gave their lives across the sea

As they fought to keep us free.

f7

While Nolte gently reminds his listeners to honor his fellow countrymen,

he also sings of letting go of his haunting memories.

o7 Life goes on for us you see

Living in this land so free

But in my heart you’ll always be

As you fought to keep us free.f7

Nolte sought the help of his longtime guitar instructor, Mark Turnbull,

and Laguna Beach musicians Steve Wood and Beth Fitchet, to refine the

song and record it. After its completion, Nolte sent a CD of the song to

President Clinton, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and Sen. John McCain, who was a

prisoner of war for six years in Vietnam.

Nolte received a reply from Clinton, who wrote, “You have my best

wishes,” and from Rohrabacher, who wrote, “I’m pleased to know a

songwriter in my district cares enough to write patriotic music.”

Rohrabacher also surprised Nolte with a revelation: “You know that we

have a common cause. I recently wrote a song called ‘God Bless This

Country.”’

While Nolte feels his memorial song has been a success, he said it was

his first and only about Vietnam.

“It was written to help me heal,” he said. “It’s over now, and I can

honestly let go.”

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the song may call (949) 650-1570

or send e-mail to o7 bnolte@earthlink.net.f7