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“Voices from Vietnam” by: Kayleen Reusser / Review
‘Voices from Vietnam’ by: Kayleen Reusser
VOICES FROM VIETNAM
by: Kayleen Reusser
Vietnam was the 10-year “Police Action” that developed and escalated in my generation’s youth. We saw casualty lists in the newspapers increasing daily. Here in Kayleen Reusser’s book are interviews with the troops that managed to survive the horror that was the Vietnam War.
Keyleen Reusser
In this book, a background story is given for each contributor, their branch of military, method of service and then, what they experienced. But the pains of war did not stop with their return home. These gallant people told Kayleen of what they ran into upon returning to the United States. The events, such as protesters, and name calling, are embarrassing, disheartening and downright disappointing to know how the people of this country were behaving toward these troops.
Despite the home front’s utter fear of the draft and disapproval of the war, these veterans carried on and we are privileged to read of their accomplishments. There are photos of them, so that you can visualize the veteran to the story.
Vietnam veterans
This era was opposite that of WWII, but I hope “Voices from Vietnam” has the same affect on other readers as it had on me. It brought back memories, but added an insight that can still be learned by this and future generations. You will find yourself turning the pages and going from one story to another.
Just as Kayleen’s book, “We Gave Our Best” inspired me and gave me hope for our future and our military – I recommend this book wholeheartedly and hope many will give these men and women the time to tell their stories that no one wanted to hear in the ’60’s and ’70’s.
Through it all, they remained true and loyal.
This is an honest and straightforward depiction of that era – A MUST READ.
TO LOCATE KAYLEEN REUSSER AND HER BOOK – CLICK HERE!
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Walter Morgan Bryant – Delray Beach, FL; USMC, Vietnam, Sgt.
Leo Cummings, Jackson, MI; US Army, 11th Airborne Division
Jim Grewe – Edina, MN; US Army, Vietnam, 4th Infantry & 101st Airborne Division
Gilbert L. Harris – Spotsylvania, VA; US Army, 82nd Airborne Division, Green Beret
Stephen Hoke – Meadville, PA; US Army, Vietnam, 1st Calvary & 82nd Airborne Division
Jerry L. O’Nan – Lexington, KY; USMC, Vietnam, Pfc. # 2132524, E Co/4/2/3rd Marine Division, KIA (Quang Nam Province, SV)
Michael R. Paul – Williamsburg, KY; US Army, Vietnam, radio repair, 101st Airborne Division
Robert J. Reginald – Lindenhurst, NY; US Army, Vietnam, Cpl. # 52748547, B/502/2/101st Airborne Division, KIA (SV)
Timothy C. Reitmann – Valley Stream, NY; US Army, Vietnam, Spec. # 52748020, vehicle repair, A/2/5/11 Field Force, KIA (SV)
Eugene “Butch” Skoch – East Meadow, NY; US Army, Vietnam, Pfc., KIA
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“Where Shall I Flee?” by: Anne Clare
“Where Shall I Flee?” by: Anne Clare
“Where Shall I Flee?” by: Anne Clare
One does not need to be a WWII buff or a lover of historical fiction to enjoy this accomplishment. I recommend it to ALL!
Being as I normally read and report non-fiction, I was very impressed with Anne Clare’s realistic characterization and portrayal of WWII in Italy. By showing the characters had their own faults and by not romanticizing war, she uses perpetual advancement to draw the reader ever further into their lives.
US Army on Anzio beachhead
Anne Clare is an avid history reader/researcher who asks, “What if?” The end result is a suspenseful story that brings you into the sphere of action in Anzio and beyond, plus their own personal conflicts.
A nurse who isn’t quite sure why she’s there, to the soldiers of different backgrounds and how they connect – from combat, to being prisoners, to their own attempts at survival. You see the true evolvement of camaraderie.
Ms. Clare possesses a delicate, yet intense method for showing place, character and events. How they meld together to transport the reader back to 1944, along with the physical and emotional upheaval of that era.
56th Evac Hospital, WWII
Nurse Jean Hoff, the heroine of this tale, not only tries to heal the wounded, but finds that a gruff Corporal can show her how to heal own wounds.
The plot is woven to hold you in suspense, with no wish to lay the volume down.
Come and enter their world and perhaps you will learn as they did.
Anne Clare’s blog – where you can also read her informative posts and/or purchase her books.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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Josephine Baker – WWII Spy
Josephine Baker in her Free French Air Force uniform
I knew she was a superstar, but this story was new to me!
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Military Humor –
“Too much beer last night, Miss Pringle?”
“What makes you think the WACs are coming to this camp?”
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Farewell Salutes –
Roydean L. Adams – Pryor, OK; USMC, WWII, PTO, Cpl.
Russell Barry Sr. – NYC, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, HQ Co/327/101st Airborne Division
Edward H. Benson – Roanoke County, VA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, Pfc. # 13118798, 1562nd Army Air Corps Base, KIA (Biak Island
Grady H. Canup – Greenwood, SC; US Army, WWII, ETO, SSgt. # 34093884, Co C/1/12/4th Infantry Division, Bronze Star, KIA (Hürtgen Forest, GER)
Lloyd Davidson – Irons, MI; US Navy, WWII, ATO
Cary S. Eleser – Slidell, LA; US Navy, WWII
Paul T. Kuras – San Antonio, TX; USMC, Aviation Engineer (Ret. 20 y.)
Andrew J. Ladner – Harrison City, MS; US Army, WWII, PTO, Pvt. # 34133073, 126/32nd Infantry Division, Bronze Star, KIA (Huggin Roadblock, Papua, NG)
Alfred O’Neill – Rhinelander, WI; US Army, WWII, ETO, Korea & Vietnam, Sgt. Major (Ret. 30 y.) / West Point rifle team coach
Stanford I. Polonsky (101) – Winston-Salem, NC; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, Col. (Ret. 28 y.), Engineers/82nd Airborne Division
Clarence Stirewalt – Evans, GA; US Navy, WWII
Walter G. Wildman – Bristol, PA; US Army, WWII, ETO, Pvt. # 33589024, Co M/12/4th Infantry Division, Bronze Star, KIA (Hürtgen Forest, GER)
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“SOLDIERS’ STORIES” VOL. 2, by the Miller Family, REVIEW
Soldiers’ Stories, Vol. II
After reading the Miller Family’s first volume OF SOLDIERS’ STORIES, I was excited to receive Volume # 2. I was not disappointed.
Not only was I, as usual, proud to see 4 pages of my own Father’s stories in print, but even discovered another member of the 11th Airborne Division represented among the other memoirs.
Most of my readers tell me that they find the personal stories and letters from my father and other veterans to be their favorite posts. In this book, readers are privileged to have over 300 pages of such tales.
The many photographs give you a personal perspective, both humorous and educational, of a time that dramatically altered the entire world. Men and women alike are included in this well constructed journal for the generation we are so quickly losing.
Every branch of service, in each theater of operation, is represented along with the invaluable contributions of the home front military, women, civilians and our British Allies.
Modern day honoring of those buried in foreign lands and innumerable photos of the people who fought for us and the treasures they left behind. Even fellow blogger and author, Joy Neal Kidney, has the Wilson Family included.
You can hear in their words the eagerness to serve their country, their laughter and the camaraderie of close unit ties. You might even feel their pain.
Inspired by the Miller Family’s, SSgt. Myron Miller, of the 83rd Infantry, I can unquestionably recommend both Volume # 1 and # 2 of SOLDIERS’ STORIES!
For Myra Miller’s blog, click HERE!
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Military Humor –
“I’ve given you th’ best years of my life.”
“What’s your job, steady K.P.?”
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Farewell Salutes –
Evo Aspreli – New Haven, CT; US Army, WWII
Michael Collins – Washington, D.C.; US Air Force, pilot / NASA, Astronaut, MGeneral
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SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2011) Ceremonial honor guard await to render honors for retired Vice Adm. Paul F. McCarthy. McCarthy (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Carlos M. Vazquez II/Released)
Carl Dalrymple – Jamestown, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII
James Edgar (100) – brn: Pietersburg, So. Afr.; Gordon Highlanders, WWII, ETO & CBI, Intelligence SOE
Philip T. Hoogacker – USA; US Army, Korea, Pfc., Co. D/1/29th Infantry Regiment, KIA (Anui, So. Korea)
George Humphrey – Onslow County, NC; US Army, Medic, 11th Airborne Division
Theodore Q. Jensen – Delta, UT; US Navy, WWII, PTO, radioman, USS Oklahoma, KIA (Pearl Harbor)
James ‘Sonny’ Melhus – Eau Claire, WI; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, HQ Co./506/101st Airborne Division
William H. Melville – Minneapolis, MN; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 2nd Lt., pilot, 36th FS/8th FG, KIA (Papua, New Guinea)
Christopher F. Pantos – Richmond, VA; US Army, Kuwait, SSgt., 55th Sustainment Brigade
John Shoemaker – Mont Clare, PA; US Army, WWII, ETO, SSgt., 87th Infantry, Purple Heart
Michael Sierra – San Antonio, TX; Texas National Guard / US Army, Vietnam, platoon leader, 327/101st Airborne Division
C/O Postmaster – Book Review
Thomas “Ozzie” St. George, a student in the School of Journalism, University of Minnesota, and an athlete, would find himself soon in the U.S. Army as his country entered WWII. BUT – This is not a war, combat blood ‘n’ guts diary.
St. George sent excerpts of his training, his not-so-glamorous voyage across the Pacific and the year he spent in Australia discovering a new culture, to the ‘San Francisco Chronicle’.
Cpl. St. George numbered his pieces, knowing full-well the difficult route they would travel to get back to the U.S. These pieces would arrive at the newspaper, with his sketches completely out of order, but the Chronicle printed them and the readers loved them. One does not even need to “read between the lines” to visualize what this G.I. was trying to say as he learned about fish & chips, unusual pub hours, Australian slang and living a military life.
Dancing with Americans
“Ozzie” and his fellow G.I.s needed to learn the odd hours of the local pubs. The Australian women were friendly, but not “easy”, as they used to say back then. Families often invited the soldiers to dinner. This was an entirely different world than the Americans were accustom – and learn quickly they would have to do!
As seen with the Army cooks on page 55:
“…we went to breakfast. Most of us, I’m afraid, were looking forward to large helpings of ham and eggs, our usual reward for a night’s activity. Instead we had coffee made with chicory (a course kind of gravel) and our first lesson in the anatomy of the sheep, as found in mutton stew. Thick was this stew, like cold glue, full of unidentifiable vegetables and with all the delicious appeal of a soggy snowbank.”
American G.I.’s w/ koalas
Should be lucky enough to locate a copy of this book, I know there are chapters you will nod your head in agreement with St. George and you’ll laugh at others. The sketches will amuse you – no matter what the content.
In the words of Corporal Thomas St. George ….
“With most of us, this army career is by far the greatest experience we will ever have. I only hope that in reading about a few of these experiences you get half the kick out of it that we got when they were happening to us…”
Thomas ‘Ozzie’ St. George
From his obituary:
Thomas Richard “Ozzie” St. George left this earth on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at the age of 94. Originally with the 32nd Infantry, he soon joined the staff of Yank Magazine and covered the war from Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. While serving in the army, he met his future wife, Staff Sgt. Amelia “Mimi” Vitali of Philadelphia. They married while in the Philippines.
He spent the next 50 years at newspapers in San Diego, Philadelphia, Rochester and St. Paul. He was a reporter, sports editor, cartoonist, copy editor and columnist (“Slice of Wry” – St. Paul Pioneer Press). Ozzie retired from the Pioneer Press in 1994. Two books were written by Ozzie while he was in the Army: “C/O Postmaster,” a Book of the Month Club selection, and “Proceed Without Delay.” Following his retirement, he also self-published the Eddie Devlin Compendium: “Old Tim’s Estate,” “Wildcat Strike,” “The Bloody Wet,” “Bringing Chesty Home,” “Replevy for a Flute,” “Clyde Strikes Back,” “Flacks,” “Deadlines” and “The Survivors.”
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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Military Political Cartoons –
“HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE?”
“GET YOUR DIRTY PAWS OFFA THERE!”
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Farewell Salutes –
Kenneth “Kage” Allen – UT; US Air Force, 1st Lt., Air Academy graduate, F-15C pilot, 493rd Fighter Squadron/48th Fighter Wing
Wilton Brown – Avant, MS; US Navy, USS Princeton, / US Air Force, Korea, MSgt. (Ret.)
Wallace Harrelson (100) – Galloway, FL; US Army, WWII, ETO
Eva Lyons – Scottsdale, AZ; Civilian, WWII, P-38 assembler
Angus McRonald – Petercutter, SCOT, RAF, WWII
Russell Mericle Jr. – Lima, OH; US Army, Vietnam, 101st Airborne Division, Colonel, West Point graduate
William “Bill” Okamoto (100) – Torrance, CA; US Army, WWII
William Ostrosky – Uniondale, NY; US Navy, WWII
Joseph Pauro – Audubon, NJ; US Navy, WWII, ETO/PTO, Purple Heart
Thomas D. Siefke (100) – Indianapolis, IN; USMC, WWII, Sgt., Bronze Star, Purple Heart
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IHRA – International Historical Research Associate’s 5th Air Force Series
Warpath Across the Pacific
I am not at all certain what I expected before my copy of Warpath Across the Pacific arrived at my doorstep, but today I find myself wholly unqualified to review IHRA’s commanding series Eagles Over the Pacific. This tome concerning the 345th Bomb Group is the highest quality of research I have ever had the pleasure to read.
Lawrence J. Hickey has created a masterpiece account of history accompanied by the artistic talent of Art Director, Jack Fellows. The Preface, written by Col. Maurice J. Eppstein, USAF Ret., delivers an impact of reality depicting life for the 498th,499th, 500th & 501st squadrons and so many others during the Pacific War.
Warpath Across the Pacific takes the readers from the establishment of the 345th, into their rigorous training and throughout their deployment. One is carried across the massive ocean to see the bases and examine each aircraft. You will eventually realize that you have come to know each crew as they prepare, experience and carry out each mission as it is described in striking detail. Then, with bated breath, you await each of their return.
The numerous maps and aircraft profiles, by Steve W. Ferguson, keep the reader orientated while being engulfed in the events, seeing their successes and feeling the pain of their losses. Countless photographs from worldwide historians and private collections are included to correspond to the information at hand. Nose-art is visible cover to cover as well as artistic illustrations of the B-25’s flown by these young, valiant men. Each airman is mentioned, the bomb squadrons profiled and the book has a special section for those killed and missing.
I find it difficult to accurately describe how greatly impressed I am by this series as each page is turned. I have never acquired a volume I value more or recommend so highly. Reading Warpath Across the Pacific was not a way to learn history, but a way to experience it!
This 5th edition even includes new material concerning the Japanese side of the war.
I thank the members of the IHRA for paying such attention to detail, for their dedication, patriotism and expertise.
Therefore, it is with the utmost confidence that I recommend these other editions of the series…
Warpath Across the Pacific
# 2 – Revenge of the Red Raiders –
An equal effort of historical importance concerning the 22nd Bombardment Group/5th Air Force. The same attention to detail as they bring the reader from the airfields of America to the SW Pacific skies.
# 3 – Rampage of the Roarin’ 20’s –
The life and wartime of the 312th Bombardment Group/5th Air Force follows in the same style and professional manner. Read and imagine these young men in their P-40 Warhawks and later, the Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft.
“Ken’s Men Against the Empire, Vol. I”
# 4 – Ken’s Men Against the Empire – Vol. 1 –
This project by the IHRA, contains the history of the 43rd Bombardment Group, generated such an abundance of material that it was necessary to create two volumes rather than omit any information. With the early war and the B-17 era, and then re-equipping with B-24’s for this young, but growing unit.
This edition holds the detailed and accurate missions of the most highly decorated crew in U.S. history, Zeamer’s “Eager Beavers.” You can start your journey with these squadrons as they progress through the Pacific and witness it as never before. Should you have any doubt about their research from U.S. training bases – through New Guinea, the Netherlands Indies, the Philippines, Indochina and Japan – a reblog 0f their own post will show, (rather than tell), you how expertly each record is handled.
As Lawrence Hickey stated in his Introduction: “This, then, is the story of the ‘Air Apaches.'”
To locate the IHRA blog – Please Click Here!
To purchase any volume from the IHRA, click HERE!
Click on images to enlarge.
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Farewell Salutes –
William Cather – Birmingham, AL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 501st “Black Panthers”/345th, Capt.
Glenn Doolittle – San Antonio, TX; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 435th Bombardment Group, Silver Star, Col.
Lester Gurden – Owosso, MI; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, SSgt., radio technician
Land-Sea-Air Tribute
William Hammock – Columbus, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII
Bruce Hanson – Nampa, IA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, B-25 pilot
Erwin Johnson – New Orleans, LA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, 27th Bomb Group, A-20 air mechanic, POW
Gerald Levin – Baltimore, MD; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO
William Michels – Alexandria, VA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, Engineer Corps
Louis Mori – Ronoke Rapid, NC; US Army Air Corps, WWII, PTO, 674th Artillery/11th Airborne Division
Harold Peterson – Boston, MA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, radioman
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Pacific Paratrooper 