Many Americans celebrated Labor Day on September 2, recognizing “the social and economic achievements of American workers,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It also t marked the end of summer, back to school, and the unofficial beginning of fall. The date has another significance—the end of World War II. On September 2, 1945, …
For the few days, my book is part of the Smashwords sale. If you’ve never heard of Smashwords, it’s a great place to find books in all genres. The sale ends January 1. To find my book among many that are on sale, use the link below, then search either my name, or the book’s …
My book is no longer available at Politics & Prose. An updated paperback will be out soon. The e-book, which I updated after traveling to the Philippines, is available from your favorite book site for $9.99. Here is where you can find it: Apple Books: https://tinyurl.com/2x99k2su Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/46h999bj Barns and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/3hpwf88u Smashwords: https://tinyurl.com/5n6db3fv Kobo: …
Frank Buckles told Maine Corps and Navy recruiters he was 18—he was really 16—when he tried to enlist to fight in World War I. Both turned him down. The Army took him, even though, like the others, the Army recruiter suspected the Missouri native was under age. Buckles died February 27, 2011, at age …
My father had just turned 18 and was a senior in high school when the United States was drawn into World War II. The armed forces didn’t have the capacity to train all of those who lined up outside enlistment centers on December 8, 1941, and the law allowed only men who were at least …
I was advised to have an audience in mind while writing this book. I thought mostly about my family, few of whom were likely to read Ty’s diary – 353 pages, typed, double spaced – or the more than 400 letters he, his parents, and others wrote in the war years. Most were handwritten when …
I was an adult before I learned that my mother’s cousin fought and died in World War II. I was visiting my parents in Lincoln, Nebraska, and my mother, Phyllis Kokjer Beck, had a copy of Ty Kokjer’s diary. The story captivated me, and I wanted to learn more. But in the midst of a …