Introducing ‘Vintage Eats’!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. My life has had some challenges this summer – my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. He’s taking oral chemo and doing well. We’d appreciate your prayers. With all of this upheaval, I’m finding my thoughts heading back often to the past when life seemed... Continue Reading →

Movie Review: Twelve O’clock High

I’m starting a monthly column of movie reviews of World War II films. These will mostly be movies made prior to the 1960s, so black and white. They are chosen in no particular order. It may be a little challenging for you to find these movies, but check with your library and streaming services. I’ll... Continue Reading →

World War II Army Nurse Cadet: Frances Kraner Beeler

Women played an important part during World War II in the military. Here is a story from an interview I did with Frances Kraner Beeler in 2015. Frances was a sweet lady who was proud to tell me about her service with the Army. Frances' story is told in my books 'Born To Be Soldiers:... Continue Reading →

Make Kate Smith’s Gala Cake Recipe

For several years I’ve been collecting recipes and cookbooks from the 1940s. It’s been interesting studying how food was produced and prepared and eaten. It’s amazing how some foods that were rationed then are running into similar situations today, i.e. eggs. I’ll share bits of information periodically in a column called ‘What’s Cookin’?’ It may... Continue Reading →

Teen Helped in Belgian Resistance

Soldiers were not the only ones who encountered the war in Europe. Fort Wayne resident Gabriel Delobbe remembers the day his home country of Belgium was invaded by the German Army on May 10, 1940. "I was 14 years old," he said. "The Belgian Army was small so all we could do was watch the... Continue Reading →

Keeping Goals Simple for 2023

Happy New Year! Cheers for a mild winter so far and a bright outlook for 2023! Here are my goals: Read more. My Google spreadsheet lists nearly 100 books I read/ listened to while walking in 2022 (I use my library's Libby app). Raising the bar is ambitious but exciting. 2. Take more time for... Continue Reading →

Seabee Brings Christmas to Overseas Troops

During the early 1940s, Ivan Detwiler attended North Side High School in Fort Wayne. His family, like many, had little money. In September 1943, Detwiler quit school to enlist in the Navy. He was 16 years old. While stationed in Japan in December 1945, Detwiler wired a 50-foot fir tree for lights. “It was the... Continue Reading →

Book Launch Party for Vietnam Book A Success

This past weekend we celebrated my second book launch for my latest book, Voices From Vietnam: Stories of War. If you’ve never attended this type of event, you may not understand its purpose. The goal is to introduce the public to a book on a personal level. Readers can meet the author and hear about... Continue Reading →

Book Launch for Vietnam Book A Success

Vets front: Fritz Bultemeyer (Army), Randy Harnish (Army), Jose Huerta (Navy), Rod Maller (Army), me. Back: John Senac, Jr. (Army), Dennis Covert (Navy), Lanny Idle (Air Force), Mike Dean (Army), John Reusser-- Vietnam War-era vet/ husband of author (Air Force). This past weekend we celebrated the second book launch for my latest book, Voices From... Continue Reading →

Happy Birthday to the Marines!

The Marine Corps birthday has been commemorated on November 10 since 1775, the year the Continental Marines were established. To show honor to our Marines – and to celebrate Veteran’s Day on November 11 – I’m offering an excerpt of a story of a vet I’ve interviewed. Carl Scott’s full story of fighting in the Pacific... Continue Reading →

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