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100-Year-Old WWII Army Nurse Conducts Fantastic Interview on TV

Eileen Zeissig served as an Army nurse in Europe during WWII. Last week, Daniel Beals of WPTA21 in Ft Wayne, Indiana, posted an excellent piece on his show, ’21 Country’ about 100-year-old World War II Army nurse Eileen Zeissig. He interviewed her a few days prior, then put the story together with pictures of her... Continue Reading →

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‘Born To Be Soldiers’ Launches!

Women who served in various military branches are featured in the book-- L-R: Coast Guard SPAR, Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP), Army Nurse Corps (ANC). It’s been a busy week with three exciting events! All were to let people know about my new book, Born To Be Soldiers: Those Plucky Women of World War II.... Continue Reading →

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Ten Minutes of Terror — Part 3

The USS ARIZONA burns after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, National Archives A 5-Part Series Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor On December 7, 1944, as dawn crested, the Japanese Imperial Navy fleet’s aircraft carriers continued their journey from the North Pacific south toward their prey. Approximately... Continue Reading →

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WWII Vet Served with Patton’s Third Army

Denny Butler served as a mortar gunner in Europe. I met WWII vet Dennis Butler several years ago through a friend’s recommendation – and am I glad for the opportunity to interview him! Not only did Denny (his preferred nickname) have an amazing story of survival in Europe, but he had a photo album of... Continue Reading →

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Eileen Zeissig Served as an Army Nurse During World War II

Eileen Stuckey Zeissig Served as an Army Nurse During World War II Among the 260 World War II veterans I’ve interviewed, 22 were females. It was always a thrill to discover how these young women volunteered to serve in various military branches. 'They Did It for Honor: Stories of American WWII Veterans' is available on... Continue Reading →

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‘Iron Man of Metz’ Earns Bronze Star in WWII

Daniel Boone Frazier served as an 'Iron Man of Metz.' I met Daniel Boone Frazier through the recommendation of a friend. My husband and I enjoyed speaking with Mr. Frazier in his home and hearing his story about being part of the ‘Iron Men of Metz.’ The story below explains this was the nickname of... Continue Reading →

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WWII Author Profile: Dandi Daley Mackall

Dandi Daley Mackall's novel, With Love Wherever You Are, is based on her parents' love story. I first met Dandi Daley Mackall around 2003 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in California. She taught a class on children’s writing. The thought of writing for children had never entered my mind, even though I had... Continue Reading →

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Flag Day—WWII POW’s Reflections of the Stars & Stripes

American flag on display at the Indiana War Memorial Museum. I’m proud to be an American and I’m proud of our American flag. It is fitting that we should celebrate it on its own special day. An American flag has flown on the front of our home since we've lived here for 31 years. You... Continue Reading →

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D-Day Hero: Naval Corpsman Leo Scheer

Leo Scheer served as a naval corpsman (medic) at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 Since interviewing 260 World War II veterans over the past 10 years, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with several who were part of that momentous military plan. Leo Scheer’s story has always fascinated me. I met Leo early in... Continue Reading →

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Guest Host: Joy Neal Kidney, Author of Leora’s Letters

I’m delighted to feature a guest host today. Joy Neal Kidney is the author of Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II. She is the oldest granddaughter of the book’s heroine, Leora Wilson. It is about a family who had five sons in the military during... Continue Reading →

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Medal of Honor Day — March 25

This month is full of great reasons to honor people. First, it is Women’s History Month. Each week I’m posting about four interesting World War II females who volunteered to serve our country. Each branch of the American military recognizes Medal of Honor recipients. Coast Guard and Marines observe the Navy cross. Today is NATIONAL... Continue Reading →

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Women’s History Month — Elizabeth ‘Betty’ White Dybbro- Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASP)

Betty White Dybbro volunteered to serve in the WASP program during WWII. She was one of just over 1,000 women to fly American military aircraft -- a first in the history of the world. In keeping with my weekly posts this March about military women during World War II, I’m including an excerpted story of... Continue Reading →

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Women’s History Month: Pauline ‘Polly’ Babbitt Smith — WAVES/ WWII Navy

Polly Smith volunteered for the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) during WWII to help her country. This story is taken from my new book, We Defended Freedom: Adventures of WWII Veterans. Thanks to all of our vets for your service to our country. Pauline ‘Polly’ Babbitt was a student at Nevada High School... Continue Reading →

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Women’s History Month — Charlotte Koch Eisenhart, WWII WAC

In honor of Women’s History Month I’ll post an excerpted story about female World War II vets I’ve interviewed and written about each Sunday. Remember, they all volunteered to join that ‘man’s war’ from 1941-1945. Thanks to all of our veterans! Charlotte Koch's parents thought the Army would teach her to take orders. After Japanese... Continue Reading →

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Sailor Survives Sinking of the USS Houston – and Becomes POW

Bill Ingram was 17 years old when he survived the sinking of the USS Houston in the Java Sea on Feb. 28, 1942 -- only to be captured by Japanese forces. The following is an excerpt from my new book, Captured: Stories of American World War II Prisoners of War: On February 28, 1942, William... Continue Reading →

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Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams – Medal of Honor Recipient at Iwo Jima

Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams used a flamethrower on Iwo Jima to enable Allied troops to drive inland. His efforts caused him to receive the Medal of Honor. Today is the 76th anniversary of the Allied invasion of the island of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific. Several veterans I’ve interviewed served there. One of them, Hershel... Continue Reading →

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Running from the Enemy

As a refugee, Johannes Klaffke was forced to leave many things behind, including the few childhood photos his family possessed. It's dreadful to experience war, but how much worse for children. Johannes Klaffke's entire story is told in It Was Our War Too: Youth in the Shadows of WWII While interviewing WWII vets over a... Continue Reading →

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WWII Veteran Moment: Calvin Schultz, Army, Buchenwald Liberator

To provide role models of brave Americans each week I will introduce a World War II Veteran from my books who served this country. The book where his/her story is profiled will be listed. In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27, 2021) —a global day of commemoration to honor victims of the Holocaust— I... Continue Reading →

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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 →

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 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 →

Book launch for ‘Voices From Vietnam: Stories of War’ Is in the Books!

Army vet Mike Blough greets Army vet Fritz Bultemeyer and Air Force vet Dr. Al Brothers. Mrs. Bultemeyer, also an Army vet, looks on. Whew! The book launch for Voices From Vietnam: Stories of War in my hometown of Bluffton Indiana is over! A great group of people showed up at the Wells County Public... Continue Reading →

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