Capturing WWII Stories, One Veteran at a Time
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 →
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 →
'Born To Be Soldiers: Those Plucky Women of World War II contains stories of women who served in Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Army Air Corps. It will be available on Amazon on Feb 28. The ladies deserve their due! Here is the beautiful cover for my new book: Born To Be Soldiers: Those Plucky Women... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Battle of the Bulge: Stories From Those Who Fought and Survived is available on Amazon. It’s here! The book that has taken me the longest to write -- three years – arrived in a mighty shipment on Friday! Battle of the Bulge: Stories From Those Who Fought and Survived released on Amazon on July 1.... Continue Reading →
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 →
Happy Father’s Day! Is it any wonder I love horses with this photo of me and Dad? It’s great to live in a country that honors its fathers. Here is one of my favorite photos of me with my dad as a little girl. I have always loved horses and I’m sure it was Dad’s... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Bart Corricelli served as a Marine at Iwo Jima during WWII. This week's WWII Vet profile is Bart Corricelli. I met Bart a few years ago when he was recommended to me by his friend, Charlie Conrad. Charlie was a WWII vet who served in the Navy. Each time I visited Charlie, he'd say, "You... Continue Reading →
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 →
Thanks to all of our military veterans! We appreciate your service! Thanks to all military veterans who have served our country. Today is your day! Please know we appreciate you all year. I’m giving away my 4 Ebooks about World War II at Amazon yesterday and today. You don't have to be a veteran to... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Writing of Kayleen Reusser 