Joseph Wojciechowski sits atop a gun on a ship in WWII. April is designated as ‘The Month of the Military Child’. This is an important recognition for me, not because I’m a military child, but because it is one of the reasons I began writing World War II stories. When working as a reporter for... Continue Reading →
Days of Respect for Medal of Honor, Vietnam War Veterans
Indiana vet Sammy Davis is a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam. He is wearing it around his neck. On Friday, March 25, our nation celebrated National Medal of Honor Day. This date was established by Congress in 1990 to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor recipients.”... Continue Reading →
WWII African-American Stories
We don't want to end the month without mentioning Black History Month I had the opportunity to interview two African Americans who served in World War II. Vaughan Whitworth served as a Montford Point Marine in World War II. Vaughan Whitworth was a Montford Point Marine who later served in the Pacific. If you don't... Continue Reading →
World War II Corpsman Served on Hospital Ship
Paul Bandelier served as a corpsman aboard the USS Relief. In 2022 I’m introducing more World War II veterans to readers with a weekly series of excerpted stories from my books. Let me know what you think about these men and women who served our country from 1941-1945. Did you know them or people like... Continue Reading →
Dick Girocco – Survivor of the Attack at Pearl Harbor
The USS Arizona burns after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. National Archives. Some 'Behind the Scenes' Info: My interview with Dick Girocco was unique among my 260 talks with veterans from World War II. Ordinarily, I sat in front of a veteran while he/she told their stories about military service. I... Continue Reading →
What Led to the Japanese Attack at Pearl Harbor? Part 2
Japanese Zero fighters fly a mission of destruction to Nanzheng, China, 26 May 1941 (public domain via Wikipedia) The Military Build-Up to December 7, 1941 — What happened in the last days of peace before the collision between the United States and Japan? In July 1941 the Japanese leadership made the fateful decision to go... Continue Reading →
Sailor Witnesses Surrender to End WWII
Jim Wiegman witnessed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS New Mexico. On September 2, 1945, 19-year-old James Charles Wiegman was one of the few American sailors who had a bird’s eye view of the most important military events in world history. Wiegman of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was at sea aboard the battleship, USS New Mexico,... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
New WWII Film ‘Journey to Royal’ Features Ed Goetz
'Journey to Royal' is a new, exciting docudrama that highlights the peril of flight crew members during WWII. Have you seen the new docudrama ‘Journey to Royal’ that was released on Amazon in February? It includes stories of World War II veterans involved in rescues (or their families in some cases). While the film highlights... Continue Reading →