“For more than a year it was a steady routine of dropping bombs and encountering enemy fighters and heavy accurate flak,” he said. His longest mission to Nagoya lasted 18 hours. During the war, Bates flew 33 missions over Japan in B29s.
Veteran’s Day–Opportunity to Recognize Military Service People
This week we have the official opportunity to recognize military service people! Veteran’s Day will be celebrated on Wed, November 11. Remember to thank a veteran! On a personal note, my husband will celebrate his birthday on November 10. He is retired with 21 years of service in the Air Force, Grissom Air Reserve Base ... Continue Reading →
Opportunity to Meet/Honor WWII Vets!
A big FREE event is coming up one week from today for all of you military supporters/ history lovers around Fort Wayne! On November 1, starting at 2pm at the Fort Wayne History Center, I will talk about my project of interviewing World War II vets as part of the George Mather lecture series. ... Continue Reading →
Birthday Tribute to World War II Vet Don Shady
Today I want to say ‘Happy birthday’ and give tribute to a World War II vet that I’m happy to call my friend. We attend the same church and usually see each other weekly, but I didn't know Don Shady well when I interviewed him about his experiences in the Army Air Corps during the... Continue Reading →
WWII Vets to Share Stories on Upcoming Radio Interview
On Sat 2/28 my husband John & I will accompany 2 World War II vets from my book -- World War II Legacies: Stories of Northeast Indiana Veterans -- to University of Indianapolis to be featured on a Hoosier History Live radio show. It airs each Saturday, noon to 1 p.m. ET on WICR 88.7... Continue Reading →
Marty Wyall Last WWII WASP in Indiana
“Being a WASP changed our thinking about everything,” said Marty Wyall of Fort Wayne. Among the 25,000 applicants for the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), Mary Anna Martin of Indianapolis was one of 1,830 women accepted and one of only 1,074 who completed the program. This is an excerpt from my book, World War II... Continue Reading →
Meet Distinguished WWII Vets at Free Event!
If you’ve wanted to meet a World War II vet and ask questions about his or her service, you’ll have a unique opportunity to do so on Sat, Jan 24 at River Terrace Estates in Bluffton, Indiana. Two vets from my book, World War II Legacies: Stories of Northeast Indiana Veterans, have agreed to... Continue Reading →
WASP Margaret Ringenberg’s Life as Revealed Through Her Daughter
My privilege as a writer and now author of World War II Legacies: Stories of Northeast Indiana Veterans is to celebrate occasions when the subject of World War II is promoted to the community. I admit, before interviewing nearly 60 World War II vets, I might not have been as interested in the subject as... Continue Reading →
Share the Story (Or Two) inside of You!
I believe every person has a story inside of them. They may not know about the story. In many cases I’ve helped people tell their stories by interviewing them and then with their permission writing their stories, usually in magazines and newspapers. Nowadays I’m most known for the 11 non-fiction children’s books I’ve written. But... Continue Reading →