Capturing WWII Stories, One Veteran at a Time
Two World War II vets from my book have passed away recently. Carl Mankey, one of the few World War II Marines I’ve interviewed and one of the 28 WWII vets whose stories are featured in my book, died on April 6, 2016. Here is a portion of his story: In June 22, 1944, Marine... Continue Reading →
This story is the result of interviews with a couple I met while working at a retirement home. They were the first couple I had met who had both served in the military. I admire them both. I didn't have photos of them in uniform but the helmet is pretty awesome! ******* Jeannette and Bruce Kenline... Continue Reading →
Sometimes people want to know what happens when I interview a World War II veteran. It's a process and always a privilege. First, I allot two hours for the interview. This does not include the time it takes to drive to/from the place where the veteran lives. The two hours does include my getting set up with... Continue Reading →
You can tell by the expressions on our faces that World War II vets Bob Foster & Don Shady and I enjoyed our time on the air last week with talk show host Nelson Price. Nelson is the host of a long-running live history talk show —Hoosier History Live! Hoosier History Live is... Continue Reading →
My Vet of the Week is Vernon W. ‘Bun’ William Affolder of Decatur, IN. Mr. Affolder died on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. His birthday would have been tomorrow. I interviewed him in his home three years ago. He became emotional about several parts of the war that were still very real to him. That... Continue Reading →
I’d like to recognize a vet who passed away last year. Elmo Rieddle was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1943. He worked two years as a mechanic for the 486th Bomb Squadron at Sudbury England. After he was discharged at the war’s end, he was a member of the Army National Guard for... Continue Reading →
May 8, 1921-Jan 17, 2015 It is with sadness that I tell of the passing of Richard Vanderwall whose story was included in my book, World War II Legacies: Stories of Northeast Indiana Veterans. I met Richard Marvin Vanderwall, Sr. when my mother introduced me to him at the location where they both lived... Continue Reading →
Today is my birthday. I live in the Midwest of the US and have sworn to myself that someday I’m going to be somewhere warm for my birthday! Right now it is 30 degrees so I know it could be worse. But I'm definitely thinking 'beach' is in a future birthday! Anyway, I have nothing... Continue Reading →
“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 →
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 →
Writing of Kayleen Reusser 