A Son's Letters to his Father: At the Front 1941-1945 - Hardcover

Witmer, Judith T

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0997795646 ISBN 13: 9780997795646

Publisher: Yesteryear Publishing, 2016

Synopsis

Based on letters written by a young soldier during World War II, A Son’s Letters to his Father is compelling reading. Bill Calhoon, Class of 1941 who could have grown up in your hometown, was described by an early reviewer of the book as a regular GI, a simple man who understood the complexity of the war in which he found himself, not having any idea that he would not see his wife or as-yet-unborn child until the little boy was three years old. Bill was faithful in writing to both his wife and his father despite the fact that soldiers’ letters were censored as to war campaigns and locations. However, because the letters are masterfully narrated in the context of the history, today’s reader, with even a limited knowledge of WWII, is immersed in the daily coping on the homefront and the events in the Philippines as they were happening. 

About this title

Review:

"Do you know where I could donate my dad's letters from WWII?" Jan asked. "Is there any group that might be interested in these?" We discussed possibilities, such as the local historical society and World War II museums, particularly the one in New Orleans I recently had visited, an experience I would never forget. Having been a young child during World War II I remembered much about the time, from the parades to singing in war bond rallies, seeing the neighbor on our right wait for years for her fiance to get "home from the war" and the neighbors on our left inconsolable at losing their favorite nephew, a young man to whom I, at age six, had written a letter because that is what everyone did. In reading Bill Calhoun's letters, I came to know him and the more I researched what was happening while he was stationed in the Philippines, the more I wanted his children to note such understated entries as "our outfit has been awarded the Bronze Star for the campaign for New Guinea and I saw General MacArthur, even though I'm not allowed to say where." Even more important to note is the love and gratitude this young soldier felt for his widowed father who "has been both father and mother to me." JTW

About the Author:

Judith T. Witmer, the principal of Yesteryear Publishing, holds a B.A. in English Literature from Penn State, an M.S. and Doctorate from Temple, and both graduate and post-doctoral credits from Harvard University. She is an accomplished author, skilled in historical narratives, biographies, journal articles, reports, profiles, speeches, and other creative endeavors. Her professional passion is historical research as evidenced by her publications. In addition to more than a dozen books she has written, she has published numerous articles in professional journals, a cover feature in Penn State Medicine, newspaper columns, monographs, national speeches, and book reviews. Yesteryear Publishing is pledged to honor and validate the past through research-based history and attributed personal accounts, providing the skill to combine history and memories and the integrity to indicate the difference.

About this edition

• Publisher: Yesteryear Publishing
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0997795646
• ISBN 13: 9780997795646
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 268