Liberty Ship Survivor: Why Ray Laenen is So Proud to be an American - Hardcover

Mazzara, Joseph N.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1420841602 ISBN 13: 9781420841602

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2005

Synopsis

LIBERTY SHIP SURVIVOR: Why Ray Laenen is so Proud to be an American Liberty Ship Survivor is the compelling tale of one man's journey from Belgian immigrant to proud and patriotic American citizen. Over 100 photographs support his incredible tales of courage, survival, faith, friendship and forgiveness. Remie "Ray" Laenen's parents brought him to America from Oevel, Belgium in 1927, in search of freedom and opportunity. The family settled on the East Side of Detroit. After graduating from St. Rose High School in 1944, Ray immediately went into the United States Army, where he would learn a life-defining lesson about the true cost of freedom. On February 6, 1945, Ray's life was changed forever. His Liberty Ship was sunk in the Indian Ocean by torpedoes from a German U-boat. He survived an incredible twenty-two day ordeal in a crowded lifeboat, only to return to service more determined than ever to defend America's freedom. When the war ended, Ray went about the business of carving out his piece of the American Dream. Fifty years after the sinking of the SS Peter Silvester, Ray and his wife Norma traveled to Germany to meet and forgive the very men who had sunk his ship. This is the story of the making of an American Patriot.

About this title

About the Author

Joe Mazzara is a Detroit Area Psychologist and freelance writer. In addition to Liberty Ship Survivor, he is also the author of the memoir, Pedal Cars and Purple Pickles (AuthorHouse, 2001). He has published articles in several magazines and newspapers, including Acoustic Guitar Magazine, The Open Exhaust and The Michigan Catholic. In his free time, he writes yet-to-be-published fiction, as well as an ongoing column called From the Back Pew for his local church paper, the St. Valerie of Ravenna Valerian. He currently teaches Psychology at Macomb Community College in his hometown of Clinton Township, Michigan. He and his wife Cindy have two children, Mark and Kate.

Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1420841602
• ISBN 13: 9781420841602
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 212