Conquering the War Within:Conversations with a WWII RCAF Rear Air Gunner - Softcover

Lynda Manson And Marcel Croteau

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1643787071 ISBN 13: 9781643787077

Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers LLC., 2019

Synopsis

PTSD, rejection, abandonment, bullying, alcoholism, reconciliation, redemption, love, and enlightenment but above all, hope, are the themes in this memoir of Canadian Marcel Croteau. This ninety-five-year-old veteran of WWII was decorated by King George VI and survived an unprecedented thirty-nine missions during the war. Conversations with Lynda reveal Marcel's engaging, insightful, emotional, poignant, sometimes disturbing, and often humorous stories. His story of hope and survival is also of historical significance. He recounts in extraordinary detail life on the farm, the Great Depression, his education, enlisting and training in the RCAF, his war experiences, and his return to civilian life. He not only describes his antics, fearlessness, risky behavior, and significant events in his life but he has the ability to articulate the repercussions of a difficult childhood, the personal trauma of his war experience, his subsequent battle with PTSD, and finally his road to recovery. ''A fascinating story of an exceptional man as he journeys through childhood adversity, harrowing war experiences and half a lifetime's struggle with PTSD. Even more profoundly, he emerges with messages of acceptance and hope, revealing an intellect undimmed by what would have destroyed many others. His metaphorical dance with co-author Lynda Manson, revealed as their conversation unfolds, makes this book even more compelling.'' - John Briere, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry & the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

About this title

About the Author

Lynda Manson's professional activities include teaching, textile and clothing design, restauranteur, author of two published cookbooks, and fine arts painter. Marcel Croteau, a native of Northern Alberta and a WWII Canadian veteran of RAF Bomber Command, was decorated by King George VI with the Distinguished Flying Medal and received many other medals for his service, including the French Knight of the Legion of Honour Medal. After the war, Marcel resumed life as a civilian, becoming a husband, father, entrepreneur, property developer, and factory owner. He is also an artist and storyteller. Marcel celebrated his 96th birthday on April 6, 2019.

Edition details

• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers LLC.
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1643787071
• ISBN 13: 9781643787077
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 228