Remembering the Good War: Minnesota's Greatest GenerationWorld War II was the defining event for a generation of Americans. Remembering the Good War tells the stories of over one hundred Minnesotans--ordinary people who rose to duty at an extraordinary moment in our past. Here soldiers and sailors, housewives and farmers, "Rosies" and "Joes" tell what it was like to be swept up in history. Betty Wall Strofus of Faribault recalls how she discovered a love for flying and joined the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) program to serve stateside during the war. Lyle Pasket of St. Paul marvels that he was only seventeen when his cruiser, the USS Indianapolis, was torpedoed en route to the Philippines. After three days without food or drink in shark-infested waters, he was one of only 317 sailors rescued. Paratrooper Frank Soboleski of International Falls recounts how he depended on north woods hunting skills to keep himself alive during battle in the Netherlands. Schoolteacher Vivian Linn McMorrow remembers with quiet intensity the brief time she shared with her husband Ralph Gland, who was killed in France during the second year of their marriage. From the shock of the attack on Pearl Harbor to the excitement of recruits leaving the farm for the first time to the horrors of the battlefields of Europe, Africa, and the Pacific, Remembering the Good War pays homage to the generation of Minnesotans who were forever transformed by World War II. Their voices--honest, emotional, and resolute--remind us of a time of sacrifice and courage. |
Contents
1 Wars Beginning Memories of and Reactions to 7 December 1941 | 3 |
2 Wars Broadening Horizons New Experiences New Locations | 26 |
3 War Experienced Minnesotans on the Home Front | 72 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
African American Air Corps aircraft American B-29 Superfortress basic training bombed bomber brother camp chaplain civilians combat December drafted duty enlisted Europe everything experience farm feel felt fighting Fort Snelling France friends German going Guam guys happened heard high school hospital husband International Falls interviewed invasion island Iwo Jima Japan Japanese Japanese American kids killed kind knew land laughs letters lived looked Marine Corps married memories Mexican Americans military Minneapolis Minnesota months mother navy never night officer Okinawa Pacific Pacific war parents Paul pauses three seconds Pearl Harbor pilot plane pretty radio recalls remember ship soldiers started stationed stayed stuff talk tell thing thought took town U.S. Army U.S. Navy United V-J Day veterans wanted war's week women World World War II wounded write young
References to this book
Never Will We Forget: Oral Histories of World War II Marilyn Mayer Culpepper No preview available - 2008 |