Overview

Orange Grove Goes to War is a vivid account of a little boy's experiences growing up in Los Angeles on the eve of World War II. As the book opens, young Gary introduces the reader to the colorful neighbors and relatives who form a motley but loving extended family at his small apartment complex on Orange Grove. Although his mother and father are absent, leading Gary to wonder if he's an orphan, his multiple surrogate parents - including a Hollywood director and his alcoholic brother, a B-movie dancer, a vibrant Cuban émigré and a faded Southern belle - ensure he's well fed, well dressed, and fully immersed in their escapades. Gary's carefree existence is shattered in December 1941 by the dramatic announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Gary must assume responsibilities beyond his years as his family scrambles to support the war effort and contends with blackouts, rationing, and fears of invasion. Gary recounts the terrifying night of the Battle of Los Angeles, when residents believed enemy bombs were falling on their city. And in searing emotional detail, Gary relates how two of his beloved family members were caught up in the war arena, their fates uncertain. By turns harrowing, humorous, and wistful, Orange Grove Goes to War is both a deeply personal memoir and an ode to the city of Los Angeles from an earlier time.

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9781662915468

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Gary Anthony Glenn was born in 1937 and raised in Los Angeles during the tumultuous years surrounding World War II. His childhood experiences are described in Orange Grove Goes to War. After graduating from Dorsey High School, Gary obtained his bachelor's degree from UCLA, and then enrolled in law school at UC Berkeley, where he met his future wife, Evelyn Nakano. The pair married in 1962 and relocated to Massachusetts, where Gary received a degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts. Gary and Evelyn lived in the Boston area for 30 years, establishing successful careers and raising children Sara, Antonia, and Patrick. Gary played leadership roles in a number of organizations promoting social welfare, including ACCION, an international development foundation; the Latin American Teaching Fellowships program at Tufts; and the Partners in Development Foundation in Hawai'i. In the 1990s, Gary and his family moved back to California, establishing a rich life in the Bay Area. Gary's greatest loves were his family, music (especially opera), art, and travel. Gary passed away in 2018 at the age of 81, surrounded by loved ones.

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