Overview

Every veteran has a story to tell-often ones they have not told their own families. But as one vet in this collection of original interviews succinctly said of his combat experiences: Some things are better left unsaid. Documenting recollections from survivors of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts-all residents of the Texas Panhandle-this book presents narratives from men and women whose young lives, for good or ill, were defined by their participation in warfare in service to their country.

Full Product Details

Author:   Larry A. Williams ,  Katherine McLamore
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Weight:   0.460kg
ISBN:  

9781476683072

ISBN 10:   1476683077
Pages:   334
Publication Date:   16 July 2021
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments v Preface 1 Introduction: The Cost of Freedom 5 Part I-World War II 1. Alvira Agee: I Can Do That 8 2. M.T. Allen: Quonset Hut Expert 10 3. Robert Anderson: Battling on Two Fronts 12 4. Clyde Bearden: At the Convenience of the Government 15 5. Stanley J. Bobrowski, Jr.: Son of a Russian Officer 17 6. Bill Boyles: Straight into Combat 20 7. James Braxton: A Lifetime of Music 22 8. Roger Britt: Go, Get 'em! 24 9. Claude Brown: Life and Death in the Hands of the Parachute Packer 26 10. Lon Colvin: The Liberator Becomes the Prisoner 29 11. Wilma Coon: A Patriotic Calling 32 12. Phil Crenshaw: Finding His Calling 34 13. Robert F. Cummings: Small-Town Navy Veteran 37 14. Jack DuLaney: F4U Fighter Pilot 39 15. Lena Skaggs Duncan: Dedicated to Family and Country 42 16. Garland Ellis: With the 4th Armored Division 45 17. Thomas Esparza: Tank Commander at Age 19 50 18. Orville Fleming: The Million-Dollar Wound 53 19. Robbie Gill: Lucky #13 and the Miracle Survivor 55 20. Carl Gilly: Cobb's War 58 21. Jim Guyton: Dunbar Alum Serves Twice 62 22. Roger Haberer: Normandy, Days after the Invasion 64 23. Bob Hail: Navy Boat Driver Dropped off Marines 66 24. J.W. Hamby: Businessman at an Early Age 68 25. Wallace Haney: A Member of the Caterpillar Club 70 26. Ted Hartman: Sherman Tank Driver and Orthopedic Surgeon 73 27. Billy Hendrix: Circling the Globe after World War II 75 28. Ted Hill: P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot 78 29. Charles J. Hoye: Old Newsie Serving with a Pen 81 30. Don Jones: A Life of Service to Country and Community 83 31. Homer Jones: The Long Road Home 86 32. Justin T. Jones: Glider Recovery 89 33. Lamar Jones: Always a Merchant 92 34. R.D. Jones: Sailing the Pacific 94 35. Bob Kiser: Pipeline, Purdue, Petroleum and People Like Us 96 36. Cleatus Lebow: He Saved My Life Twice 98 37. George Lewis: Occupied Germany 103 38. Nathan Luger: The Aleutian Islands 105 39. C.B. Martin: Life as a Seabee 107 40. Herschel Martin: One Man, Three Branches of Service 109 41. John McDonough: The Tall Texan 111 42. Gene McLendon: A Good Citizen 113 43. Teddy McMillan: A Hero and a Good Man 115 44. Frank Miller: From a Quartermaster to a Headmaster 117 45. Horace Morgan: From the Alcan to the Battle of the Bulge 120 46. Frank Odom: On the Front Lines in Europe 122 47. Vernon Odom: Helping Those Who Can't Help Themselves 125 48. Wayne Owen: Smart and Lucky 128 49. R.L. Owens: Red Arrow Division-First In, Last Out 130 50. Bill Pasewark: Spreading Freedom's Message 133 51. Marvin Platten: An Artful Journey 136 52. Leon Pope: From POWs to Paradise 141 53. James Rich: A Rich Life -Flirting with Death 144 54. Eugene Roberts: Hard to Turn Off the Switch 146 55. Max Robertson: Navy Battles Mother Nature 149 56. Earl Robinson: The Good Lord Had My Hand 151 57. James T. Rodewald: Hot Meals and a Place to Sleep 153 58. Eldie Scheffel: The Coldest Winter I Ever Saw 155 59. Harold Schultze: D-Day Remembered by Former Higgins Boat Driver 157 60. Charles Sears: Blinded by the Light 160 61. J.L. Slaughter: A Final Mission 162 62. Clifford Solomon: God Bless America 166 63. Elmer Tarbox: Texas Tech All-American 171 64. Dominic Tartaglione: Survivor of Three Wars 173 65. Pat Thurman: Twice as Lucky during Two Wars 175 66. Truett Tyler: Following His Brothers 177 67. Ed Ward: If You're Not Scared, You're Lying 179 68. Wayne Webb: Three Years on the Water 181 69. Gene Williams: A World Traveler 184 70. Robert Elton Wilson: The Good Lord Was Always with Me 186 71. Andy Winnegar: Naval Aviator Receives the Distinguished Flying Cross 189 Part II-Korea 72. Paul Archinal: From Airman to Admiral 198 73. William Bridge: Korean War Vet Makes a Difference 201 74. James Cathey: The Ghosts of the Korean War 204 75. Jerold Dyess: A Sixteen Year Old Sees the World 207 76. Clyde Fisher: Finish What I Start 209 77. Alton Garner: Witness to History 211 78. Gordon Hambright: Naval Postmaster Wins Best Beard Growing Contest 214 79. Fred Harvey: Growing Up on the USS Hornet 216 80. Rodney Manning: From a Policeman to a Preacher 218 81. Cleveland McMillan: Cooking Under Fire 221 82. Gordon Musick: Near the Front Lines in Korea 223 83. Asa Oliver: From Family Farm to Foreign Field to Faithful Follower 226 84. Billy Rudd: A Case of Mistaken Identity 228 85. Curtis Ruff: It Just Wasn't His Day 230 86. Welby Smith: Crew Chief to Two of the Air Force's Fastest Bombers 234 87. Lawrence Walker: Triple Service for Lubbock Man 236 88. Fred Watson: Faith Helps Him through Korean War Memories 238 89. Charles Williams: Coming Home 240 Part III-Vietnam War 90. George Bradley: Follow Your Dreams 246 91. Charles Brimberry: Danger Was Everywhere in Vietnam 248 92. Doug Foster: The Healing Wall 251 93. Jannie Greenway: Around the World and Back 255 94. Charles Hankson: BBQ and a Slice of Sunshine 258 95. Bernhard T. Mittemeyer: A Lifetime of Service to His Adopted Country 260 96. Charles Scarborough: Recycled for a Reason 264 Part IV-Additional Stories 97. Various Veterans: Geezers Reunite 270 98. Chad and Renee Gross: A Simple Song about a Soldier 273 99. Gary Harber: Lubbock's Southern Brigadier General 276 100. Gordon Musick and Ernest Sears: Two Love Stories from the Texas South Plains Honor Flight 279 101. Frances Pierce: Gold Star Wife and Widow 281 102. Opal Roberts: Living Intentionally 284 103. Wayne Shawn and Justin Jones: Flight into Yesteryear 286 104. Michael Vasquez: From Combat Casualty to Veteran Advocate 289 Veterans' Honor Roll 293 Bibliography 295 Index 299

Reviews

Larry Williams and Katherine McLamore have assembled more than the notes and reminiscences of a scattering of men who fought for their country. This book is the heart of our collective conscience, the stories we must know, and those we must pass on to the future. The accounts in this marvelous book come from so many who are no longer here, who can no longer tell their stories. For the men included here from a more recent age, their stories ring no less true, and are no less important. Their day will come as well, and again, we must remember. This is a marvelous book. - Jeff Shaara, author of Gods and Generals and To Wake the Giant With their new book, Texas South Plains War Stories: Interviews with Veterans from World War II to Afghanistan, Larry A. Williams and Katherine McLamore have given us a rare look into the lives of our nation's military, brave individuals who have offered their lives to secure and maintain our country's freedom. These stories must be told, educating future generations, and reminding current generations of the high cost of the freedoms we enjoy in the United States. Williams and McLamore have interviewed countless individuals from several wars, detailing their personal stories, and preserving their memories in book form. In doing so, the authors have given us the opportunity to express our gratitude, to acknowledge these heroes' selfless contributions, and to know these brave men and women personally and individually before their stories are forever silenced. - Denise George, author of The Lost Eleven: The Forgotten Story of Black American Soldiers Brutally Massacred in WWII, with Robert Child As we lose more and more veterans from the Greatest Generation, it becomes critical that we recover and record for posterity the deeds and sacrifices they made for our freedom. This book goes a long way to doing that. Bravo! - Larry Loftis, international bestselling author of CODE NAME: LISE and Into the Lion's Mouth Texas South Plains War Stories is a valuable collection of stories from our veterans. Williams and McLamore have done a stellar job of recording these memories so that we all can learn from the experiences of men and women who went to war. - Gregory A. Freeman, author of The Forgotten 500

Searing, inspiring, and immensely readable...this is oral history at its finest. Texas South Plains War Stories goes far in answering the first obligation we all owe our combat veterans--which is, simply, to remember. --Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers and On Desperate Ground Superbly researched and splendidly written, Texas South Plains War Stories is a stirring tribute to the men and women who have risen to the challenge of serving in America's armed forces in times of war. Larry Williams and Katherine McLamore have done us a great service by vividly capturing the memories, service and sacrifice of ordinary citizens who have answered the call of duty. This outstanding book is also a poignant reminder that our freedom comes at a high price that heroic Americans have paid in blood since our founding. --Carlo D'Este, author of Patton: A Genius for War Larry Williams and Katherine McLamore have assembled more than the notes and reminiscences of a scattering of men who fought for their country. This book is the heart of our collective conscience, the stories we must know, and those we must pass on to the future. The accounts in this marvelous book come from so many who are no longer here, who can no longer tell their stories. For the men included here from a more recent age, their stories ring no less true, and are no less important. Their day will come as well, and again, we must remember. This is a marvelous book. --Jeff Shaara, author of Gods and Generals and To Wake the Giant With their new book, Texas South Plains War Stories: Interviews with Veterans from World War II to Afghanistan, Larry A. Williams and Katherine McLamore have given us a rare look into the lives of our nation's military, brave individuals who have offered their lives to secure and maintain our country's freedom. These stories must be told, educating future generations, and reminding current generations of the high cost of the freedoms we enjoy in the United States. Williams and McLamore have interviewed countless individuals from several wars, detailing their personal stories, and preserving their memories in book form. In doing so, the authors have given us the opportunity to express our gratitude, to acknowledge these heroes' selfless contributions, and to know these brave men and women personally and individually before their stories are forever silenced. --Denise George, author of The Lost Eleven: The Forgotten Story of Black American Soldiers Brutally Massacred in WWII, with Robert Child As we lose more and more veterans from the Greatest Generation, it becomes critical that we recover and record for posterity the deeds and sacrifices they made for our freedom. This book goes a long way to doing that. Bravo! --Larry Loftis, international bestselling author of CODE NAME: LISE and Into the Lion's Mouth Texas South Plains War Stories is a valuable collection of stories from our veterans. Williams and McLamore have done a stellar job of recording these memories so that we all can learn from the experiences of men and women who went to war. --Gregory A. Freeman, author of The Forgotten 500.

Author Information

Larry A. Williams is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a retired businessman. He has written articles for the Army Chapter of the Chosin Few Newsletter, the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, the Lubbock Magazine and the Lubbock Senior Link Magazine. He lives in Lubbock, Texas. Katherine McLamore has recruited and trained hospice volunteers for over a decade. She has written for the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Prize 31 Ministries, and the Lubbock Senior Link Magazine. She lives in Lubbock, Texas.

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