Memorial Day Reflections
Remembering the courage and complexity that secured peace in WWII
This is a somber Memorial Day, in the wake of multiple horrific mass shootings, when America seems to be fighting an undeclared civil war and Russia seems intent on declaring WWIII. In this moment, I would like to suggest we pause and consider what it takes to actually win a war. The human sacrifices. The heroic courage and honorable values. And the incalculable complexity of motives, skills, and strategies that go into successful missions on, off, and around the battlefield.
While no historian, I’ve spent years studying the untold personal stories of real life WWII heroes as part of the research for my novels. I’ve also written essays about these stories, which never cease to fascinate me. So, in tribute to these heroes, I thought I’d share three of their stories with you here.
If these excerpts pique your curiosity, please click the button after each piece to read the whole story.
