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War Stories
Saving and sharing the memories of our past before they're lost and gone forever


The Numbers Tell it All
More men and women served in World War II than in any other war in American history, and the numbers speak of the huge sacrifice they...
Nov 13, 20151 min read


A Snapshot of History
Remember this famous World War II photograph? It was taken in New York on V-J (Victory over Japan) Day, August 14, 1945, and was the...
Apr 27, 20151 min read


A Yankee Army Invades Ft. McClellan and the Hearts of Anniston
Before Songbird began in May 1943 and Edwin, Barry, and Sydney ever saw Ft. McClellan, the real-life 27th Division from New York made the...
Mar 30, 20152 min read


Nylons Help Win the War!
Women sacrificed many things during World War II, including their nylon stockings! DuPont began producing the popular hosiery in 1939,...
Mar 5, 20151 min read


Party Like it's 1943!
A new year always makes me reflect on new beginnings and think back to old beginnings. Songbird begins on May 28, 1943. As we look...
Jan 9, 20151 min read


A War-Time Christmas List
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If you were buying for a World War II soldier, what would you buy? According to a 1941...
Dec 5, 20141 min read


The Art of War
Even in war, art must go on! Edouard Patte, a Red Cross Inspector, was surprised to find an art studio when he visited Fort McClellan’s...
Nov 21, 20142 min read


German Soldiers in Alabama!
German soldiers in Alabama! For those living in the state during World War II, it was a startling realty. In the summer of 1943,...
Nov 14, 20142 min read


Thank You!
Veterans Day began on November 11, 1919 as Armistice Day to commemorate peace between the Allied Nations and Germany during World War I...
Nov 6, 20141 min read


A Wonderful Life Worth Remembering
In 1941, men from all over America were racing to enlistment offices to “join up” and “fight the good fight” against Hitler and his war...
Oct 10, 20142 min read


Hitler's Most Wanted
Do you know which actor was Hitler’s favorite? The leader of the Nazi Army liked this actor with German ancestry so much he even offered...
Oct 3, 20141 min read


The March of Dimes
World War II brought many changes to the world both during and after the war, and not all of the changes were bad. Did you know Americans...
Sep 5, 20141 min read


The Monuments Men: The Great Importance of a Mediocre Movie
This blog is typically focused on retelling and preserving the stories of the World War II era. As such, a movie review of a current film...
Aug 28, 20143 min read


The Most Atrocious Thing You've Never Heard
When I wrote Songbird, I wanted to learn and write about what life was like for men and, in particular, women on the home front - the...
Aug 22, 20142 min read


Not All Wounds Are Visible
Post-traumatic stress disorder was a term coined in 1980 but experienced by many returning World War II veterans. The husband, son, or...
Aug 15, 20142 min read


Never Forget. Never Again.
This past week I have been reading first-hand accounts from soldiers who helped liberate concentration camps in Germany. These two...
Jul 10, 20143 min read


Feasting on the War Front!
Ever wonder what a World War II soldier ate? A soldier at the front lines ate K-rations, which were three individually wrapped boxed...
Jul 5, 20141 min read


Firsthand Account of Omaha Beach on D-Day
Last week, I wrote about the book War Letters that I am rereading and shared some personal letters that soldiers throughout American...
Jun 16, 20142 min read


War Letters
I am rereading a wonderful book. It is War Letters edited by Andrew Carroll. The book is a collection of letters, giving special insight...
Jun 9, 20142 min read


We Can Do It!
Have you ever wondered just what exactly “Rosie the Riveter” did for the war effort? This fictional wartime heroine based on hundreds of...
May 22, 20142 min read
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