You never know what you will see in England. A duck sitting on a brick wall - talk about keeping calm! This was taken in Eastbourne, England in June of 2012. I loved all the different color greens of the trees and the bushes and the bright green of the feathers on the mallard's head. And look at the bright blue under the wing, I love the color of this bird! (Mall-ARD, you must pronounce it there, not Mall-erd, the way we say it in the USA!) And isn't this a sweet walk, don't you just want to keep walking along this path?
If you have been reading my blog for a time, you might know that I love to read any books written by veterans of World War II. I spoke with many of the veterans when I worked for many years as a travel agent arranging their army/navy reunions. I have written about Louis Zamperini and how, when I read "Devil At My Heels" in 2004, I wrote a letter to the publisher and Mr. Zamperini actually wrote me back! He even told me when Laura Hillenbrand was writing a book about him. ("Unbroken") It was finally released in November 2010, and it is now in development for a movie! I can't wait to see who will play Louis Zamperini and I can't wait for the movie! I also told you about W.S. Connor who was an Army veteran from World War II and was a survivor of the Leopoldville which was kept top-secret for 50 years. After being rescued from the freezing waters of the English Channel, he then went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. I was able to get him to speak at my boss's Rotary Club Meeting, and I am glad that I was able to convince him to do so...
Now, I must tell you about a book that just came out a few weeks ago, and the name of the book is "A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat And Chivalry In The War Torn Skies Of World War II" and it is written by Adam Makos and Larry Alexander. You may look this book up on any of the book websites but you may order the book at Valor Studios and you may find it here.
I really can't tell you that much about the book since I have only read just a bit about it, but it sounds as if it is an extraordinary tale... A young American pilot, Charlie Brown being escorted to safety by a German pilot, Franz Stigler. From the sound of it, they were forced to remain silent about it for many years. If you click on the link above to Valor Studios and order a book from there, it looks as if it includes a bookplate with not only the author's signature, Adam Makos, but also an American pilot and a German pilot who were advisors to the author in the writing of this book.
Now, before anyone asks me, no I don't get anything for telling you about this book. Are you kidding me? I am the worst book reviewer ever! And Adam Makos and Valor Studios doesn't know me from a sack of potatoes. I just found out about this book today and am sharing this with you. When it is made into a movie, you can say that you read it here first! (Maybe everyone else knows this book, and I am the last to know!)
Thanks everyone, who took the time to leave me comments on how I might be able to get new photos to go onto my posts. It is still not working but I live in hope!
Lovely, serene MallARD :) Thanks for the book recommendation!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I know that YOU know how to say it like Richard! :-)
DeleteIf you get a chance to read that book, let me know what you think!
My Mom was a young woman during WW2 and right after the war married my Dad who had served in Europe with the Canadian army. She read Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" and loved it! I'm glad to hear it's being made into a movie.
ReplyDeleteMr. Zamperini wrote that the book was so real to him, that he had to look out the window as he was reading it to remind him that he wasn't back in the prison camp.
DeleteYou should be proud of your Dad's service!
As a recent follower of your blog this is all new to me and very interesting it is too.
ReplyDeleteGraham,
DeleteI feel very honored to have met and talked with so many men who served in World War II. I lived in England in 1985 and I also spoke with vets there. I remember one who, when he heard my accent, said, "Oh, an AMERICAN, how de-LIGHT-ful!", in a posh kind of accent. This was very memorable to me, since often times, people would ask me if I had a New Zealand accent, and when I told them it was an American one, they would be disappointed! (I think they had been to New Zealand and wanted to tell me how much they loved it.)
That photo worked OK.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, but that was one that I had either had on my blog before, or else one that I had on there and decided not to use... very confusing to me!
DeleteSounds like a great story Kay.It must be so frustrating for you not being able to use any new photos!
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating, I have some new photos that I want to put on here, but can't.
DeleteIf you don't read the book, look out for "The Unbroken" movie. "I never met anybody who didn't like Louie", that is what his brother said about him and you will find out why...what a guy!!
So sorry you can't do photographs yet. I know how frustrating that can be! And thank you for posting about these books. I like to read homefront books best myself, but am always interested. Have you read any of Ernie Pyle?
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I remember Ernie Pyle, he was a newspaper reporter who wrote from the front lines during World War II.
DeleteI must tell you that newspaper journalists are my favorite kind of writers. If you know of any book that is written by a journalist, then that is the book for me!
My Sweetie and his brother are friends with several WWII veterans, through work and through a local history group here. It's amazing to talk to them, i would imagine the stories, if written down, would fill a library.
ReplyDeleteAnd what is more, we are losing our World War II vets every day. More and more are speaking about their experiences, and I hope they are finally getting the respect they deserve. It is my belief that they deserve the title "The Greatest Generation".
DeleteMy Dad had amazing stories of his WWII service. He was a liberator of the death camps...and my Uncle was undercover in Greece since he spoke the language...he fought with the resistance there and later....50ys later..went back to Greece to get medals. His family never knew about his actions during the war since it was top secret. Great stuff. I will look forward to the movies and books!
ReplyDeleteWell, I just think that is fascinating! You should research it and write a book about it. I would.
DeleteThe Leopoldville that I mentioned in my blog? Mr. Connor said that it was kept top secret for 50 years, and he is right, I looked it up! They were told if they spoke about it, they could lose their army benefits!
Let me know if you read any of these books, or see the "Unbroken" movie when it comes out.
LOL, we have a lake at the end of our street so I often see mallards sitting on walls and cars and hedges and roof tops, and wandering in and out of everyone's gardens looking for food and nesting places. I just love how they waddle around quietly mumbling to themselves.
ReplyDeleteOh Julie, thanks for your Mall-ARD comment! We loved seeing that duck on that wall, and even though Richard took the photo, I am the one who DIRECTED him to do so!
DeleteHaving lost my Dad, a WWII vet a year and a haf ago I'm still having difficulty reading stories about that amazing generation. When i get over my grief i will try to read that story, it sounds like a small light that shone in a very very dark time.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry about the loss of your father.
DeletePlease know that I truly think that the title "The Greatest Generation" is well deserved.
It really DOES sound like an amazing story, and one that is hopeful and inspiring. God knows we need more stories like that now.
Thank you for the book recommendation, Kay!
ReplyDeleteI like book reviews by REAL people. The critics don't always get it right! Or maybe I should say, I don't always agree with them.
Have a good day - hopefully, reading more of "A Higher Call."
I have trouble reviewing books. I just want to say, here is a good book, READ IT!
DeleteI only just found out about this book, I have ordered it from Valor Studios, from the same link that I gave you, but I will read it as soon as they ship it to me!
This sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the recommendation, Kay. I am adding it to my wish list. Another WWII book I have on my wish list is Gillian Mawson's book called 'Guernsey Evacuees: The Forgotten Evacuees of the Second World War'. It tells the story of evacuees who fled the Channel Islands to mainland Britain, just a few days prior to the German Occupation of their islands. I have so many books in my to read pile, I have to hold off on buying anymore, until I read a few. I think these two will be the next ones I purchase.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mairead, and I will also make a note of the book that you have mentioned. In 2004, did you see "Island At War"? It was ...I think it was a TV series from England and it was set in the Channel islands during World War II. It was very well done.
DeleteAnd I know what you mean about a book list, my list keeps getting longer, I can't read like I once could, my time and eyes don't allow it! :-)
Thanks for your comment, my friend! I love my Irish Calendar! xx
Kay...
ReplyDeleteTry a different browser. I use Chrome and love it. I found this link that might help you load your pictures to Blogger.
http://support.google.com/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=42538
I use Picasa from google as my photo editor ( picasa.google.com/ ). I download all of my photos from my camera and phone there and upload them to Blogger with the "Blog This" feature. Works beautifully and you can upload multiple photos.
Here is how to add the Blog This button to the new version of Picasa because it's hidden.
http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/picasa/B8OMGa3ymsE
Good luck.
Rosemary
Rosemary,
DeleteYou are such a doll to leave me such helpful advice!
I will have Richard help me with your notes here and see if that solves this problem.
THANKS so much, I appreciate it!!
I had not heard about this book until you wrote about it here, Kay. It sounds like a gripping story, and the best thing about it is that it really happened, and its main characters are still alive. Too many have lost their lives in war (and continue to do so), therefore it makes a refreshing change to read some people did not forget the good aspects of being human.
ReplyDeleteDear Meike,
DeleteThis really sounds like such an extraordinary story and I am very thankful that both pilots are still here to share this true story.
I have ordered this book and will talk more about it, after I have read it!!
(Just like me, to talk about a book I haven't even read yet!) :-)
I didn't know you were a fan of books about WWII. I've got a great one I'd love to send you. The most remarkable book I've seen on the war. It's by a Frenchman who was forced to fight for the Nazis, then he got captured by the Russians and ended up fighting with them. It is an amazing story. Dave in DC
ReplyDeleteHey Dave!
DeleteOh yes, that sounds very much like a book that I would like to read. Tell me the name of it, and I could get it at the library. We have a very nice one in Conyers, you know, but it's not as nice since one of the BEST librarians moved away! Wink, wink!