moonbridgebooks

Imagine being over 100 years old. You are an antique, and a huge history tome. Two men from the United Kingdom, Harry Patch, age 110, and Henry Allingham, age 112, have produced memoirs in their extreme golden years. Patch’s book, The Last Fighting Tommy, is the stuff of legend: life in Edwardian England and survival through two world wars, fighting in the first and working the home front in the second. Allingham’s book, Kitchener’s Last Volunteer, though perhaps less spectacular, witnesses horse-drawn carriages making way for autos and then airplanes. During WWI Allingham worked in airplane maintenance, and flew patrols – an act of bravery in those early days of brand new flight technology. Perhaps Allingham has the most interesting background to his memoir, though…

According to the UK Telegraph article, Allingham was “discovered,” by David Goodman who founded the WWI Veteran’s Association. Allingham was “waiting to die” until Goodman persuaded him that his stories were important. Now Allingham has a purpose to live, traveling about giving talks to school kids, giving interviews, and being active in veterans remembrance programs. Patch and Allingham were everyday people going about their everyday lives. Amazing what is behind “everyday.”

For another look at WWI stories, take a look at Veterans: The Last Survivors of the Great War, by Richard van Emden – priceless! Did you know that Veterans Day, Nov 11, marks the anniversary of the end of WWI? Originally, “Armistice Day” honored WWI vets; as of 1954 it now honors all vets.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com

In honor of Veteran’s Day today, I post three more memoirs about war. Writer Joe Garland, at age 85, has completed his book, Unknown Soldiers, based on his diary entries from WWII, in what he calls his most difficult writing effort yet. The book deals with the mental trauma of war and the “code of silence” that afflicts many vets when it comes to war memories. Garland hopes his memoir, which includes stories of other survivors from his unit, will join other personal war accounts as a message for peace.

Peter Mansoor, a brigade commander in Iraq for two years during the worst of times, returned to Iraq as an organizer of the counterinsurgency in 2007. He is author of Baghdad at Sunrise, turning his combat journal into a memoir inspired by Ulysses S. Grant’s fair and dispassionate writings. In allowing several years to pass after his duties, Mansoor was able to look back with more perception and balance, and with better context – important for any memoir, but especially for one with controversial subjects.

Melia Meichelbach’s book, In The Company of Soldiers, is a finalist in the 2008 National Best Books Award, Autobiography/Memoir category, in the annual contest sponsored by USA Book News. Giving a unique woman’s perspective of the war on the front lines in Iraq, Meichelbach, who has won several medals for her role in the war, gives a candid and often funny look at her life amongst men in the military. Ten percent of book profits go to disabled vets.

Three memoirs with three different purposes: One is a message, wishing for no more war because of the terrible human toll taken; one is informative, the study of a war; one is both informative and meant to entertain. Depending on your taste and interest, you may take your pick. For Veteran’s Day, honor a soldier by listening and learning and thanking him or her for their service.

By the way, I just read in my local newspaper that the Ford Mustang’s name was actually inspired by the P-51 Mustang fighter plane used in WWII. The sweet yellow pony in my driveway takes on new meaning.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com