Kayleen Reusser's Blog - Posts Tagged "wwii"
Book Launch a Success!
Kayleen Reusser
“Spectacular!”
“I never had so many people thank me for my service.”
Those are a few of the comments I heard from the 12 World War II veterans who accepted my invitation to attend a book launch party for my latest title, We Gave Our Best: American WWII Veterans Tell Their Stories.
It was held on November 3 at Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN. All 34 of the veterans whose stories are told in the book were invited. Some who could not attend due to distance, ill health, or because they were deceased were represented by family members.
Among those who attended were Lucille Clarke, a 98-year-old Navy SAC who served as a secretary during World War II. Another was Alvin Ping from Lebanon who worked aboard a submarine for the U.S. Navy.
They and the others were greeted by approximately 150 people of all ages. I kept an eye out while signing books and it looked from the conversations and happy faces on the veterans and the crowd that everyone had a good time.
More photos from the event, including one of every veteran who attended, are posted at my blog.
**
Since the book launch, I’ve had a spate of speaking gigs at libraries around the state of Indiana. Each opportunity to share information about the World War veterans I’ve interviewed and the places they’ve served is a privilege to me. I’m booking for 2019. Use the contact form at my website for more information.
If you’ve read my three World War II books, I’d really appreciate it if you would post a review on Amazon. Reviews help people find my books. Hopefully the message of our great national military heritage will continue to spread.
Thanks for your support!
“Spectacular!”
“I never had so many people thank me for my service.”
Those are a few of the comments I heard from the 12 World War II veterans who accepted my invitation to attend a book launch party for my latest title, We Gave Our Best: American WWII Veterans Tell Their Stories.
It was held on November 3 at Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN. All 34 of the veterans whose stories are told in the book were invited. Some who could not attend due to distance, ill health, or because they were deceased were represented by family members.
Among those who attended were Lucille Clarke, a 98-year-old Navy SAC who served as a secretary during World War II. Another was Alvin Ping from Lebanon who worked aboard a submarine for the U.S. Navy.
They and the others were greeted by approximately 150 people of all ages. I kept an eye out while signing books and it looked from the conversations and happy faces on the veterans and the crowd that everyone had a good time.
More photos from the event, including one of every veteran who attended, are posted at my blog.
**
Since the book launch, I’ve had a spate of speaking gigs at libraries around the state of Indiana. Each opportunity to share information about the World War veterans I’ve interviewed and the places they’ve served is a privilege to me. I’m booking for 2019. Use the contact form at my website for more information.
If you’ve read my three World War II books, I’d really appreciate it if you would post a review on Amazon. Reviews help people find my books. Hopefully the message of our great national military heritage will continue to spread.
Thanks for your support!
New Book Release: Captured!: Stories of American World War II Prisoners of War
Big news! It's a new book release!
The title of my new book is Captured!: Stories of American World War II Prisoners of War.
This felt like the right year to come out with this book's topic. Haven't we all felt like POWs at times -- we're told to stay home, lots of uncertainty and fear?
That's what these young men experienced -- 20 x over!
At my Wordpress blog (www.KayleenReusser.com) I posted on 10/27/20 to congratulate the US Navy for their birthday.
That happened to be my book release date so I shared an excerpt from this book of the story of a young sailor captured in the Java Sea by the Japanese:
“Abandon ship!”
William (‘Bill’) Ingram was below deck on the USS Houston when the ominous order was issued.
On February 28, 1942, the crew had become embroiled in yet another battle with the Japanese in the Java Sea. It was gritty and Ingram, a 17-year-old from Springfield, Illinois, tried to keep up with the rest of the crew’s actions while at general quarters.
Ingram was assigned duties of a powder monkey. This meant shoving powder bags loaded in two-and-a-half-foot projectiles up an elevator from the depths of the ship to a gun crew in the turret on deck.
The powder bags for the ship’s nine eight-inch guns could travel as far as 12 miles.
The Battle of the Java Sea was not the first time the crew of the Houston had nearly entered Davy Jones’ Locker. The entire time Ingram had been on board the crew was at general quarters (battle stations).
Ingram, youngest member of the 1,100-member crew, stayed in the turret so much that he never located his assigned bunk and locker. He slept under the turret and left it only to use the head (bathroom).
Recently, the Japanese had reported the Houston as sunk. The mighty vessel had, in
fact, evaded so many attacks that she was given the name, “The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast.”
…Ingram quickly jumped overboard but during the night was spotted by a Japanese patrol boat. The enemy!
Ingram knew he would soon drown from exhaustion. He had no choice but to go aboard the vessel. Barefoot and dressed only in underwear, he was interrogated by Japanese guards:
“What was your captain’s name on the Houston?”
“Who is greater, Roosevelt or Tojo?”
Although Ingram had been on the Houston for two months, in his fright and exhaustion he couldn't recall the captain’s name. He didn't recognize the name Tojo (the Japanese emperor), but knew the American president.
When he answered “Roosevelt”, his ignorance cost him a beating.
Disgusted with their inadequate captive, the guards threw Ingram overboard. As soon as his body hit the water, Ingram dived to dodge Japanese bullets pinging off the surface as enemy sailors shot at him.
Staying underwater until his lungs felt like bursting, he swam as far as possible before quietly going to the top for air.”
Sadly, Ingram was again captured and imprisoned in Burma where he was part of the slave labor building the Thai-Burma railroad. It would stretch 250 miles to Bangkok to transport Japanese troops and weapons in the Burma campaign of the war.
(end of excerpt)
Ingram, who was just 17-years-old when made a Prisoner of War, contracted dysentery but managed to survive three years of abuse, starvation and hard work. When the war ended, he was rescued and flown to a hospital in New York City where he received weeks of medical care.
Bill Ingram stayed in the Navy for 22 years, retiring at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.”
There is much more to the story of this guy who really loved serving his country in the Navy.
Thanks to all of our veterans who have served our country and continue to do so honorably and sacrificially.
The title of my new book is Captured!: Stories of American World War II Prisoners of War.
This felt like the right year to come out with this book's topic. Haven't we all felt like POWs at times -- we're told to stay home, lots of uncertainty and fear?
That's what these young men experienced -- 20 x over!
At my Wordpress blog (www.KayleenReusser.com) I posted on 10/27/20 to congratulate the US Navy for their birthday.
That happened to be my book release date so I shared an excerpt from this book of the story of a young sailor captured in the Java Sea by the Japanese:
“Abandon ship!”
William (‘Bill’) Ingram was below deck on the USS Houston when the ominous order was issued.
On February 28, 1942, the crew had become embroiled in yet another battle with the Japanese in the Java Sea. It was gritty and Ingram, a 17-year-old from Springfield, Illinois, tried to keep up with the rest of the crew’s actions while at general quarters.
Ingram was assigned duties of a powder monkey. This meant shoving powder bags loaded in two-and-a-half-foot projectiles up an elevator from the depths of the ship to a gun crew in the turret on deck.
The powder bags for the ship’s nine eight-inch guns could travel as far as 12 miles.
The Battle of the Java Sea was not the first time the crew of the Houston had nearly entered Davy Jones’ Locker. The entire time Ingram had been on board the crew was at general quarters (battle stations).
Ingram, youngest member of the 1,100-member crew, stayed in the turret so much that he never located his assigned bunk and locker. He slept under the turret and left it only to use the head (bathroom).
Recently, the Japanese had reported the Houston as sunk. The mighty vessel had, in
fact, evaded so many attacks that she was given the name, “The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast.”
…Ingram quickly jumped overboard but during the night was spotted by a Japanese patrol boat. The enemy!
Ingram knew he would soon drown from exhaustion. He had no choice but to go aboard the vessel. Barefoot and dressed only in underwear, he was interrogated by Japanese guards:
“What was your captain’s name on the Houston?”
“Who is greater, Roosevelt or Tojo?”
Although Ingram had been on the Houston for two months, in his fright and exhaustion he couldn't recall the captain’s name. He didn't recognize the name Tojo (the Japanese emperor), but knew the American president.
When he answered “Roosevelt”, his ignorance cost him a beating.
Disgusted with their inadequate captive, the guards threw Ingram overboard. As soon as his body hit the water, Ingram dived to dodge Japanese bullets pinging off the surface as enemy sailors shot at him.
Staying underwater until his lungs felt like bursting, he swam as far as possible before quietly going to the top for air.”
Sadly, Ingram was again captured and imprisoned in Burma where he was part of the slave labor building the Thai-Burma railroad. It would stretch 250 miles to Bangkok to transport Japanese troops and weapons in the Burma campaign of the war.
(end of excerpt)
Ingram, who was just 17-years-old when made a Prisoner of War, contracted dysentery but managed to survive three years of abuse, starvation and hard work. When the war ended, he was rescued and flown to a hospital in New York City where he received weeks of medical care.
Bill Ingram stayed in the Navy for 22 years, retiring at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.”
There is much more to the story of this guy who really loved serving his country in the Navy.
Thanks to all of our veterans who have served our country and continue to do so honorably and sacrificially.
Captured! Stories of American WWII POWs provides never-before-told tales
It has been a privilege over the past several years to have interviewed 260 World War II veterans. Their stories have fascinated me. Today few are left to tell their experiences. I now have the duty of putting their stories into books to preserve them for future generations.
My new book contains an unique assortment of never-before-told POW stories. You will read about a Jewish man who feared parachuting out of his plane shot down over Germany. Would his German captors kill him because of his faith?
One teen escaped his Japanese captors, only to be recaptured and forced to work on the Thai-Burma railroad.
A Bataan Death March survivor made it through three years of abuse, starvation, hard work– only to become so ill he didn't want to live.
Captured! Stories of American WWII Veterans is available on Amazon. https://amzn.to/31JXTHu.
Coming soon! We Defended Freedom: Adventures of World War II Veterans (release November 2020).
These books are available in print and soon on Kindle.
Thank a vet today for his/her service!
My new book contains an unique assortment of never-before-told POW stories. You will read about a Jewish man who feared parachuting out of his plane shot down over Germany. Would his German captors kill him because of his faith?
One teen escaped his Japanese captors, only to be recaptured and forced to work on the Thai-Burma railroad.
A Bataan Death March survivor made it through three years of abuse, starvation, hard work– only to become so ill he didn't want to live.
Captured! Stories of American WWII Veterans is available on Amazon. https://amzn.to/31JXTHu.
Coming soon! We Defended Freedom: Adventures of World War II Veterans (release November 2020).
These books are available in print and soon on Kindle.
Thank a vet today for his/her service!
