Four Blue Stars in the Window

by Barbara Eymann Mohrman

Fifty years ago, a young girl opened a cardboard box in her basement. Long forgotten, it contained her father’s World War II uniform, vintage photos, semaphore flags, and other WWII keepsakes. The box opened up a world of pain and joy to author Barbara Eymann Mohrman as she set out on a personal journey to trace her family history, and inadvertently, unspoken Eymann family secrets.

This is the story of hard-scrabble life in rural Oakdale, Nebraska (population 561) starting in the heyday of the 1920s. Chriss Eymann, a newly arrived Swiss immigrant and his wife, Hattie Mae, raised ten children on the Dust Bowl-ravaged plains during the 1930s in the depths of the Great Depression.

But their greatest sacrifice was yet to come—when they sent four young sons off to war in the South Pacific and Europe. The mother’s flag with its four blue stars proudly displayed the family’s precious contribution to the war effort. The story traces in detail and vintage photos from 1930 to 1947 the anguish, danger, and their everlasting hope with some surprising family news that brings the story full circle.

"An Honest and heartfelt family story. Highly recommended" -- Midwest Book Review

Genres: Nonfiction, World War II, Book Club, Biography

349 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2013

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was poking around the Internet one night, researching family history, looking for Eymann hints, and I was astonished to come across this book. Turns out that this family is a branch from my Eymann tree; Chriss Eymann, the patriarch of the Four Blue Stars, was the brother of my great-grandmother, Bertha Eymann Stern.

Although this is ultimately a book about four brothers serving in World War II, I found the parts about their life growing up in Oakdale, Nebraska as well as the truth about Chriss to be the most interesting. I felt the book was well-researched in regards to the war...almost too well-researched. I would have much rather read more first-hand accounts from the brothers. I feel that's where Mohrman's writing really shines.

My Eymann family and Mohrman's Eymann family split off in different directions nearly 100 years ago, after coming to Nebraska from Switzerland around the turn of the century. Some Eymanns stayed in Oakdale, some even returned to Europe. My Eymanns moved to Omaha to work in the packing plants.

My great-grandmother hated living in America. She refused to speak English. From all accounts, she spent most of her time in her room, only emerging to cook meals. She was most likely clinically depressed, but that diagnosis was only acted upon in the most severe circumstances in her time.

So it was not a surprise to find out about Chriss. It made me sad that his family refused to even speak his name. But it was oddly reassuring (?) to discover that Bertha was not an isolated case in our family.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of an immigrant family who came to Nebraska from Europe. They live on the edge of a farm where the father works. They suffer through the dust bowl,the grasshoppers and the Great Depression. Then comes World War Two. Four of the boys go off to war.

This book is interesting but more so since my husband lived in Oakdale, their home town. My husband’s best friend was Bob Sharples and there are pictures of the Sharples in the book.

I reread the book for book club. I was struck by the heroism of the boys. One won the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery in the battle of Leyte Gulf. Another led his co-prisoners to defy the German leaders at his concentration camp. They wanted all the Jewish prisoners to step forward. He led,them in not doing so. His name is on the Wall of Heroes honoring the people who did remarkable things to save Jews in WWII. It is interesting that I did not pick this up the first time.

[Louise Mayhew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Blue Stars in the Window by Barbara Eymann Mohrman was a read for our book club. It is the story of the author's parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents covering the 1930's through the mid 1940s. The Eymann family had four sons that served in World War II. Three were in the Navy and were stationed in the Pacific. The fourth was in the army in France. The battle of Leyte Gulf at the Philippines got quite a bit of coverage and I learned a lot about that battle. Also the battle at Okinawa was covered as one of the boys was on a ship that was hit by kamikazi planes and the carnage was related quite vividly. The homefront was also covered by how the family at home were changed by this war. This took place in northeastern Nebraska and lays out the troubles this large family had with the Depression and the Dust Bowl days and how the family worked to make ends meet. There was quite a bit of swearing by members of the family.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent,highly recommended

Totally enjoyed the book! Obviously a family with deep commitments to each other as well as love. Their parents did a wonderful job raising them and instilling strong values in each of them. I am familiar with that area of Nebraska and I must say that children are still brought there with these values. Good,honest hard-working people who care about their country,their community and each other. As to what happened to Chriss I feel he probably had a medical issue that probably would be recognized today but not known at that time.my next trip to the west(I live in Florida) will include a trip to Oakdale. Wonderful job Barbara

[Kelly Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story and Telling

Enjoyed this immensely. My family spent a few years living down the road from Mick and Doris, and I remember his character here. Living and growing up in Tilden, Oakdale and Neligh was like this and developed a certain character in people who lived and worked there. This is a great tribute to them as well as a great Eyeman family. Worth the read for anyone.

[Julie Reiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Although it’s not the best written book I’ve read, the story and details and history of this family and their struggles and service during the WWII era is a story worth reading.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a signed copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I read a lot of historical fiction and thought I knew a lot about WWII stories especially. The author, Barbara Eymann Mohrman, turned her family's history into a book that is fascinating to read and reads like a novel. Her aunts and uncles and grandparents are true characters to readers outside of their family. Eymann did a lot of research and it shows throughout the book. I found that I really couldn't put this down as I had to find out what happened to the 4 sons who went to war. I also kept thinking about who the author's parents were - and I'm so glad she added that information at the end of the book. The one thing I am left curious about is whether or not Ton could have opted out of his draft notice as he would have been the remaining 'farmhand' son left to help his father (Mick was quite younger at the time). I will be doing some further research into that subject.

I feel like the Eymann family is a great example of down-home Midwestern values and I certainly feel proud that they were representing America; and still are.

[Tami Workman Eshleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Blue Stars in the Window leads the reader through the lives of a hardworking family in rural Nebraska during some of the worst economic times in history. The author uses descriptive writing that magically places the reader among the characters in her family’s story. As a fellow educator who taught history, I appreciate the historically accurate events written about in the book. The author spent extensive amounts of time and energy to honor the time period. The story may be set in the 1930s and 1940s, but the characters are real and typical of Midwestern families. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the rich history of rural America and influence still felt today.

[Molly O'Holleran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets of our past float like wisps of smoke on the edges of our memories. Most people hear fragments of these historic familial moments, yet they let these wisps dissipate along with the stories. Barb Mohrman has managed to capitalize on the oral tradition and historical artifacts of her family. The puzzle pieces of Four Blue Stars in the Window are combined in a crescendo of language vibrant with authenticity and humor. This author has managed to share both the pain and the pleasure of a family ravaged by war and its secrets yet uplifted by heroism and the binding love of family. It is a worthy read!

Molly O'Holleran
January 2013Four Blue Stars in the Window: One Family's Story of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the Duty of a Generation

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times the author sent me to eras in my past, flooding my mind with the innocent memories of childhood. At other times she would bring me back to the realities of life in general for many people. It was the innocence of childhood, betrayal of love, maturing to adulthood, history lessons, despair, exuberance, poverty, richness, but most of all, an opening of a window to a family's heart and soul. An outstanding read.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story of farm family in Nebraska who had four sons in WWII. Author (granddaughter) did good job constructing a story. I heard about this book thru a P.E.O. magazine and think I expected a happy, sentimental story. I was disappointed at the swearing, and disappointed with some of the brother's choices in marriage. However, it was educational to be part of the tragedy and hardships that WWII families went thru.

[Ramona · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just okay. It reads like family history project because it lacks the depth to make it a more universal tale. Thousands of American families have the same bones: immigrants, Depression, boys in WWII. The author doesn't make those connections and misses the chance to tell a story that encapsulates an American experience and not just one family's.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Based on a true story of a family from Oakland, NE. The struggles to feed & care for the family before & during the great depression, sending sons to war. You really get to know the family and having relatives that lived in that era and knowing the struggles it really brings it home. would highly recommend it.

[Harriet Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pleased to recommend this book written by a fellow Nebraskan. The personal interviews and oral history from family members adds so much to the story. When I got to the war stories, it was pretty hard to put down.

[Mary Matzen jorgensen]

Barbara did a great job of telling her families story. Steve was a fine surprise ending.