Schoolboy to Helldiver

by Emily Townes, Alex Townes (Editor)

This is a collection of one hundred and seventy seven letters written during World War II by John Manchester of Nashville, Tennessee. They encompass his enrollment, training and service in the Naval Air Corps between December 1, 1942 and November 13, 1944 including his final service on the aircraft carrier, the USS Ticonderoga . These letters reveal the exhilaration of youthful adventure, then development of toughness and endurance, and finally the startling realization that war with the Japanese would be his destiny. “Egad! I’m actually going” he wrote to his mother after he and his buddy, Dugan Doyle, convinced the Commander to accept them as volunteer replacements on the carrier Ticonderoga. They were the youngest pilots on the ship.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 23, 2006

Reviews

[Will Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Intimate Reading of a Special American Family's Ultimate Sacrifice in WWII

I am so blessed to know this family, as they and their children have been an inspiration to me and my family for many years, and I still cherish moments of remembered friendship. My earthly father and Dr. Paul Manchester, 2 Language Professors at Vanderbilt U. in Nashville, TN, worked together to create a book translation of epic poetry in The Araucaniad. For this literary work they together received a Medal Award of literary excellence from the Chilean Ambassador in Mexico City in 1950, the year I was born. And both my Dad and Mom loved the company and friendship of Paul and Emeline Manchester. And I did too! They both were so pleasant and interested in me and my other siblings as well. ( to be continued)