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P.S. Kiss the Duchess for Me: Letters from an Unknown Soldier
P.S. Kiss the Duchess for Me, a collection of letters written by Private Joe Moss during World War II, transports us back to the 1940s and allows us to see those turbulent years through the eyes of someone who experienced them firsthand. We are there with Joe as he goes through basic training. We are with him on the trains. We are with him in the French countryside "with the roar of guns as a background." This time capsule of a book honors not only Joe Moss, but also the countless other heroes known only to their families.
124 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2006
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June 16, 2009
In P.S. Kiss the Duchess For Me, Joe Rossi acts as editor for his grandfather, Joe Moss, who was killed in World War II. Through Moss’ own words in the form of letters sent back home to his wife and daughter (the Duchess of the title) we follow him through the rigorous 17 weeks of boot camp that transforms a civilian into a combat ready infantryman. We’re there with him during 5 mile full pack forced marches, gas mask drills, KP, and leave. We experience his hopes to get into OCS (Officer Candidate School), or for the sake of his young family to get into a branch of the service not directly involved in fighting. We’re given a glimpse of Joe Moss’ furlough through photos taken at the time of the visit which would turn out to be the last time his wife and daughter saw him. Upon his return to camp we witness his return to training and then the rather fast moving deployment to England, and finally the battlefields of France shortly before his death. Knowing Joe’s fate doesn’t make the ending any less poignant, especially after getting to know Joe and his family. Like the letters from ordinary soldiers read in Ken Burns’ Civil War series through Joe’s eyes we experience not only his, but a generations fears, dreams, hopes and their visions of the future and of the world they wanted to create.
When Joe Rossi was trying to find a publisher for P.S. he was told that there wasn’t a market for the book because the story was to common and unremarkable. But every soldiers story is remarkable for the sacrifices they made not only of themselves, but for their families, and of the plans they had for their own lives. Every family that has been in America for at least the last 70 years or so will have family members who were in the war and have stories to tell, this book reminded me of my own grandfather’s tales unfortunately none of those were committed to the page. Reading this book will give you insight into the experience of the soldier, an experience that’s unfortunately still needed in this world, and maybe encourage the reader to seek the stories in their own lives. The difference between Joe’s story and other soldiers may just be the desire to get it out to the world.
When Joe Rossi was trying to find a publisher for P.S. he was told that there wasn’t a market for the book because the story was to common and unremarkable. But every soldiers story is remarkable for the sacrifices they made not only of themselves, but for their families, and of the plans they had for their own lives. Every family that has been in America for at least the last 70 years or so will have family members who were in the war and have stories to tell, this book reminded me of my own grandfather’s tales unfortunately none of those were committed to the page. Reading this book will give you insight into the experience of the soldier, an experience that’s unfortunately still needed in this world, and maybe encourage the reader to seek the stories in their own lives. The difference between Joe’s story and other soldiers may just be the desire to get it out to the world.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review