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Civil War Fathers: Sons of the Civil War in World War II
Civil War Fathers is the story of eight American families whose fathers fought in the Civil War and whose sons and daughters fought in World War II. It evolved from an interview project involving middle school children in Peoria, Illinois, into an amazing book encompassing almost 100 years of American history in two generations. Based on interviews with the surviving WWII veterans, this absorbing book views the Civil War through the eyes of children listening to their father s stories, and World War II through the eyes of the same children as grown up participants. The primary focus of the book, however, is the broad span of social, cultural, and economic change that swept the country over nine decades. The eight families profiled in Civil War Fathers are as diverse as would be expected from any group of eight randomly selected American families, yet their stories all share similar themes and values. For the Civil War generation, reasons for joining the Union forces and duties performed during the war cover the full span of thought and warfare for the period. For the World War II generation, their participation covered even wider areas of involvement, reflecting the technological and societal changes in warfare. Their reasons for joining the war, while more consistent than their Civil War fathers, were quite varied as well.
For all those interviewed, the one constant was that their early lives were full of challenges and change. The technological innovations in the early twentieth century seemed to arrive nonstop, but throughout it all, family and community remained at the center of their lives. As farmland gave way to cities, and hard outdoor labor yielded to factory and office jobs, these families evolved and remained a vibrant part of the American culture.
Civil War Fathers not only highlights these remarkable families, but offers a rare glimpse into the heart of middle America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the eyes of these eight families. It chronicles the changes from the Civil War to World War II that helped to create the America of today, and through the colorful and varied narratives recreates a very different time in America. Civil War Fathers is a must for all Americana, Civil War, and World War II collections. A surprising premise and compelling history...
For all those interviewed, the one constant was that their early lives were full of challenges and change. The technological innovations in the early twentieth century seemed to arrive nonstop, but throughout it all, family and community remained at the center of their lives. As farmland gave way to cities, and hard outdoor labor yielded to factory and office jobs, these families evolved and remained a vibrant part of the American culture.
Civil War Fathers not only highlights these remarkable families, but offers a rare glimpse into the heart of middle America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the eyes of these eight families. It chronicles the changes from the Civil War to World War II that helped to create the America of today, and through the colorful and varied narratives recreates a very different time in America. Civil War Fathers is a must for all Americana, Civil War, and World War II collections. A surprising premise and compelling history...
290 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 27, 2018
I was in Pekin, IL for an event and there was a festival in the park. Tim Pletkovich had a table, and I stopped to chat. What a wonderful surprise to be introduced to his book. I've been watching the news and noticing we are losing our WWII vets, and his book remembering their Civil war fathers is inspiring. We so often don't realize history is standing next to us. Great stories, and I suggest this to everyone who loves history, and the reminder to pay attention.
April 20, 2020
Tim Pletkovich, as a teacher in the Midwest, assigned some of his students to contact the members of a list he had obtained from a veteran’s organization of former Union soldiers of the GAR (Grand Old Army of the Republic). These survivors of our bloody Civil War returned, married, and had children, often when they were in their seventies or eighties. Pletkovich’s students interviewed the children of those Civil War veterans if they participated in World War II. Such a study, it was felt, would yield some interesting comparisons between the fathers’ experience in the Civil War with those of their children in WW II.
No one truly famous is interviewed in this study. Nevertheless, the stories revealed here are interesting. Pletkovich’s role is that of an editor rather than an author. The content is primarily reminiscences of the children; what they remember of their fathers and what they may know of their parent’s experiences during the war. In each case study, those remembrances are followed up by the interviewee’s own story. They are asked to comment on their own wartime experiences.
The text consists mostly of each participant’s own words. Consequently, you will find some of it repetitious at times. However, their stories are related in a straightforward, genuine manner. This is what gives the book an authentic feel. At the end you’ll wish you had the opportunity to speak to these children of Civil War fathers yourself.
No one truly famous is interviewed in this study. Nevertheless, the stories revealed here are interesting. Pletkovich’s role is that of an editor rather than an author. The content is primarily reminiscences of the children; what they remember of their fathers and what they may know of their parent’s experiences during the war. In each case study, those remembrances are followed up by the interviewee’s own story. They are asked to comment on their own wartime experiences.
The text consists mostly of each participant’s own words. Consequently, you will find some of it repetitious at times. However, their stories are related in a straightforward, genuine manner. This is what gives the book an authentic feel. At the end you’ll wish you had the opportunity to speak to these children of Civil War fathers yourself.
May 9, 2020
Fantastic book with many anecdotes from the Second World War and remembrances of the soldiers Civil War fathers. Of course the Civil War remembrances are not as detailed as the WWII parts but of course these men were young and their elderly fathers died early in their lives.
This book represents a very particular and interesting group of people.
Some of the biography sections are better than other but that relies on the storytelling abilities of the veterans themselves. Can’t find it in my head to fault any of them or the author for some sections which may be a bit dry.
What I really loved about this book was the insight into personal histories. Many veterans share detailed descriptions of how they, their families, and the public felt at different times during, as well as before and after, the war. So often the important moments in a persons life are set by the sideline for stories of frontline combat and valor etc. This book is much more grounded, looking at veterans who played parts in often unspoken roles. From oil-carrying merchant shipmen in the pacific to logistics and supply officers in Iceland. The most compelling narratives are not those of battle but of humorous letters, creative solutions to problems off of the front line, and especially the special bond between father and son.
Thank you to all who contributed.
This book represents a very particular and interesting group of people.
Some of the biography sections are better than other but that relies on the storytelling abilities of the veterans themselves. Can’t find it in my head to fault any of them or the author for some sections which may be a bit dry.
What I really loved about this book was the insight into personal histories. Many veterans share detailed descriptions of how they, their families, and the public felt at different times during, as well as before and after, the war. So often the important moments in a persons life are set by the sideline for stories of frontline combat and valor etc. This book is much more grounded, looking at veterans who played parts in often unspoken roles. From oil-carrying merchant shipmen in the pacific to logistics and supply officers in Iceland. The most compelling narratives are not those of battle but of humorous letters, creative solutions to problems off of the front line, and especially the special bond between father and son.
Thank you to all who contributed.
November 6, 2014
I hated getting to the end of the book, enjoying all the interviews so very much.
I was hooked with the introduction. The comments about his middle school students, their sense of urgency with the project, and not "teaching to the test" all reflect what education should be about.
The author's efforts are an uplifting example of what young people are capable of achieving, and I am thankful for them.
The interviews themselves reminded me so much of "The Glory of Their Times", the classic collection of interviews with early major league
baseball players by Lawrence Ritter. The stories were fascinating and I felt as though I were enjoying a visit with the families myself.
I was hooked with the introduction. The comments about his middle school students, their sense of urgency with the project, and not "teaching to the test" all reflect what education should be about.
The author's efforts are an uplifting example of what young people are capable of achieving, and I am thankful for them.
The interviews themselves reminded me so much of "The Glory of Their Times", the classic collection of interviews with early major league
baseball players by Lawrence Ritter. The stories were fascinating and I felt as though I were enjoying a visit with the families myself.
September 17, 2012
There's a chapter in this book about my dad! When he was born, his father was nearly 76 years old. He (my grandfather) fought in the Civil War (Cavalry), and my father was in the Navy in World War II. It may be difficult to believe but there actually are still a (dwindling) number of "True" or "Real" Sons and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
February 3, 2016
What makes this book interesting is the fact that people who had experienced World War II firsthand wrote about those experiences and their experiences with their fathers who had fought in the Civil War. It is a long stretch between both wars but because their fathers were in their 70s and 80s when they had their sons with younger women, these men lived a rare experience. Truly interesting.
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September 11, 2013Few stories capture the compelling nature of generational loyalty to country as does, "Civil War Fathers" in which Tim Pletkovich offers the incredible, but true stories, of World War II soldiers, whose fathers fought in the Civil War.
Terry Martin
Executive Director
Illinois Channel
Terry Martin
Executive Director
Illinois Channel
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews