No Ceremony, No Parade

No Ceremony, No Parade

June 1945 ushered in a sudden adjustment to the concept of peace. Major Charity Adams and the 855 soldiers in her unit, the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, were all contemplating a return home to America and to civilian life. There were still challenges for,...
War Ends in Europe

War Ends in Europe

On May 8th, 1945, the war ended in Europe. While people were dancing in the street in Times Square, New York City Policewoman Mae Foley was on her way downtown. She’d taken the 7 train into Midtown from Queens that morning but didn’t realize she wouldn’t be able to...
Tipping Point

Tipping Point

By April 1945, the tipping point had not only been reached, but it was rapidly fading into the past. In Europe, Patton’s Third Army was heading into Germany. The end was near. Everyone could feel it coming. Millie Rexroat and her fellow WASP pilots were suddenly...
Going For Gold

Going For Gold

Watching so much of the Olympics in August was a wonderful way to celebrate the ways in which people find and groom their specialized and particular skills to the very height of competitive excellence. Seeing how hard world-class athletes work to maintain their...
The Torchbearer of Freedom

The Torchbearer of Freedom

I’ve been rereading some of the information on the incredible Mary Barraco and I continue to learn more about her remarkable penchant for giving back in her later years. While she fought with the resistance in Belgium during World War II, was imprisoned and tortured,...