Pitching My Way Through World War II: Letters Home To North Dakota

Joy V. Bliss; Rosanne E. Bliss; G. L. Dybwad

 
9780963161260: Pitching My Way Through World War II: Letters Home To North Dakota

Inhaltsangabe

This World War II history is based on Vernon Ellingson's 300 letters home during training and European combat. The letters began with induction at Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, MN, and ended with the post-war occupation of Germany, a span from March 1942 to November 1945. This biography of PFc Vernon Ellingson [1912-2001] begins in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and ends in Moorhead, Minnesota. Ellingson humorously describes in detail his training: Fort Snelling; Camp Barkeley, Texas, with 3 tours there; desert training in Arizona and California; maneuvers around Camp Polk, Louisiana; and Great Britain prior to the Normandy invasion. He trekked across Europe as a part of General Patton's third Army serving in 5 major campaigns. His censored letters are expanded by the authors using historical details of the 90th Infantry Division's movements obtained from official records and confirmed by fellow veterans; 705 illustrations visually enhance the text. The title derives from his long involvement in sports, particularly softball. Although he was the ace pitcher for his headquarters unit, the book's title also alludes to Ellingson's positive attitude toward being drafted and willingness to pitch right into Army routine. The letters clearly show that sports was used as a key morale booster in the Army. He was Lutheran Brethren schooled and a true Christian soldier who came from a cohesive and loving Norwegian-American family. The foreword is by Lt. General Orwin C. Talbott who as a young corporal during the horrific first days after D-Day saved Ellingson's life and who was his commander at the end of the war.

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