Veterans – Page 5 – Cindy Hval

What a month!

March 19, 2015 Cindy Hval

Cindy Hval at War Bonds book launch, February 22, 2015.

One month ago today marked the publication date for War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation.

What a month it’s been! Two weeks ago Casemate Publishers informed me the first print run of War Bonds had already sold out and new print run ordered! There are still copies in stores aross the nation, but the major book distributors are out and are waiting for the next run due on or before April 19.

To me this response means these stories resonate– not just with members of the Greatest Generation but their children and grandchildren, too.

Since the book launch at Auntie’s Bookstore, I’ve done several author reading/signing events. (See scheduled events here.) At each event people come up and share stories involving family members who served during WWll. Their stories move and inspire me.

I am so grateful to those who’ve purchased War Bonds and have written blog posts or posted reviews on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Goodreads. I’m thankful for the book stores, libraries and other groups who’ve invited me to do reading/signing events and most of all for the people who show up!

I’ve always felt these stories deserved to be shared and these people deserve to be honored for their committment and sacrafice on the battlefield and on the homefront.

How wonderful to find that so many agree.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here’s to a third print run!

War Bonds book launch at Auntie’s Bookstore, February 22, 2015.

War Bonds

He brought the shrapnel with him

March 12, 2015 Cindy Hval

From Chapter 8 of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation;

As he ran down the beach back toward his duty station, a Japanese Zero strafed the sand around him. Nick hit the ground and covered his head. He said he felt a hot breeze and heard a whistling sound inches from his ears. He looked up and saw the face of the pilot as he flew alongside him. The pilot grinned.
When he got up he discovered a large piece of shrapnel next to him. “I grabbed it,” he said. “It was still hot from the explosion.”

Last night, Nick Gaynos attended a War Bonds reading at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. He brought that piece of shrapnel with him.

Simply amazing.

War Bonds

Dad

March 5, 2015 Cindy Hval

Been thinking about my dad a lot lately.
March is his birth month and death month.
Here he is at Harmon Field in Newfoundland during the waning days of WWll.
He would have loved all the War Bonds hoopla and been at every signing and event. Because of my dad’s military career, I feel completely at ease interviewing veterans– especially WWll vets.
What kind of man was my dad?
He was so warm and kind that the man he shared a room with during his last hospitalization came to his funeral in a wheelchair having just been released from the hospital that day.
He knew my dad for three days and already loved him.

Wasn’t I blessed to have had a dad like that?

War Bonds

Rep. Kevin Parker to honor WWll Vets

February 11, 2015 Cindy Hval

Rep. Kevin Parker will attend the Book Launch for War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane on February 22.

Parker will say a few words of thanks to the World War ll veterans featured in War Bonds.

“This is a real honor,” said Parker.

War Bonds

Excerpt from War Bonds in current issue of Nostalgia Magazine

December 31, 2014 Cindy Hval

If you can’t wait until February to read some of War Bonds– you don’t have to!

Chapter 31 “So Nice To Come Home To” from War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation is featured in the current edition of Nostalgia Magazine. The magazines should be in newstands next week!

“So Nice To Come Home To” is the story of Charlie and Mable Mitson. They married in 1942 and recently celebrated their 72nd Anniversary!

Charlie was a career military man, serving in WWll, Korea and Vietnam.
You don’t want to miss their amazing story!

If you live in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area you can find the magazine at Rosauers, Yokes (north side), Auntie’s, Corner Door Fountain and Books, Barnes and Noble, Albertsons (south side).

War Bonds

Amazing Women Served in World War ll

November 21, 2014 Cindy Hval

Violet Shipman Roskelly

Women like Violet Shipman Roskelly donned uniforms and served their countries with grit and determination.

This British war bride met her husband when they were both serving their respective countries. She wasn’t too impressed with American GI’s. “They were a bit too friendly for me,” she said.

That changed when she met Fenton Roskelley while on a walk in Cornwall. You’ll read their story in Chapter 3 of War Bonds, “The Luck of the Draw.”

For years after our initial interview my phone would ring and this lovely British voice would say, “Cindy? Darling, it’s Vi. How ARE you dearest?”

Vi died July 27, 2012.

War Bonds

Dying Vet Rallies

November 16, 2014November 16, 2014 Cindy Hval

The most amazing thing happened yesterday. I’m still processing it. This summer I wrote about my visit to WWII Vet Nick Gaynos. Nick was on his deathbed. Here’s the column I wrote about that visit.

Yesterday, I went to return his photos. His caretaker met me at the door. “Come in,” she said, smiling. Her eyes sparkled. “Nick’s at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. He’ll be so happy to see you!”

Stunned, I just looked at her. “But. He was dying!” I said. Shaking her head she said, “I know! But not anymore. He’s 96 and the only medication he takes is vitamin supplements!”

I walked into the kitchen and there sat Nick, now with a scruffy beard. “Hello, there,” he said. Tears filled my eyes. I said, “Oh, Nick, I came to see in July, but I don’t think you knew I was here. I just held your hand for a bit.”

His eyes clouded. “Tex died, you know.” (His wife had died on June 3rd.) “Yes, I know. I’m so sorry.” He sighed. “She was an amazing woman.” I spread out the photos that will be used in War Bonds.

He lingered over Tex’s picture. “Oh, I knew I was in trouble when I saw her.” I pointed to a photo of him with two other soldiers. “Ah,” he said. “California. Those two had come down from Washington to inspect my operations.”

Laughing, I said, “It sure looks like you were in charge.” He replied, “Well. That’s the way I always looked.”

We visited a bit and I promised to return to bring him his copy of War Bonds. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

So am I, Nick. So am I.

War Bonds

Every Two Minutes a Memory Disappears

October 22, 2014October 22, 2014 Cindy Hval

According to the National WWII Museum, approximately every two minutes a memory of World War II – its sights and sounds, its terrors and triumphs – disappears.

That’s because our WWII vets are dying at a rate of 555 a day. By 2036, it is estimated there will be no living veterans of World War II left to recount their experiences.
I am so grateful to have been able to meet and interview so many of these amazing veterans. Their stories are important and deserve to be shared.