My Parents were Great Depression and World War II Survivors.
George T. Vardaman, Sr., my Dad, was the eldest of five siblings born into Great Depression Texas. My Grandmother was left a widow to seven children (there were two more from a previous marriage) a year before the financial crash. She made tough decisions to keep her offspring fed and housed: My Father's two younger brothers and a sister were consigned to orphanages. Dad worked in the oilfields when was thirteen. He and his next younger brother were sent to live with their half-brother: The Boys escaped an abusive situation by lying about their ages to enlist in the National Guard four years before the Second World War began. They trained as mechanics for new fighter aircraft, went full active duty in California and worked on innovative planes like the P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Airacorbra and P-38 Lightning. After Pearl Harbor, the Brothers were sent to England and then in November 1942, on to North Africa--Their 48th and 49th Fighter Squadrons were two of the highest scoring in the Mediterranean Theater. The Brothers' Tech Sergeant service continued in Italy until 1944 (Book 2).
Two younger Brothers also lied about their ages to join the Marines and fought in the Pacific (Book 3). One of them survived Peleliu, Tarawa, Sipan and Okinawa.
My Mother was a Fort Hayes State college English teacher from Palco, Kansas. She survived an abusive first marriage. After moving to Denver, Colorado, she became an instructor at Emily Griffith Opportunity School ("For All Who Wish to Learn"). After War was declared, she kept her teaching job and worked nights at the Remington Arms Denver Ordinance Ammunition Plant assembling .50 caliber bullets (the same used in the P-38's four machine guns). Dad and she met at an USO dance at Lowry Air Base after he returned from the Italian front in 1945.
The Dedication for Book 1 aptly states, Battles Forgotten is dedicated to my parents' Greatest Generation, who fought and won World War II. We are not likely to see their strength and wisdom again.
Thank you to everyone who selflessly served our Republic. Sacrifice is part of God's loving plan.