What Leora Never Knew
A Granddaughter’s Quest for Answers
The day the second atomic bomb was dropped, a telegram was delivered at the Perry, Iowa home of Clabe and Leora Wilson. Two of their sons were Missing in Action, one in Europe, one in the South Pacific. I was a toddler underfoot that day at my grandparents’ home with my mother, who opened the telegram that announced the shocking news that Junior, her youngest brother, had been killed near his air base in Texas that morning. The engine of his P-40 threw a rod and exploded.
All five Wilson brothers served in World War II. Only two came home.
Only after courageous Grandma Leora died in 1987, I learned that Junior is the only one buried in the Perry cemetery. All those childhood years of tagging along with Grandma, my mother and her sister, on Decoration Day, we’d arranged bouquets for all three brothers.
What happened to them? Needing to find out, I read dozens of books, requested the Wilson brothers’ casualty reports, joined WWII reunion groups, and wrote dozens of letters, logging each in a spiral notebook. I located the man who, as a fellow pilot, accompanied Junior’s casket to Iowa and stayed with the grieving family through the funeral.
Danny Wilson’s P-38 crashed in the snowy Alps. The casualty records reveal details of his poignant first burial. The care, thoroughness, and dignity given his remains as they were identified, moved, and reburied are especially compelling. Dan’s best friend from overseas stopped here to see Mom and me, bringing his scrapbook, sharing photos and stories. The mayor of the city where he was first buried sent a copy of the town history. On page 41, is the first photo the family had ever seen of Dan’s wrecked Lightning.
Dale Wilson’s B-25 was shot down off New Guinea. The bomber and crew of six have never been found. When an eyewitness to the crash at sea learned that Dale’s diary had been removed by the Quartermaster Depot in Kansas City, he photocopied his own combat diary for me. I’m still in contact with relatives of some of the bomber crew.
I’d grown up with the shadows
During the years of research and writing about these terrible losses, I realized I’d grown up with the shadows of those three brothers. Taking on the responsibility of keeping their memories alive, I corresponded with the curator of a New Guinea museum, and with the veteran whose burden it had been to return letters from New Guinea marked “Missing in Action,” as well as remembering–with Mom and Aunt Darlene–all three brothers at the Perry cemetery each Decoration Day.
What Leora Never Knew: A Granddaughter’s Quest for Answers is my own journey of remembrance.
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How wonderful!
Amazed and humbled. Thank you, Annette. The ebook should be out later today!
Tears in my eyes this morning reading this. You are a beautiful person, and a wonderful granddaughter. You are a gift!
Bless you, Linda. I bet Grandma Leora would be mighty pleased!
Congratulations! Great cover design! May the Lord bless your sales.
Thank you, Dennis! The creative Nelly Murariu has done covers for all four books.
What a story. So happy you put it in a book for more people can read about it.
Chunks of it are on my website, but it was time to gather it all in one place. Thank you, Don.
Congratulations Joy. It’s exciting to see this next book out and on Amazon. Exciting times. Love the post too. As we’ve talked, I love the story behind the story, interesting to see how you came to this one. Congrats again.
Leora’s Letters is the family WWII story, but Grandma Leora wasn’t sent all the casualty reports and records. I did share them with the four remaining siblings of the brothers and many of them are on my website. I’m thankful to be able to share them all in one place. It’s certainly been a fascinating journey, even leading to a trip to France with their sisters, who were my age when the made the trip!
“What Leora Never Knew” is a wonderful tribute to your uncles. Kudos for your tenacity to gather this historical information for your family. Other families, who may have also lost loved ones during a war, may see some of their struggles in what you have written. Thank you, Joy, for sharing your family’s story.
Thank you, Nancy. I just got a note from the grandson of Harry Wold, who was the best friend and “hut mate” in Italy of the middle brother on the cover. Chapter 32 is about Harry! He and his wife took the time to stop here to meet Mom and me, and show us photos of his months in combat. I’m so thankful to finally connect with someone from his family!
God Bless You, cousin Joy, Sharing these important stories through your tireless efforts, preserving of info (letters, clippings, etc.), compiling, “digging”, and publishing. I and many of the family are forever grateful. Bob
Bless you for your note! (Copy on its way to you today or tomorrow.) I got a note last night from a grandson of Harry Wold, who was Dan Wilson’s best friend on the Liberty Ship and in combat! I’m so thankful to finally hear from someone in his family.
No doubt this is going to be another wonderful read! I’m off to download it on my Kindle.
You might have to wait until later today. The ebook isn’t showing “live” yet. Thank you, Kellye!
I will try again tomorrow.
Thank you. Robin, who does the upload, has had delicate neck surgery the end of September and is still in a huge brace. She said if not last night, she’d get it done this morning.
Good to know.
Thanks. We drive home from Melbourne, FL tomorrow. Memorial service 140 miles south Saturday and Granddaughter’s confirmation yesterday. We have been nomads since October 9. I will help boost early book sales with an order Wednesday. Copies for offspring, so they all have 4-book “sets”. Bob
You are dear! And I’m thankful you’ve been able to enjoy some nomadly-ness!
I don’ remember Mrs. Knapp encouraging us to invent our own new words?! But, I like the concept.
Congratulations, Joy! I’ve just ordered the paperback to go with the other three.
Bless you, Liz!