Pete Springer’s Review of Leora’s Letters

“Clabe and Leora Wilson are salt-of-the-earth types, raising their family in rural Iowa as tenant farmers. Parents of ten children, three that died as young children, they try to scratch out a living. Despite not having a lot of money, they possess an ability to work hard and raise a beautiful family. The story picks up when World War II is breaking out, and each of the remaining five boys want to join the service and represent their country.

“This true story is told from a series of family letters compiled by Clabe and Leora’s oldest grand[daughter], Joy. While Leora is one of the principal letter writers, their sons, daughters, and their spouses also exchange letters throughout the war. In order to not give away military secrets, the letters are censored before being sent home to Clabe and Leora.

“As each son departs, the others have to pick up the slack doing the farmwork. The family’s dream is for Clabe and Leora to eventually get a small house and piece of property of their own. The boys (young men) repeatedly send part of their paychecks home to help their parents realize their dream. Tragically, one of the boys goes missing after his plane goes down. The rest of the family is optimistic that he may be held as a POW and will eventually be able to come home at war’s end. The parents and kids continue to exchange letters as they attempt to lift each other’s spirits through life’s uncertainties.

“Through it all, Leora continues to push forward in her resilient manner and eventually Clabe and Leora are able to buy a place. Throughout the war, they hope that one day their entire family will be reunited again.

“As if they hadn’t already experienced enough heartbreak, two other sons are killed while flying during the war. Despite some of the tragic events of this story, I would not describe this as a depressing book. It is more a reflection of the American spirit as the family perseveres despite their many hardships and tragedies.”

Pete Springer