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What Leora Never Knew: A Granddaughter’s Quest For Answers by Joy Neal Kidney, as I’m sure are the other books in the series, is a labor of love. Kidney’s devotion, commitment, and perseverance to learning and sharing the stories of her three uncles, who were killed in WWII, for her grandmother, Leora, her family, and the world, is remarkable.
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For 25 years, Kidney meticulously researched military records and National Archives, studied WWII histories, wrote letters nationally and internationally, contacted retired veterans, studied geographical locations, and interviewed anyone who might be able to piece together the military and personal lives of Dale R. Wilson, Daniel S. Wilson, and C. Junior Wilson, all pilots. She wanted them to be remembered and their sacrifices, and those of her family and other families, to be understood and honored.
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From flight school and deployment to their final missions, Kidney traced every step of their journey that was available to be found. Journals, pictures, letters, promotions, awards, radio transmissions, rumors, and remembrances from fellow airmen. Her tenaciousness and creative ideas she used to gain insights and information into not only each man’s duties, but also their daily lives, friends, feelings, and hopes and dreams are stellar. She brought each man to life in living color. The detail of research is astounding.
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This vivid account of the Wilson’s, a loving family from Iowa who had five sons who enlist in the military to fight for their country during WWII, and the sacrifices they made is beautifully written and will long be remembered in my heart… and I’m sure the hearts of others.
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Reasons I enjoyed What Leora Never Knew: Informative, inspirational, original, realistic
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Meet Joy York
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Joy York grew up in Alabama but has spent much of her adult life in the Midwest, currently living with her husband, Terry, in Indiana with their golden doodle, Bailey. Inspired by a family legacy of oral storytelling, she began creating stories and adventures for her son when he was growing up. With encouragement from family and friends, she began to write them down..
Her first book, The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter, a YA mystery set in the rural south in 1968, was published in 2015. The sequel (also a standalone), The Moonshine Murder is the second Jailer’s Daughter’s Mystery. These are entertaining books, even for adults.
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Some delightful backstory from Joy’s website: The first thing I learned about fiction writing was to write what you love and what you know. The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter is a fictitious story set in a fictitious, southern rural town inspired by the personalities and relationships of real people, my cousin and me, and a wonderful rural family. My cousin was truly the county jailer’s daughter and from a small, southern town and just as vivacious, spunky, double-dare-you, and as beautiful as Lily. I, on the other hand, was the skinny, shy and an extremely insecure fraidy-cat. I love her dearly and will always treasure the special relationship we continue to share.
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Joy York has also written two adult books: Genuine Deceit: A Suspense Novel and Protective Instinct. For more information, visit https://www.joyyork.com. Twitter @joyyorkauthor Facebook: Joy York Author Instagram: @JoyYorkBooks
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I am so blessed by Joy York’s encouraging review. Brothers Dale, Danny, and Junior Wilson are being remembered!
A great review!! Your books are keeping the memory of your uncles alive. Well done.
Darlene, thank you so much!