The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War

by Louise Steinman

A soldier’s daughter unravels the secrets of her father’s experience in the Pacific Theater in this “graceful, understated” World War II memoir for fans of The Things They Carried (The New York Times Book Review)   Louise Steinman’s American childhood in the fifties was bound by one unequivocal “Never mention the war to your father.” That silence sustained itself until the fateful day Steinman opened an old ammunition box left behind after her parents’ death. In it, she discovered nearly 500 letters her father had written to her mother during his service in the Pacific War and a Japanese flag mysteriously inscribed to Yoshio Shimizu.   Setting out to determine the identity of Yoshio Shimizu and the origins of the silken flag, Steinman discovered the a hidden side of her father, the green soldier who achingly left his pregnant wife to fight for his life in a brutal 165-day campaign that changed him forever. Her journey to return the “souvenir” to its owner not only takes Steinman on a passage to Japan and the Philippines, but also returns her to the age of her father’s innocence, where she learned of the tender and expressive man she’d never known. Steinman writes with the same poignant immediacy her father did in his letters. Together, their stories in The Souvenir create an evocative testament to the ways in which war changes one generation and shapes another.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, World War II, War, Memoir, Japan

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were born in the 1960s or 70s, you probably had relatives that fought in WW2. My husband’s grandfather was a Marine in the battle in Iwo Jima, a fact that his family did not find out until 2014, when he passed away. He was a member of “The Greatest Generation”, and as a rule, these men did not discuss their wartime experiences.
So it was with Louise Steinman, growing up with a father who served in the Pacific Theater as a naval man. There were many things the family was expected to avoid; Asian food, making loud noises, the use of a whistling teakettle, and asking Norman Steinman about his war experiences. He was a good man who worked long hours at his pharmacy to provide for his family, but extremely closed off about his personal life and emotions. For this reason, Louise never felt like she really knew her father. After his death, the family discovers letters that Norman wrote to his wife during the war, and a Japanese flag, all folded into an old ammunition box.
After some detective work, Louise manages to track down the family of the flag’s owner. She decides to make the journey to Japan to return the flag to them. Through her father’s correspondence with her mother, a side of him is revealed that Louise never imagined he had. Her quest to find the family of the Japanese flag’s owner brings home some startling revelations to Louise about the enemy’s side of the war, also...
I would recommend this book for high-school and college history classes, and for history buffs. I learned a lot of really interesting facts I had not previously known. As well, I enjoyed reading about Louise’s journey; I felt as though I was making the trip with her.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every time I read a book on this subject matter I become more and more convinced that the lack of scholarship in this area is shameful. The story of World War II in the Pacific, the experiences of American and Japanese soldiers, the treatment of American POWs and the heroism of American troops has not been properly documented. Unfortunately, as the generation of soldiers who served in WWII ages and passes away they are taking first-hand accounts with them, as is the case in this story as a daughter tries to learn more about her father's wartime experiences after his death. Too much of the Pacific theater of WWII has been alarmingly forgotten. Thousands of American soldiers died and remain buried on foreign soil in Pacific islands, we need to honor them by telling and teaching their stories.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. It made me realize as I haven't before that when we go to war, we're fighting people just like us. They have family at home waiting on their returns as well. They too are someone's best friend, son, daughter, mom, dad, sister, or brother. I've always just thought about and cried for the Americans fighting in the wars. Now my heart cries for both sides of every conflict.

[Bryan Delgado]

This is an amazing book that made me feel how the author felt and how Louise's dad felt when he was in the army.This book is about how Louise had her childhood with her family after her dad came out of World War Two in the Philippines.Her father passes away and later on her mother does too when she is on her 30's.She finds a toolbox full of letters that her dad and mom sent while her dad was away.She soon follows her dad's tracks by his letters and finds a special flag that will show her how World War Two was on both sides of the battlefield.This is a great book for people who love historical nonfiction and a little bit of suprise.

[Debra Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book after viewing an exhibit of Japanese soldiers flags "found" during WWII in a museum in Astoria OR. It told the story of attempts to return these flags to the families of these soldiers in the hopes to bring closure to the families.

But as the author so elegantly and compassionately writes," it is was turning out to be more morally complicated then I'd bargained for."

War has casualties on both sides with their own "realities" . This story, helps show that there are more then even two sides to war and realities both real and imagined. And ultimately the compassion to forgive.

[Chana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I think about WWII I think about Europe, Hitler and the deaths of 6 million Jews. I also think about Pearl Harbor and the bombings and Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I wouldn't have thought about the Philippines, so the book was educational for me. But the heart of this book is Louise Steinman's efforts to "put a human face on the war". I am probably a Louise Steinman kind of person. I agreed with her thoughts and actions and feel that she, like the Swan Father of Suibara, has helped to bring a little healing to our world.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and emotional book. The first book on WWII that I have read that presented the perspective of the Japanese. It showed me that the Japanese sent their fathers, brothers and sons just as we did. The book presented the Japanese in a more humane light as opposed to books such as "Ghost Soldiers".

[Mary Kinietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the over 500 letters her father left, the travels she made and interviews with other vets, Louise was able to find a more complete picture of the gentle man who was her father.

[Alfonso · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the death of her parents, Louise finds a ammo box with over 500 letters that her father had written to her mother during the pacific war. She tells the story of a man that she did not know from the letters that he wrote home. In the box she finds a mysterious Japanese flag with a name inscribed. The book brings a bit of history and understanding to what some of these soldiers went through on the battlefields. Her father did not talk about his experience in the war. Discovering her father and delivering the flag to the family of the Japanese soldier is the main plot of the book. A great read.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 4 stars because, it "gently" helped me appreciate more, those who fought in World War II (mainly those in the pacific). I liked it because I was made fully aware of the devastation and horror of war--without having to read too many details--my mind cannot comprehend the full horror in detailed descriptions--I would have nightmares for weeks. I walk away from this book with the deepest gratitude for what others have done (and are doing) to help maintain my freedom.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a selection from my book club. I found it, although readable, in my opinion, sadly, average. Steinman does far too much speculating on what events might have occurred and I'm afraid the book lost a lot of substance for me. Rather than wasting your time on the entire book, locate the poem and read that. It pretty much sums up the entire book.

[Deb Stransky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could identify with this book as my grandfather fought in WWII and my dad fought in Vietnam. They never wanted to talk about their experiences during that time. When my grandfather dies we found a lot of German/Nazi related items we assumed he took from soldiers killed during battles he fought in. So was easy to relate to this true story.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very emotional read for me as the names of the battles in WWII were where my father was assigned during the war. Helps to read about these battles to understand what happened during the war in the Pacific Theater. I would recommend this book to anyone that would like to learn additional informational.

[Nedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was full of documented history and still touched my heart. I kept thinking, not only about my WWII dad, but my two military brothers, all three combat veterans who had stories they never would tell.

[Flora Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book written by the daughter of a deceased WWII army veteran, who comes across her father's letters to her mother written from the battle fields of South Pacific islands during the heat of battles against the tough and unforgiving Japanese. Among the letters is a Japanese Rising Sun flag of silk, a souvenir taken from a dead Japanese soldier killed on an island in the Philippines by the army unit to which the author's father was attached. These silk flags were signed by the Japanese soldier's family and home town citizens and given to the soldier as "good luck" mommentos to bring into battle.
The author, through the signatures, is able to track down the dead soldier's family and return the flag to them, some fifty years after he had been killed.

This is a story of the deepened understanding gained by the daughter as a result of reading her father's letters and tracking the progress and hardships faced by his unit from WWII military histories. It is also a story of the forgiveness, seemingly within the capability only of the generations succeeding those against whom the atrocities were committed by the conquering Japanese armies.

This is a very different type of WWII book than I typically seek out to read. I remain interested in the World War II Home Front; I am not too interested in books on WWII military history. This book, through descriptions in the father's letters and background on the battles supplied by the author, had some military history, but it wasn't overwhelmingly about battles. The book had far more discussion on the effects of the father's military service on his life after being discharged than any aspect of his family's home life during the war.

I wouldn't describe it as great, but I did find it interesting and I breezed through it in a very short time.

[ShareStories · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War Louise Steinman discovers her father's letters to her mother during the Second World War and begins to understand a bit of what he went through during that war.

She also discovers a Japanese flag and goes to Japan to return it to e the family of the owner.

The book itself leaves us with the same feeling we often get from veterans of that particular war--that there is so much more to tell. Her father tells a bit of the horror that occurred, but as can be expected, protected his wife from much of it.

I read this book wishing that Steinman had been able to speak to her father himself about this time in his life--a feeling most children of World War II veterans have.

Also, I think pictures would have added a lot to t-his book. She traveled to Japan and the Philippines--places her father had been, and we get no photos of the area or of the family whose flag was found among her father's affects after his death.

[Kathy Mitson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy and therefore would not recommend.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her parent’s death Louise discovers an old ammunition box with 500 letters her father had written to her mother during his service in the Pacific War and a Japanese flag inscribed to Yoshio Shimizu. Louise sets out on a journey to Japan and the Philippines to return the flag to it’s rightful owner and finds information about her father she never knew about him. This fascinating novel of a daughter’s mission to locate the owner of the souvenir that her father had kept hidden for many years and the journey she took in discovering her father’s past. Really enjoyed reading it.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time sticking with this book. I have been enjoying WW2 literature but for some reason, I found this one was not 'cohesive' for me...it just didn't stick together and I was not motivated to do anything but skip around in reading it.

For some reason the story just did not 'gel' for me.

It is possible I could try this one again when I have not been so immersed in the WW2 era. It may be more of a refreshing read after a break.

[Sara ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really really interesting! I've read/learned a bit about the European side of World War II, but I knew virtually nothing about the Pacific side of things. I really enjoyed the adventure the author took me on trying to discover her father's past and the mysteries the Japanese flag held.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister of a high school classmate follows a story first unearthed as the family sorts and stores the memories of two lifetimes.

A journey started by correspondence and completed with personal visits to Asia to return a Souvenir.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I finally read this book. It was written by the sister of a high school classmate of mine about the finding of a Japanese flag after her father's death and the 474 letters he wrote to her mother during the war. This prompted Louise to find out more about her father's war experiences.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful non-fiction story.

[Michele Tenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting and informative due to the personal connection I have with the subject matter as I, too, have a similar flag from WWII that my grandfather brought home.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing tale of finding a Japanese flag in her father's keepsakes after his death and tracing it back to the family of the Japanese soldier who had carried this flag into WWII.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A daughter finds a Japanese flag in her father's things; goes to Japan to find the rightful owner.

[Kate Crandall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the weaving of history, primary source and memoir. At times the flow was a bit slow, but I learned a lot about the Pacific side of WWII and about the effects of war home and abroad.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.examiner.com/review/the-so...

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.