Leora's Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II

by Joy Neal Kidney

The day the second atomic bomb was dropped, Clabe and Leora Wilson’s postman brought a telegram to their acreage near Perry, Iowa. One son was already in the U.S. Navy before Pearl Harbor had been attacked. Four more sons worked with their father, tenant farmers near Minburn until, one by one, all five sons were serving their country in the military. The oldest son re-enlisted in the Navy. The younger three became U.S. Army Air Force pilots. As the family optimist, Leora wrote hundreds of letters, among all her regular chores, dispensing news and keeping up the morale of the whole family, which included the brothers’ two sisters. Her fondest wishes were to have a home of her own and family nearby. Leora’s Letters is the compelling true account of a woman whose most tender hopes were disrupted by great losses. Yet she lived out four more decades with hope and resilience.

348 pages, Paperback

Published November 23, 2019

About the author

Joy Neal Kidney, the oldest granddaughter of the heroine of the "Leora Stories," is the author of "Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss For an Iowa Family During World War II," "Leora's Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression," "Leora's Early Years: Guthrie County Roots," and "What Leora Never Knew: A Granddaughter's Quest for Answers."

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and married to a Vietnam Air Force veteran, Joy lives in central Iowa.

Reviews

[Luanne Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last week I experienced an emotional interior life as I read Joy Neal Kidney’s nonfiction book Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II.
I first met Joy through her blog attached to her website: https://joynealkidney.com/
Gradually, I realized that her family story was quite remarkable, and that Joy had put it into book form. Since Joy is a joy to communicate with on her blog and mine (articulate and kind), I decided to read her book, which was written in conjunction with Robin Grunder, although WWII is not really “my area.”

Before I started the book, I already knew the gut punch of the book; it’s not a secret that one finds out only by reading. The horrifying reality is shared in the book’s blurb. Joy’s mother Doris had five brothers. All five young men entered the war on behalf of the United States. Only two brothers came home at the end.

Although it might seem counter to know this fact up front, it actually heightened the suspense because I was reading carefully for the details of their lives as the war began and then continued, luring one by one of the brothers into the war. I wasn’t sure who would survive and who wouldn’t—or what would happen to them before they died and how they would die. What a page turner!

I was captivated by the life of these Iowa farmers from the beginning. Hard working and smart, they also were satisfied with so little—simple, healthy food; satisfying work to perform; family togetherness; and aspirations for the future. I fell in love with each one of these brothers as they shared their hearts and lives through letters to family members, especially their mother Leora. They were not small-minded or selfish, but operated out of honor and a humble pride.

During the last section of the book, I was reading in the doctor’s waiting room because I couldn’t put the book down except when I absolutely had to. I read something so really small, but so powerful, that I burst into tears right there in front of the other patients. That’s a warning to you if you read the book in public.

This book is not a novel. It doesn’t have the frills of one. Joy curated the letters and wove the story around the letters in a very graceful way. I was so impressed with the powerful and understated writing skills that went into crafting the book. The editing job was also well done. Now I have much more feel for what my father-in-law went through in WWII. And for that entire generation.

[Mary Jedlicka Humston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The style Joy Neal Kidney uses in telling this amazing true story is very effective and immediately draws the reader in. She adeptly weaves the letters into her family's history and makes us feel like we "know" her relatives by the many letters that passed between them during WW II. I thank Neal Kidney for allowing us the privilege to read and feel the emotions and love her family experienced. I highly recommend this well-researched book.

[Elaine Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leore's Letters is a must-read! This true story is packed with so much knowledge and understanding of the time period and how it touched the lives of those who lived through it. Through well-preserved family letters and outstanding research, Joy Neal Kidney lets you experience the close-knit family and how their lives were affected by the war. Loved it!

[Jessie Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book!! As a military spouse & native Iowan I was drawn into this heroic Iowa family from page one! I have a better appreciation for those brave men & women that served during WWII as well as their loved ones that stayed back to keep the home front running! We all need to reflect on the importance of simpler times, family bonds & the sacrifices of our military men & women!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent true story about a family during WWII. The story is about a family who lived just 11 miles from where I live. The Dallas County, IA Freedom Rock features pictures of the sons of Leora.
Highly recommend this book!!

[Elizabeth Gauffreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family in World War II opens with a description of a family ritual: going to the local cemetery on Memorial Day to place flowers on the graves of three brothers killed in World War II. Many families across the United States engage in this ritual to honor the sacrifices of their loved ones, gaining some small measure of comfort in being with them at their final resting places--but in the case of the Wilson family, two of the three graves are empty.

Joy Neal Kidney, the author of Leora’s Letters, is the niece of those three brothers; Leora was her grandmother. Kidney took on what was truly a labor of love to find out what exactly happened to her uncles and how these events impacted the family at home on the Iowa farm. The stories of her two uncles who survived the war are also included, as well as the perspectives of their two sisters, their father, and, of course, their mother Leora. This was a family.

Kidney tells the story of her family’s experience in World War II with a skillful integration of carefully curated primary sources (the letters Leora saved and family photographs), historical research to provide clarity and context for the events, and creative nonfiction to bring the family members to life.

The structure of the book is equally impressive: it follows the Iowa farming seasons. In addition to providing unity and cohesion for the book as a whole, the details of the work on the farm each season of the year also provide a good history of the role of the family farm in World War II.

As a reader, I was greatly moved by the story of the Wilson family, a testament to the time, care, and love that went into the development of the book. In writing Leora’s Letters, Joy Neal Kidney has ensured that the memories of her family members who sacrificed so much for their country are honored and preserved. Equally important, the book serves as a reminder that we shouldn’t take these sacrifices or the human costs of war for granted, as World War II and the Greatest Generation slowly slip into the mists of history. Delbert, Donald, Danny, Dale, and Junior: we won’t forget you.

[Denzil Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Leora's Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II” is a gripping, well-written and genuinely moving book. At times I felt I was sitting on a rocking chair on Leora’s front porch in Iowa reading these fascinating family letters.

The book is based around the Wilson family on their farm in Iowa. Mum, Dad, two girls and five boys. As the 1940s progresses, the boys decide to serve their country during World War Two. Two join the Navy; three sign up for the Army Air Corps. But they don’t go all at once, they go one by one. And this is what makes the story almost unbearable. The tension and apprehension mount as one by one the sons leave the family fold to join up. First to their training camps. Then to the front lines of Europe, the Atlantic and the Pacific.

And with each one departing, the work mounts up for those left at home to run the large farm. It’s manageable with five boys, but then there are four left, then three, then two. Surely Junior will stay? But no. All five go to serve their country.

The letters written by Leora and her two daughters to their sons, but also between the five boys, mount up. And so does the tension. The long waits between letters. The silence that is barely endurable.

Read this exceptional book and be moved. I am sure you will then join me with my sincere congratulations both to Joy Neal Kidney and Robin Grunder. They fully deserve as wide an audience as possible.

[Jeff Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure that I would find Leora’s Letters all that good. I’m pretty much an Sci-Fi/action/thriller fan. I was so wrong. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year. I found it a gripping, well-written and a genuinely moving book. My family is a military family, so I understood and identified with the Leora’s accounts of the other side of WWII.
Leora’s Letter’s is a memoir of the effects of WWII on one family, told mostly in the words and voice of the people who lived it. Leora’s Letters is told in part as a narrative from the author and mostly in the form personal letters sent back and forth amongst the family members. It is a little reminiscent of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes except that the family members tell the personal side of the story in their letters, not The Bee Cha’ma’ thru a memory narrative. I found the book to be a mesmerizing read, so much so, that I plan to keep the book in my personal library. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Leora’s Letters at the top of Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club’s recommended reading list someday if it’s not already there. Heartwarming and soul touching. Jeff Bailey, author of the thriller Not On MY Watch.

[D.C. Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Leora's Letters, Joy Neal Kidney provides her readers with a genuine and heartfelt glimpse into the life of an American family during one of our nation's most trying times. Five Wilson brothers leave their family farm in Iowa to serve their country during WW II, two in the Navy, and three in the Army Air Corps.

Through a well-crafted combination of letters, photographs, and narratives, Joy Neal Kidney draws you in and makes you feel like a member of the family. I found myself caught up in the daily experiences of all five young men and hoping each of them made it home safely. Unfortunately, war is never that kind.

Leora's Letters is more than a story about one family's sacrifice. It is a story about America and the kind of people who helped to forge this great nation. Our nation owes Clabe and Leora Wilson and their family a debt it can never repay. However, in reading this incredible story, perhaps we can regain a sense of what kind of people Americans were, and hopefully again, will be.

Do yourself a favor and read this book!

[Jorja Dogic · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the history, true story, and family bond that this book portrays. It is a must read.

[Sally Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an intimate inclusion in one family’s life and loss during the Second World War. Clabe and Leora work tirelessly on the farm they manage to raise their children and put something by for their dream of owning their own farm. In this rural environment it is natural for young men and women to perhap have their own dreams and even before Pearl Harbour one son has signed up with the Navy. Over the course of the war five sons would enlist to serve their country.

Through the letters written by Leora to her sons, and their often censored letters in return we share life on the home front and also their challenges as they go through training and then deployment. Their only link to home is these letters and others between each other and their sisters, and it is clear that this is a close knit and loving family doing their best through a very difficult time.

One can only imagine the constant worry any parent would have with a child serving on the front line, particularly with incomplete news reports in the media, long after major battles at sea and in the air. But to have five sons in the line of fire in the Pacific and in Europe must have been unbearable.

The letters are beautiful in their simplicity and informality as they would have been between a loving family. There is also some wry humour as the boys encounter the world outside their rural upbringing and undergo their training, as well as a deep love of their parents as they send money home toward their dream of owning their own land.

From the first page we are drawn into this family and feel the hope, love and loss they suffer over the course of the war. Whilst there is sadness, there is also admiration for a brave mother and her sons who believed in doing their duty, and respect for the sacrifice this family made. War should never be glorified, but those who lay their lives on the line for their country should be, especially when young with their whole lives ahead of them.

This period for all of us is now moving from living history as the last of those who can share their stories pass away. It is so important that major events such as major conflicts are fought by ordinary men and women and their stories deserve to be told and remembered.

The author has done a wonderful job in collating these letters that recreate so vividly this time in world histry. By doing so she honours the members of her family, including her own parents who lived, loved and lost so much.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful story of family, brotherhood, love, sacrifice, and loss.The day the second atomic bomb was dropped, Clabe and Leora Wilson's postman brought a telegram to their acreage in Perry,Iowa. One son, Donald was already in the US Navy before Pearl Harbor had been attacked.Their other four sons worked with their father,tenant farmers near Minburn in Dallas county until,one by one,all 5 sons were serving their country in the military.The oldest son, Delbert,re-enlisted in the Navy.The younger three: Dale, Danny and Junior Wilson, all served in the US Army Air Force.Their sisters, Doris Neal who is the author's mother and Darlene Scar,were both farmers' wives living their lives on the Home Front and taking care of their family members and having their own. As the family optimist and matriarch at the heart of it all, Leora wrote hundreds of letters,among all her regular chores,dispensing news and keeping up the morale of the whole family, including her daughters. Her fondest wishes were to have a home of her own and family nearby. This is the compelling true account of a woman whose most tender hopes were disrupted by great losses.Yet she lived out 4 more decades with hope and resilience.I've learnt a lot of valuable lessons from the Wilson family such as brains matter, but so does hard work.With war comes devastation, depression, deprivation and death.The onset of war necessitated numerous adjustments; while American forces were fighting overseas or training in U.S. military camps,families also were fully engaged in the war effort.The war brought vast changes such as an increase in marriages, job opportunities, and patriotism.
With the family shifting roles, each member was initially shocked and filled with mixed emotions.With added stresses it was an emotional time, to say the least — the American family would undoubtedly be changed forever.

[Carole Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

December 3, 1943. “The secretary of war desires me to express his regret that your son has been reported missing in action…” Joy Neal Kidney’s grandparents Clabe and Leora Wilson received two telegrams like this and a third—the death of yet another child. In Leora’s Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family during World War II, Kidney stitches their stories together.

Of her grandparents’ seven children, two girls and five boys, all five sons served either on ships in the navy or as pilots. Kidney’s aunt was married to a farmer who stayed on the farm to support the war effort. And though Kidney’s mother considered joining the WAVES, she instead married a flight instructor who would have seen action had the war not ended.

My grandparents never received heartbreaking telegrams like the Wilsons did. Yet as I read Kidney’s book, particularly the family letters, I marveled at our families’ similarities. Our grandparents lived on farms with no running water or electricity though both had telephones on shared “party” lines. Long-short-long was the Wilson family ring. Both her grandmother and mine kept chickens and sold eggs. And they worried about their children who served in the war, hoping for the best.

Among the effects of one the Wilson sons killed in action was his copy of the New Testament given to him by the Gideons. In it he inscribed, “I give everything for the country it stands for.” May we remember the sacrifice.

[Lawrence W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leora Wilson was a busy woman.

You would think raising a farm family in Iowa during the Great Depression after giving birth to 10 children was challenging enough, but that was just practice for the trials that lay ahead as the fires of World War II raged across the globe.

By the time the war was over, all five of Leora’s adult sons had served in their nation’s military, leaving their 50-something parents scrambling to eke out a living on their 80-acre Iowa farm. Still, Leora found time to faithfully keep in touch with her boys, via postcards, letters, telegrams and rare visits home.

Fortunately, Leora saved much of her war correspondence. Her eldest granddaughter, acclaimed writer and blogger Joy Neal Kidney, has taken Leora’s letters and weaved them into a sprightly narrative that gives an up close and personal account of the devastating impact of war, especially on rural families, in the mid-Twentieth Century.

While the Wilsons were in many ways typical of farm families of that era, their contributions to the war effort were extraordinary, as the book details in exquisite detail. Kidney’s superb writing skills and attention to detail make this a fascinating – and easy – read. The book is thoughtfully designed and leads the reader seamlessly through the messiness of a war that brought sacrifice, deprivation and duty to virtually all of America.

Thanks to Leora Wilson and Joy Neal Kidney, revisiting that America is now available to us all.

[Virginia Pillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this book, I picked it up whenever I had a spare minute or two. The story of this family during WWII nestled in my heart from page one. The letters between family members provided the perfect way to illustrate their devotion to each other, love for their country, and the closeness they developed as they worked together on the family farm. This true story resonated with me as the daughter of a WWII veteran. My dad and his four brothers all served during the war. I grew up on an Iowa farm so I felt so many of the emotions as I read. I could imagine my grandparent's anxiety as they awaited letters and news from their sons abroad. The recorded history in Joy Neal Kidney's outstanding book is a treasure planted deep within me. I recommend this book to everyone interested in true family sagas and/or WWII history. Visiting the Freedom Rock in Dallas County, Iowa that honors the brothers and the family's sacrifices is now on my bucket list.

[Kayleen Reusser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. Much of it is spent giving us a background of a loving Iowan farm family who struggled through the Depression to raise five sons and two daughters. Through hard work and a strong religious belief, they made it to the 1940s.
Then World War II hit and five sons went to war. What a challenge it would have been for that family to give five sons to an unknown destiny. And as it happens with tragic results.
Though the topic is dire, the author handles it with gentleness and honesty. The letters that flew between family members during the war -- even from sons on the battlefield and at sea -- reveal how much they cared for and supported each other during grief.
War is never lovely. But it can bring out the best part of people if allowed. The stamina and fortitude of this family is something we can all learn from in 2020.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to fathom the price that some families paid for the Allied victory in WWII. Leora's Letters recalls one Iowa farm family's experience. Five sons served; only two returned. Joy Neal Kidney, Leora's granddaughter, preserved the letters that went back and forth between the familiy members. Leora's grief is chronicled, not only for her sons, but also for the loss of her own dreams--that all her family would return safely to farm the land they prized so much. Although those dreams did not materialize, one senses no bitterness and a strong determination to carry on.

Letter writing is mostly a lost art today. And not all the letters were newsworthy, but they illustrate the value of a written record of events and our responses to them.

[Judy Johannesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy Neal Kidney did an incredible job of weaving the sad story of her family's life during WWII when letters were the only way to communicate. . . the hopes and prayers. . . the farming that had to continue no matter what. I knew the basic premise: that five would enter the service and only two would come home, but would find myself holding my breath as I read the letters and the details in chronological order. I have been to Danny's grave site in St. Alvord, where he is buried with 10,000 other Americans. So this made it all the more intriguing and real to me. Amazing book. A story of true grit.

[Karen Irwin]

Having grown up near the area where Leora and her family lived I was anxjous to read Joy's book. I received the book on Friday and finished it on Monday and found it hard to put down each night. Joy's story telling mingled with the letters from Leora, her sons and other members of her family paint a picture of an Iowa family who worked hard and loved each other deeply. The sacrifice that the family endured was heartbreaking. A definite must read!

[Val Plagge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historical true story that tells the story of an Iowa family whose sons all go off to serve the United States during WWII. I loved how the story of the family is told through letters between family members. It was an easy read that I couldn't put down!

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! I can't even imagine the loss experienced by this Iowa family during World War II! Joy certainly did her research, and it shows in this gripping story.

[Helen Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great patriotic story of a war time family

A great read for our younger generation who do not remember WWII or are not taught about it in school.

[Alex Craigie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing book tells the true story of a poor farming family in Perry, Iowa, and the impact of WWII on them. There’s a wealth of primary source material in the form of letters written by them, plus documents from the war office and newspaper articles. The story is told by one of the granddaughters who has knitted together the narrative beautifully and given a flow to their lives that I found utterly compelling.
At the heart of the book is Leora Wilson and her husband Clabe. They had ten children but two children (twins) died of whooping cough in 1929 and another child died two years later. This left seven children to raise – five sons and two daughters, and at the start of this part of their lives, Leora and Clabe had been hired to run an 80-acre farm with mixed arable and livestock. The sons worked on the farm until the attack on Pearl Harbour, after which, one by one they signed up to fight for their country.
The family had no running water or electricity and life must have been hard, but they pulled together and were very supportive and caring of each other. This is borne out by the letters they wrote. The boys sent home money to help their parents, saying they didn’t need it like the other recruits did. They all made sacrifices for the others. They checked that everyone was well and the sense of closeness is heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure. As the older ones experience the reality of war, they try to deter Junior, the youngest, from signing up. Delbert wrote:
“To hell with so-called glory, medals, and heroism. It’s the guys who stay around close and healthy that will enjoy the confetti, if any, after this damn war. Not the men with bruised brains of battle”.
Those back in Perry listened to the news on the radio and prayed that the attacks didn’t involve any of the brothers. Letters were often delayed and I was in a state of suspense as I read the chirpy letters that Leora wrote while she clung to the hope that the recipient would be able to read them. Not all of them survived, but I’ll say no more than that.
The author has done a terrific job of collating the information and bringing it to life. It was a privilege to share, for a moment, the lives of such remarkable ‘ordinary’ people. I can’t recommend this book too highly.

[Patricia Furstenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leora's Letters: The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II" by Joy Neal Kidney is a poignant and deeply moving account that I discovered after reading a glowing review from a fellow reader. Set against the backdrop of World War II, the novel delves into the lives of the Wilson family who live on a farm in Iowa. The Wilson family consists of a mother, a father, two daughters, and five sons. Their story is one of love, sacrifice, and resilience in the face of hardship.

As Leora's sons enlist in the military (the Navy and the Army Air Force), the family faces the challenges of war. Through Leora's heartfelt letters to her sons and the siblings' exchanges we see the mounting tension, the agonizing waits between letters, and the unspoken fears that weigh heavily on their hearts. Even in the heat of battle the boys never forget their roots, expressing concern for their parents and the farm back home.

Reading "Leora's Letters" was like entering the Wilson family's living room and becoming intimately familiar with their joys, sorrows, and daily struggles. I was deeply moved by their story, and it felt like it could have been about my own family.

Joy Neal Kidney's storytelling abilities bring Leora's story to life in such vivid detail that my imagination danced with each page turn. What struck me the most about this book was its honesty and raw emotion. Joy Neal Kidney's "Leora's Letters" is a testament to the enduring power of love and sacrifice, compiled from her grandmother's original letters. It serves as a reminder of families' strength and resilience during difficult times.

I wholeheartedly recommend "Leora's Letters" to anyone who wants to understand the depths of love and sacrifice that run through Leora's family. It's an engrossing read that will leave you deeply moved and grateful for the strength of the human spirit. Take the time to immerse yourself in this remarkable story; it will be an unforgettable experience.

[Pete Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 grandchild, 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.

[David LaBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I wanted to honor and support the author, a new friend. It didn't appear to be the kind of book I would normally pick up, and I put it aside for several months, five other books on the stack to be read first. Big mistake.
From the prologue on, I was engaged in ways I never expected. Joy seduced me with the young faces, the Iowa farm environment, and the dreams of each and every family member. In the spirit of a Ken Burns film, the personal letters connected me so that I felt like I knew each young man before they left home. I am not ashamed to admit I cried and could not quit thinking about this true story for days. If you want to learn about a time, a love of family and country, you will cherish this story. Amazing. Thank you, Joy, for letting me walk with your family through this ordeal. Finally, I am also reminded of the power of a photograph to connect us. Each face is forever young.
Dave LaBelle



Seeing the faces of these men,

[Gail Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly favor this book, as it's not just a story, but real stories about an entire family, in the years just before, during, and after World War II.
The format of the book is also wise, using actual letters with the author's side explanations.
Joy Neal Kidney writes of her great appreciation for her uncles, aunts, and parents.
Since I grew up in Iowa, the book resonates with me in a deep way, as I my five uncles were farmers in Iowa, and all of them served in the US military. Two served in WWII and returned safely home. Their letters were saved, too.
How wonderful to share this heritage in the "Leora's Letters" book.
I believe you won't put this book down until you've read it to the end.

[Kris Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story this book tells is hard to put into words. Joy Neal Kidney has taken the WWII letters and telegrams between her grandparents, Clabe and Leora Wilson, their children, children-in-law and various departments of the U.S. military, and woven the WWII history of her family. Five sons served during WWII; only two returned.
The reader is introduced to the family and knows each member through the letters they wrote. As a student of military history, it was easy to place these brothers, as active participants, at major events during the war.

This book contains eyewitness to history and original source documents.
I recommend to anyone who is interested in “experiencing” WWII. It would be excellent required reading for middle school through university, and beyond.

[Mark Bierman · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this book, I found it effortless to imagine Leora Wilson sitting at her kitchen table, pen in hand, searching for the words to comfort and encourage her serving sons. The title is a tad misleading, as the entire family becomes involved in letter writing.

In an age before the internet and wide spread television broadcasting, the Wilson’s only sources of news were radio, newspaper, or heavily censored and intermittent letters from each of their five boys.
On more than a few occasions there is a collective breath held as they wait for the postman to bring a letter and pray that he never brings a telegram.

I don’t think many in today’s world can relate to the gentle resilience practiced by this close knit family in the face of such adversity.

[Dianne McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family to Die For

This is without a doubt one of the most heartfelt & wrenching books,I have ever read about WW II.
This family lost three sons in that War,giving up so much,with their father dying soon after War's end!.
This family with 10 children reminded me somewhat of my own family.
I have always liked reading War books & thru the letters, telegrams & such,these men & women will always be remembered.
Growing up in Iowa's rich farm country with each other & all the trappings of country life,definitely made this a family to die for.
There are several more of Leora's Stories, I plan to try & read them too.