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A Blessed Life: One World War II Seabee's Story
A Blessed Life – One World War II Seabee’s Story is the true account of Stuart McAnally, a 96 year-old veteran, and his experiences. McAnally tells of his journey from a peaceful farming community to the blood-stained beaches of Iwo Jima and how those experiences both challenged and changed him. Told by his daughter, this intriguing read is a true-to-life account of both the Great Depression and World War II era. Filled with heart-warming and sometimes tragic moments, A Blessed Life is a story for all generations to share and to treasure.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2019
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February 28, 2020MWSA Review
A Blessed Life begins as a memoir of a fighting Seabee. It changes course almost imperceptibly, and not merely into a story about fighting to survive on Iwo Jima. Stuart McAnally's journey, as told to his daughter, zeroes in on the claustrophobic vulnerability of war. Except for the patch of ground one fights for and clears, the Seabee has no idea how life is going outside his foxhole. Not that it would matter, as Tamra McAnally Bolton's biography of her father makes abundantly clear. Seabees, Marines, and Navy frogmen converged on the Japanese island in the South Pacific Theater. Before playing their parts in World War II, the buildup to the final act is interlaced with adventures of danger, fear and, quite often, questionable decision-making.
A memoir resulting from 34 recorded interviews and six years of work by the author, it is head and shoulders above being a love letter for a war veteran's service to his country. It shares with the reader so many of the moments that illuminate our own mortality, such as boarding a ship in California and watching the coastline fade away as transport across the ocean gets under way. There are more than a few memories that are downright hilarious, such as a buddy with a reputation for helping himself to boats and cars that didn't belong to him, during a time when people were more likely to leave their vehicles unattended with the keys in them than they are today.
Like the war memoir itself, there's no quest for forgiveness or attempt to make sense of the madness. It's a straightforward telling of what happened and who did what. A Blessed Life is crafted in a way that left the impression the author has a great respect for its subject and the reader. In addition to describing the war experience, it chronicles many of the interview sessions that went into creating the book. When Stuart McAnally comes home and one begins to wonder what became of his life, the reader comes to realize the author has been telling that story all the while.
Review by W. Joseph O'Connell (February 2020)
A Blessed Life begins as a memoir of a fighting Seabee. It changes course almost imperceptibly, and not merely into a story about fighting to survive on Iwo Jima. Stuart McAnally's journey, as told to his daughter, zeroes in on the claustrophobic vulnerability of war. Except for the patch of ground one fights for and clears, the Seabee has no idea how life is going outside his foxhole. Not that it would matter, as Tamra McAnally Bolton's biography of her father makes abundantly clear. Seabees, Marines, and Navy frogmen converged on the Japanese island in the South Pacific Theater. Before playing their parts in World War II, the buildup to the final act is interlaced with adventures of danger, fear and, quite often, questionable decision-making.
A memoir resulting from 34 recorded interviews and six years of work by the author, it is head and shoulders above being a love letter for a war veteran's service to his country. It shares with the reader so many of the moments that illuminate our own mortality, such as boarding a ship in California and watching the coastline fade away as transport across the ocean gets under way. There are more than a few memories that are downright hilarious, such as a buddy with a reputation for helping himself to boats and cars that didn't belong to him, during a time when people were more likely to leave their vehicles unattended with the keys in them than they are today.
Like the war memoir itself, there's no quest for forgiveness or attempt to make sense of the madness. It's a straightforward telling of what happened and who did what. A Blessed Life is crafted in a way that left the impression the author has a great respect for its subject and the reader. In addition to describing the war experience, it chronicles many of the interview sessions that went into creating the book. When Stuart McAnally comes home and one begins to wonder what became of his life, the reader comes to realize the author has been telling that story all the while.
Review by W. Joseph O'Connell (February 2020)
February 29, 2020
Enjoyed
Tamra, you touched my heart with this book. As you were talking about it Girlfriend Weekend I knew I wanted to read it. My husband is retired Navy and I shared with him as I read it. Your father certainly has the storytelling knack. God has truly blessed you. Thanks for sharing with us. This book is great for everyone to read.
Tamra, you touched my heart with this book. As you were talking about it Girlfriend Weekend I knew I wanted to read it. My husband is retired Navy and I shared with him as I read it. Your father certainly has the storytelling knack. God has truly blessed you. Thanks for sharing with us. This book is great for everyone to read.
October 25, 2020
A great Seabee story
They’re aren’t too many written memories of Seabee’s out there. This perspective is well researched and told. Thank you!
Seabee Chief, retired
They’re aren’t too many written memories of Seabee’s out there. This perspective is well researched and told. Thank you!
Seabee Chief, retired
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews