Of Windmills and War (The War Trilogy #1)

by Diane Moody

390th Bomb Group, for which Dad served as a co-pilot in World War II.

Chowhound Missions,

To a man, the mere mention of those food drops to the starving Dutch people in Occupied Holland would stir such strong emotions, they’d have to pause to collect themselves.

At the 2011 reunion in New Orleans, while discussing Operation Chowhound with our good friend Bob Penovich,

Bob was a B-17 pilot in the 390th who often speaks on behalf of his fellow veterans, and particularly about Chowhound.

told me of a friend whose mother had been a young Dutch girl when these food drops took place in Holland and had witnessed them herself.

Occupied Holland?

Dutch Resistance movement?

I dedicated this book to my father, Glenn Hale.

I’ve grown up hearing my father talk of his experiences in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII. Even now, at 89 years young, he can tell you where he was on any given date back in 1944 or 1945.

Several years ago we convinced him to write a memoir about those years which have remained so deeply embedded in his heart. The memoir w...

On 2 March 1945, Dad and his crew had to bail out of a crippled B-17 into Poland. It would be two months to the day before he got back to Framlingham on 2 May 1945—just in time to take part in Operation Chowhound.

Not only gratified to be able to help the starving Dutch people, Dad felt it was a fitting way to thank the thousands of Dutch Resistance workers who had helped so many downed Allied airmen avoid capture by the Germans.

the Liberty Belle and the Memphis Belle.

“Living here in our great democracy, we take our freedoms for granted every day we live. We are so blessed here, with our roots firmly established in liberty, but we must never let our guard down. If Hitler and his regime can storm into Poland, he can surely storm the rest of Europe, picking off one country after another, squishing them as if they were nothing more than bugs to be annihilated.

I do not understand why the United States has turned such a blind eye to these invasions, as if it is no affair of ours. Those nations haven’t the military resources to withstand the hungry Nazi machine. They need us. Must we wait until the enemy is on our own doorstep?”

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The movie had caused quite a stir in some political circles. They’d heard Joseph Kennedy had tried to have the movie banned, calling in favors from some of the biggest names in Hollywood. In the end, his attempt failed

One of the Jewish ladies hidden away beneath the Boormans’ barn told me something yesterday I shall never forget. She reached her hands up to cradle my face, then said, “We cannot know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.” As she spoke those words, she had the most serene smile in her eyes and on her wrinkled face. In spite of all the horrible things she has witnessed, still she smiled.

razzias

A hostile raid for conquest, plunder, and to capture slaves.

And some actually believe the lies in the German papers telling them this is for the Jews’ own protection—‘from

The ones who came here from Germany know all too well what the Nazis are capable of. They give up. We heard that more than 300 of them committed suicide rather than surrender to the Germans.”

“The others,” Wim continued, “the other Jews ordered to show up are taken to certain Jew-only neighborhoods which the Germans are calling ‘ghettos’. They tell us it is because the Jews are all infected with terrible diseases. But we are not fooled.

Anya still couldn’t understand God’s silence in the Occupation of her country, but she thanked Him anyway for protecting her ride home that evening. How else could she have traveled that distance after curfew without encountering a single German?

We are at war. And we are smothered by these godless Germans who make a sport of torturing anyone in their way, Jew or non-Jew.

“I cannot sit in a class half-empty because all the Jews are gone. I cannot sit by and watch Lieke and her family dragged off to some death camp in Poland! I have to save them, Father. Don’t you see?”

“This meeting of ministers you attended today. Is it possible some of these men of God are also organizing to help our friends? Could you and I both be stepping into the same organization?”

“They’ve now confirmed that more than ten thousand innocent men, women, and children were killed in the initial attack on Rotterdam.”

“Of course, the Germans didn’t stop there. Similar reports have come from all across our country. We’ve sustained many more losses than any of us ever imagined.

We’ve also begun to hear troubling news of these concentration camps where many of our citizens have been taken in Poland and Germany. Apparently many have already been killed in what’s been described as gas chambers. It’s unspeakable . . .”

Throughout the summer and fall of 1940, Wim and Anya helped transport many more families—onderduikers—or “underwater” which was code for hidden Jews and other Dutch who needed to be safely hidden away.

Like everyone else in his beloved country, he learned to trust no one.

Through the church grapevine he and Anya learned that members like the van Oostras had not-so-secretely partnered with the Germans, keeping them informed of friends and neighbors who assisted the Jews.

While the van Oostras and others grew wealthier with each tip provided to the Germans, those arrested were often shot or sent to one of the many concentratio...

Time after time, Anya’s father reminded her that God alone would have to deal with traitors like the van Oostras, but it took every ounce of resolve for her to be civil to them when their paths crossed.

As the Germans rounded up all the Jews and forced them to live in ghettos, Jewish mothers and fathers looked desperately for ways to find a safe haven for their children. The Resistance provided passage for these little ones,

Anya couldn’t help the tears which moistened her eyes every time a mother or father placed their child in her care.

As much as she wanted to help, she despised those heart-wrenching moments when anguished mothers or fathers had to walk away from their screaming, confused children.

she tried to remember what life was like before every waking thought was consumed with fear—a fear so strong, it seeped into every pore in every situation. She dreamed of living free from such constant fear, wondering if that day would ever come again.

“A bad dream?” asked the old lady sitting across from her. Anya nodded, her hand trembling as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. “We all have them, dear,” she said, shaking her head. “Such a nightmare we’re all living.”

Jews sequestered in the ghettos all across the country were barely holding on, cut off completely from supplies of food and other staples. The Germans didn’t seem to care of their plight knowing it was a temporary situation until all of them could be transported to the death camps, as they were now called.

“They’re packed in those cars so tight they can’t even move.

The synagogues are all boarded up now, and the Germans have painted obscene messages on most of the synagogue walls. Horrible, vile things as you can’t even imagine. I just hope and pray God unleashes His wrath on these vermin.

He wished he had his mother’s simple faith. She accepted whatever crisis or roadblock fell in their path.

That's my goal, to accept good, bad, and the in between as allowed by Jesus who loves me so much that He accepted an excruciating death to save me. Knowing that no matter what, it will be used for my good and His glory. So I don't need to fear bad things, because the Lord of Love will be with me and will help me grow more like Him, through the experience.

“It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

“Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Wake Island. This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

“Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.

Turning the corner, they were stunned to see a long line of people all trying to get into the church building.

“Look at that, son. And don’t ever forget what you see. The United States may be many things, but we are above all a nation that loves and trusts God. When we are troubled or worried, we come together and ask for God’s mercy and protection.”

The entire west coast, fearful of Japanese attack, sabotage, and infiltration, started immediate blackouts and began rounding up Japanese nationals.

These roundups would eventually spread across America, placing these individuals and their families in immigration detention centers or internment camps while all Japanese banks, businesses, and newspapers were forced to shut down.