Of Windmills and War (The War Trilogy #1)

by Diane Moody

Whenever one of the veterans talked about the Chowhound Missions, they would tear up.

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.

I told him I was thinking about writing a novel to tell the story behind this little-known but life-changing mission at the end of World War II.

he got back to Framlingham on 2 May 1945—just in time to take part in Operation Chowhound. And like so many others who flew those food drops, Dad was tremendously moved by the experience.

his message has always, always been the same—“We must never forget.”

Still, Danny often marveled at his mother’s gentle ways and wondered how on earth someone so kind and loving ended up with someone so hateful and mean.

Like his brother, he didn’t want to carry film cans from one theater to another all night every night. He’d go crazy doing the same thing over and over, night after night.

He was shocked, but mostly he was happy for Joey. He was free! He’d always wanted to see the world and now he would.

What’s strange is that most Dutch people keep the distinction, calling their country The Netherlands. It’s the outsiders and foreigners who lump us all together and call it Holland.

And then at last, my brother made that walk. He was dressed like the others in a black cap and gown, but as he approached the principal to receive his diploma, he stuck his arms out and acted as if he was flying!

Everyone here seems quite nervous. None of us believed Hitler could take Austria, yet he did. We thought that England and France would step up and try to stop him, but they have not. Our country always stays out of war, but the news we hear is still troubling.

windmolen helping pump water from Holland’s precious land to prevent flooding. The Dutch had a long history battling their below sea level ground, and the windmills stood at the forefront of those battles, dating all the way back to the thirteenth century—a

Hans said everyone in The Netherlands was nervous about the Germans.

I live each day with the regret that I never told Hans how much he meant to me. It seemed my quest in life to annoy him as much as I could, but deep down I adored him and loved him more than words can say. Now he shall never know.

He knew it was crazy, but it seemed like talking about it only made it more painful. In some strange way, it validated the truth that Hans was dead.

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?”

Hans once told him Holland always remained neutral in these conflicts, sitting out the Great War as their European neighbors fought to the death.

We heard on the BBC that all of Britain is now on food rationing, though they already evacuated most of their civilians last fall.

Danny still found it hard to believe the United States had not joined the Allies to fight the Germans. How long would America continue to turn its back on all those countries falling to the Nazis?

Course, if he wasn’t ranting about this, it would just be something else. I sometimes think he was born just to complain.

Seems to me a man and his wife ought to be best friends.

I’ve learned a whole lot from my dad about how NOT to be a husband or father. Guess that’s good for something.

being a pastor is probably much harder than most people think.

I wish you could meet my U.S. History teacher, Mrs. Zankowski. I’ve never had a teacher who has so much passion for her subject. Every kid in her class goes a little crazy about history after sitting under her teaching.

Something about her zeal for our history, and her unabashed quest to teach us the important lessons of our forefathers and the cause of freedom. It’s almost contagious—that’s how good she is.

Jews from Germany slip over our border seeking refuge in our midst. The stories they tell us, Danny . . . at first I thought they must be exaggerating.

Finally, when Father was told of a young family with three small children who had no place to go, he couldn’t say no. They are the sweetest people, so thankful,

“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.

But I warn you again—not everyone wants the truth. Some have already fallen for the lies.”

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.”

“I’m telling you we can only help those who want to be helped.”

Helga is such a kindhearted woman, always insisting it is her ministry to care for her dear friend.

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

“Hans believed a person could do extraordinary things by simply pushing through disappointment or fear or fatigue.”

Jews sequestered in the ghettos all across the country were barely holding on, cut off completely from supplies of food and other staples.

At first, he’d felt compassion toward his dad, realizing how close they came to losing him. But once the initial shock wore off, Frank McClain was back to his old grouchy self, only worse.

It occurred to Danny that his dad related better to dogs than humans.

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.”

“But in the absence of all the facts, as revealed by official sources—you have no right in the ethics of patriotism to deal out unconfirmed reports in such a way as to make people believe they are the gospel truth.

Many believed Washington D.C. would be Japan’s next target.

The mayor of New York City told his citizens they could expect a visit from the Axis bombers at any time, causing extreme panic throughout the large metropolitan city.

stopped asking why and started asking what He wanted me to do with the rest of my life.

How ironic. The world was at war, but for the first time, theirs was a home filled with peace.

There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there aren’t many old, bold pilots.

Watching those two fall in love—well, it reminded me there’s still some good left in this old world after all.”

I wonder how God chooses who will die young and who dies of old age?

In September we heard about “Operation Market Garden” – the Allied assault on The Netherlands. British General Montgomery’s plan was for the Allies to drop paratroopers and supplies at Arnhem while at the same time marching a major force from Belgium in the south.

the paratroopers dropped in Arnhem were quickly defeated. Not only was it a serious disappointment for the Allies, it had an extremely demoralizing effect on the people of The Netherlands.

Like most bases over here, the living areas of each squadron are spaced far apart to lower the risk of a complete wipeout should the enemy send a bombing raid over here.

“The hardest part is all this waiting. It gives you too much time to think about all that stuff. Once you get that first mission behind you, it’ll make a world of difference.