On Saturday, November 22nd, Tom Simmons had a
monumental book signing for Forgotten Heroes of World War
II: Personal Accounts of Ordinary Soldiers Land, Sea and Air.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as the remaining three contributors,
an infantryman, a fighter pilot and a sailor were there and signed every copy
purchased.
Pictured: Thomas E.
Simmons, Harry Bell, Jeanie Loiacono, Jerry O'Keefe and Oscar Russell. This is
a 'must have' book. Available everywhere books are sold.
Oscar Russell of “The Amphib Sailor,” story #7 was
one of the very few who served in both the landings on D-day at Omaha Beach,
Normandy, France and then in the Pacific for support of landings on Okinawa and
anti-Kamikaze picket duty.
Harry Bell of “Present and Accounted For,” story #9
fought the Battle of the Bulge. He was
taken prisoner by the Germans and marched 60 miles without food in freezing
weather to a rail junction. Men who fell out were shot. When he was liberated by U. S. troops he
weighed just 90 pounds, but had nursed his prison squad through the ordeal
making sure meager rations were shared and blankets loaned to the sick. Too weak to walk, Harry crawled out to the U.S.
tank commander who knocked down the prison gate, was helped to his feet,
saluted and proudly reported his entire prison squad, “All present and accounted
for.”
Jeremiah J. O’Keefe of “A Long Way to Okinawa,”
story #15 wanted to fly fighters. He enlisted in the Marines, was finally
accepted for flight training only to be assigned to transports. Risking courts-martial, he used every trick
in the book to finally get assigned to fighters, first to Wild Cats for
training and then worked his way into a new Corsair squadron. He was sent to the Pacific in time to
participate in the invasion of Okinawa. Nothing was easy on the long path to
become a fighter pilot. Jerry proved his
worth becoming a Marine Fighter Ace.
Thomas E. Simmons, author, entrepreneur, pilot, sailor,
soldier, sales engineer and world traveler said of the men whose stories are in
this his fifth book, “It was an honor and a privilege to be in the presence of
these men. You will understand that when you read their stories in the pages of
Forgotten Heroes of World War II:
Personal Accounts of Ordinary Soldiers Land, Sea and Air. I had to persuade them to tell their stories,
stories they had never told even to their families. These men, quiet heroes every one, endured
more than we can ever imagine, those of us who walk in the freedom they and so
many like them secured for us. Victory by the Allies in World War II was a
close thing. Freedom is not free. The
men who fought for freedom against Axis tyranny paid a heavy price for the
liberation of every foot of ground, every island, every ocean, every patch of
sky. That is why America is called the land of the free and the home of the
brave.
Let’s
each of us remember to thank all the men and women who have ever served and
those who are protecting the world now. Those before stood, and those today
stand ready to defend you with their last full measure if necessary. God bless them and God bless America!
Published by Taylor Trade Publishing www.TaylorTrade.com Represented by Loiacono Literary Agency www.loiaconoliteraryagency.com
Thomas E. Simmons www.thomasesimmons.net
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