WWII: A Legacy of Letters

 Author's Summary

Clinton Frederick returned to his grandparents' house in 2002. In the attic, just as he'd remembered, were Japanese swords, parachutes, and other memorabilia from WWII. In a trunk stuck back under the rafters, Clinton made a discovery that would change his life forever. Inside were more than hundred letters written by his father, Captain George Frederick.

This correspondence, most of which Capt. Frederick had written to his mother, chronicled from a most personal standpoint some of the major events that shaped the world. The letters also allowed Clinton Frederick, for the first time in his life, to know what his father was really like.

WWII - A Legacy of Letters, is a true story of love and war. In it, Frederick artfully weaves together his father's letters with historical information about some of the most important military campaigns of the war. History is too often simply a dry recitation of dates, events, and people. Frederick's book puts a very human face on the events surrounding the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Readers will find the author's discoveries about his father to be extraordinarily moving.

MWSA Review

More than Letters – Truly a Legacy!

Author Clinton Frederick writes about his father who was killed in WWII just four months after his own birth. In this sentimental and emotionally touching book World War II: A Legacy of Letters – One Soldier’s Journey he takes readers on a journey of discovery not only his father but about the war, the era and the attitudes of that time and place in our history. He not only shares long lost letters that his father wrote, but he adds information that he researched about his dad’s unit and what was going on in the war around the time of those letters home.

The author remembered that his father had old war souvenirs in the attic at his childhood home and in his adult years he comes back to rediscover them. He also finds a truck load of old letters that his father wrote home. He took this treasure trove of information and makes this one very endearing voyage of emotions. He finally gets a good look at understanding his dad and learns more about him then he ever knew. In the process of putting the book together he finds members of his dad’s old unit and even finds out about his parent’s best man at their wedding. He uses the letters, many conversations along with hours of researched data from government files, lots of help from strangers and family to compile a multitude of information about what his dad did in the war. It is a moving reading experience and one that will explore many parts of your own heart and soul.

Frederick does a masterful and skillful job of placing the letters into the flow of the book along with recaps of events and comments. The end deals with the death notices and the funeral of his father. It all works to paint this portrait of the real man his father was. This son truly honors his father’s history and delivers a fine tribute to him. I believe that the author finally makes all those personal emotional connections between himself and his father as well. I think there was healing taking place just through the writing of the book.

The book has lots of facts, old photos, and information related to his father’s war experiences; a great personal look at World War II. The author does a professional job of the writing and putting this book all together. It is well worth buying and reading it. Readers will find it fascinating and emotionally riveting at times. I enjoyed it very much.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2007)