Don’t Miss This Book!
By Marshall on July 22, 2015
Steadfast is an easy read, yet at the same time a deeply moving and highly motivating documentary of two lives bound up in the challenges of WW II.
Told through virtually daily correspondence between her parents, Susan Herney provides an intimate look into her parents lives and values on subjects such fidelity, candor, humor, temptation, patriotism, heroism, parenting and most of all true love.
It’s a must read:
For the greatest generation it’s a reminder.
For those who are younger – a lesson plan.
Get To Know “Steadfast” — A Story from the Last Good War
By phpenn on August 10, 2015
Herney has done a remarkable work that for me, for the first time, makes World War II accessible. Al, a young attorney, leaves his wife, Dot, and a year-old daughter to become an ensign in the Navy. Like hundreds of thousands of Americans, he takes on a job that he didn’t want and does it with dedication and a will to serve. His wife assumes his home duties and adds them to her own, including a son born while Al was unable to be with her. Each shares daily life and experiences through frequent letters, seemingly without any serious complaints and in good spirits.
She also kept a diary while he was gone. You will like Dot and Al. His letters seem a bit more romantic, hers a model of practicality; both are warmly affectionate–a wonderful record for Susie and Steve, who are too young to remember their father at war. As a reader who was eight years old when this horrendous war started, I knew it then from news reels, movies and overheard stories.
I was frightened a good deal of the time until it was over. “Steadfast” gives me a picture of people living through it in a natural daily life. The author/editor’s excellent organization of abundant materials– photos, documents, maps–allows the reader to dip in randomly as well as read for continuity. I loved finding that Al ironed uniform shirts (and handkerchiefs!) and gave Dot suggestions, but never directions, about household and money management. She seemed able never to say things to worry him. I would like to have known them both post war. Since I couldn’t, I am glad for this marvelous book. You will be, too, if you want to know more about this significant event in our country’s history.
(FIVE STARS)
By Nancy on September 1, 2015
A delightful tale that will keep you entertained and engaged starting with the first page. As a baby boomer, it will compel you to dig out those old family albums and pictures and take a walk down your own memory lane. We all have heard the WWII stories at family gatherings and Susan Herney’s labor of love puts it down in black and white for the enjoyment and education of generations to come.
Enthralling! Touching!
(FIVE STARS)
By Ford Royer on September 16, 2015
Being a Baby Boomer, WWII History, and US Military buff, I found Susan Herney’s compilation of her father’s and mother’s war time letters enthralling! To be able to experience the day to day personal correspondence between the one deployed and the one left back on the home front to manage the children and a household alone, gives one a real-time “you are there” insight to the experiences of what it was like for our parents (or grandparents) who lived through this epic era of our history. Though it all and all that they endured, it was a true tribute to their character that letter after letter, day after day, their affirmative spirits never diminished, their uplifting support of each other never ending. I now have a much better understanding and respect for what it must have been like for my own parents who shared the same war experience, but never talked about it much while I was growing up in post-war America. They were truly “the Greatest Generation”. Thank you Susan for sharing this with the world. I highly recommend this book!
Bravo!
By John L. Nunes on August 24, 2015
Well written, clever way of “telling a memoir” story. Certainly a tribute to her father.