About the Book

Award-winning author and journalist Karen Patterson brings to life her most personal account to date: the true story of her family, whose lives were forever altered by Hitler’s war.

Abandoned to foster homes during the Great Depression, Gladys grew to be a strong woman with an independent spirit. Then she met Red, a gentle man of great humor. Red was seventeen when America entered WWII. Eager to do his part, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, but not wanting to lose Gladys, the two married as soon as he completed his training. Red was shipped overseas to Great Britain, and Gladys began married life alone and pregnant.

On Christmas Day in 1944, Red and the rest of the flight crew were ordered on a bombing mission. Caught in a battle with the Luftwaffe, his plane was severely damaged, and Red was forced to bail out over German territory. Captured and wounded, he endured a ninety-mile march before reaching the prisoner-of-war camp. Daily life became a miserable combination of intense cold and starvation.

Stateside, Gladys gave birth to a healthy baby boy. For two years she was self-sufficient – taking care of her child, working, and saving money for the future. But when Red returned, he was resentful, angry, restless, and showed little interest in his son. The war may have been over, but for Gladys and Red, their greatest challenges lay before them.

“Allies Forever is an awe-inspiring testimony to the resilience of the human spirit during war times and a heartwarming story of what it means to be a family… even in difficult times. You won’t forget this story anytime soon!“

– Mike McCarthy, Phantom Reflections

About the Author

As a professional writer for more than thirty years, Karen Patterson has been a syndicated columnist for the Gannet and Thompson newspapers, written more than 200 articles, and is the author/contributor to seven books, including Herbs for All Seasons. She was also the host of a regular talk show on WCVO radio, a Christian station based in Columbus, Ohio. When she is not writing, she is working on her doctorate, managing her health and fitness business, speaking on health-related issues, and teaching at Ohio University and Southern State Community Collage.

My Review

Allies Forever held my attention from the very beginning. I was captivated by the story. And the fact that the author was writing about her father just made it more special to me. (As well as the fact that I know the author.)

Originally, I expected the book to be set mostly during WWII, but the majority of it is set after the war had ended. I still found the story fascinating, though. Most of the WWII books I’ve read are focused on the war and don’t talk much about adjusting to life afterwards. But many who served during the war came home wounded physically or mentally, and Red is no exception. I appreciate that it didn’t make war look like a game, but it also did not go into extreme detail. (There is some violence.) Another aspect that I enjoyed was the fact that while Red and Gladys’ marriage was rocky, they never gave up on each other. Gladys also saw children as a blessing which I appreciated.

The story kept me so captivated that I was able to read it in a few hours. While it is not a “fun” story, it shares real history – a very personal story with flawed people who struggle through the difficult times of life. And while there is nothing specifically Christian in this book, the lessons that can be learned are powerful.

There is some language that needs censored out as well as some other content. (i.e. childbirth, child abuse, pregnancy out of wedlock, war violence, etc.)

Recommended for ages 16+ with censoring. (And because of the childbirth parts, it should be especially censored for young men.)

---

Have you read Allies Forever?

What is your favorite WWII book?

Do you enjoy reading historical non-fiction?

P.S. You can also follow me at my other blog, Kenmore Pines 1, here.

To learn more about this blog check out my blog launch post here.