POW Letters

A Christmas Poem

2011-12-20T18:09:00.001-08:00

Christmas Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF

PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO

IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED

A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT

BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES

AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

'SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

This poem was written by a Marine. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men,women, and Canadian Forces for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

Join us in Dayton November 4th

2011-10-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone.

I know it's been a quiet year for us as we gear up for our second child. I appreciate your support and patience. We have attended some brilliant events, however, like the Dayton Hamvention.

Meeting the good folks who make that happen each year was a highlight for us. They've invited us back to speak to their group, Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) on November 4th. We couldn't be happier.

So, if your a member of DARA and at the November 4th meeting, we'll see you then.

Have a superb Fall.

Lisa (and the entire gang)

A Special Review on an Amazing WWII Website

2011-06-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

A very special thank you goes out to Mark Terjeson for his email and very thoughtful review of World War II Radio Heroes. Visit his son's beautiful site through this link and spend a few minutes checking it out. An awesome WWII website.

http://wwarii.com/reviews/review.php?book=World-War-II-Radio-Heroes

Book Review. Thanks. And, of course, Hamvention

2011-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Thomas Witherspoon for his thoughtful review of World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion. I met Thomas at this year's SWLFest in Plymouth Meeting. He has a great way with words. I enjoyed and appreciated his review very much. You can read it here: http://swling.com/blog/2011/05/book-review-world-war-ii-radio-heroes/

I plan to see Thomas and many others, maybe you, at Dayton's Hamvention next week. Hamvention is the largest ham fest in the country, if not the world! It will be our first year in attendance and we are really looking forward to it. Join us in our Forum, Room 3 Friday at 9:15 AM. We'll be signing books afterwards.

Thank you so very much for your support over the last several years. We love that we continue to get reviews, and that they are favorable, and that people still ask us to share this story in all sorts of venues with a variety of audiences. Thank you.

Idaho State Amateur Radio Convention April 22-24, 2011

2011-04-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. I hope you'll join me at the Idaho State Amateur Radio Convention in a couple weeks. I'll be the featured Friday night speaker. I understand that several people are flying in just for my talk! What an honor. Learn more about the events and travel details here: http://www.idahostateconvention.com/

USA Today Article on Hams Losing Frequencies

2011-03-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&loc=interstitialskip

Author Lisa Spahr Visits the Eastern Region of PA... a write up in the Times

2011-03-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

Please visit this link to read Elsa's piece on my recent visit to the eastern region of PA. I thought it was nicely done.

http://www.tnonline.com/node/183178

We're Naming Names! Celebrate these SWLs and Hams from 1943!

2011-02-28T11:26:00.000-08:00

I am so pleased to provide the best list I can currently come up with that includes men and women who participated in POW message relay during WWII. If you have additions or corrections, please email me. In the coming weeks we'll be asking Congress to publically recognize them for their amazing and compassionate work.

Thank you for visiting and please spread this news to others.

Details are: Last Name First Name City/Town State

Allison Mrs. Thomas Jr. Birmingham Alabama

Denson Otto E. North Birmingham Alabama

Grubbs Mrs. Robert Bessemer Alabama

Harper Kathyleen Birmingham Alabama

Wohlford Ted Wylam Alabama

Badler Mr. Norman Los Angeles California

Bourgeotte (?) Mrs. W.K. Los Angeles California

Hite H.E. Redondo Beach California

Hodson E.C. Inglewood California

Kissinger W.E. Los Angeles California

Muller Mrs. L.F. Cos Cob Connecticut

Vorisak (?) B New Preston Connecticut

Yanowsky Joseph Waterbury Connecticut

Costenbader Marguerite Washington District of Columbia

Maloney Madeline Washington District of Columbia

West Mildred Tampa Florida

Daily Mr. Claud New Albany Indiana

Gordon Mr. Alex E. Indianapolis 4 Indiana

Johnson W.E. South Bend Indiana

McLaughlin Rev. W.G. Montgomery Indiana

Smith Ida Prairieton Indiana

McCann Mrs. Russ Centerville Iowa

McFarland I (?) Dubuque Iowa

Schofalidge (?) C.M. Moravia Iowa

Gabbard Mrs. Charles E. Campton Kentucky

Rapier Edw. D. New Orleans Louisiana

Given Mrs. Fred West Auburn Maine

Heim Mrs. Edna Lovell Maine

Bardfield Morton Brookline Massachusetts

Bell Ella Haverhill Massachusetts

Loomi Mrs. W.G. Holyoke Massachusetts

Woodley Hazel Somerville Massachusetts

Barnes Stuart Detroit Michigan

Finke Walter A. Saginaw Michigan

Hayward Mr. Charles Dearborn Michigan

Miller Miss C.L. Detroit 27 Michigan

Moore Ralph Detroit 10 Michigan

Taylor Mrs. Lyda M. Detroit Michigan

Bettin Mr. Roger Lakefield Minnesota

R.P. Read Hopkins Minnesota

Ryan Mrs. Dorence Marshall Minnesota

Hodges Mrs. Alma Rolla Missouri

Fike John R. Omaha Nebraska

Alvarez Mrs. Jean Newark New Jersey

Barry Mrs. L.A. East Orange New Jersey

Bigler George Camden New Jersey

Cooper Mrs. E.E. Wildwood Crest New Jersey

Jahn H.R. Montclair New Jersey

Kennedy Mr. George Montclair New Jersey

Levenson Mr. L.I. Atlantic City New Jersey

Moore Mrs. H.H. Plainfield New Jersey

Oriolo Nicholas North Bergen New Jersey

Pelton Mrs. K.R. Westfield New Jersey

Smith Mrs. Emily Camden New Jersey

Teeple Miss Ann Nutley New Jersey

Anonymous “a friend” Not given Frankfort New York

Anonymous “a loyal American” Not given New York New York

Beck Miss Tilde New York 28 New York

Coonley William E. Troy New York

Dannemann Mr. F.W.C. Brooklyn 20 New York

Delappe Mrs. Walter Yaphank, Long Island New York

Duncan Walter Brooklyn 2 New York

Fernandez Mrs. J. New York New York

Feye Jack Kingston New York

Finger Mrs. Francis Huntington, Long Island New York

Grace Oliver R. Great Neck New York

Hensen Arthur R. Ithaca New York

Huston Francis E. Tioga Center New York

Kienitz John Brooklyn New York

Lancer Miss Marion Senaca Falls New York

Lande Mrs. George Brooklyn New York

Levins Mr. J. Brooklyn 25 New York

Livingston Mr. & Mrs. Rochester New York

Lowe Mr. Sanford New York 24 New York

Quinn Mrs. Joseph Syracuse New York

Taylor Helen Utica New York

Taylor Mr. Curtis Utica 2 New York

Walters Irene Patchogue New York

Warren Roger Ithaca New York

Washila Mr. J. Leo J. New York New York

Winkler Herman Bronx New York

Wittpen Russell New York 7 New York

Bottorf Charles I. New Bern North Carolina

Propst Mr. David Black Mountain North Carolina

Shelton Mr. W.F. Louisburg North Carolina

Wright Mrs. Edward N. Asheville North Carolina

Arbogast E.F. Stone Creek Ohio

Bamberger Ed. Shaker Heights Ohio

Cartwright Mrs. Mary Akron 5 Ohio

Christiauas Miss Laura Cleveland Ohio

Eggleston Mrs. John Ostrander Ohio

Farrell John R. Cleveland Ohio

Gilli Mrs. Rose Willoughby Ohio

Heck Mrs. John Springfield Ohio

Lewis Mrs. R.D. Cincinnati Ohio

Moran Mrs. A.F. New Athens Ohio

Olson Mrs. B.C. North Canton Ohio

Shonting Martin G. Troy Ohio

Yant Mrs. Don Lima Ohio

Ball Mrs. Kenneth Erie Pennsylvania

Bender Irwin F. Oberlin Pennsylvania

Davis Mrs. Josephine Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Dudley Mrs. Edgar Elizabeth Pennsylvania

Hill Miss Flora L. Lewistown Pennsylvania

Hoffield Magdalene Pittsburgh (N.S.) Pennsylvania

Hoffman Geo. R. Johnstown Pennsylvania

Jankauskas Mr. Flavius Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Kahler Mrs. F.H. Bloomsburg Pennsylvania

Kary (Karagianis) Paul L. Johnstown Pennsylvania

Lees Samuel South Langhorne Pennsylvania

Love G.M. (?) Connelsville Pennsylvania

Schum Mr. LeRoy Reading Pennsylvania

Schwartz Catherine Oil City Pennsylvania

Skilton Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Carbondale Pennsylvania

Spadacene Mrs. Carl Erie Pennsylvania

Sulzer Mrs. G.H. Cheyney Pennsylvania

Susan Mrs. Joseph McKeesport Pennsylvania

Thompson Mrs. Jack Monongahela Pennsylvania

Watkins Morris Ulster Pennsylvania

White Mrs. Newton Bloomsburg Pennsylvania

Zaleski Robert Philadelphia 34 Pennsylvania

Hitchcock A.J. Chattanooga Tennessee

Bird Mrs. J.R. Bowie Texas

Seigle Mrs. Earl Tyler Texas

Allaway Mrs. Unknown Unknown

Grubbs Mrs. Unknown Unknown

Lapan Mrs. George Essex Jet Vermont

Fowler Margaret Charlottesville Virginia

Pickett Mr. Robert Roanoke Virginia

Clark Mrs. V. C. Olympia Washington

Bradford Mrs. J.C. Pennsboro West Virginia

Christian Mrs. Dan Slagle West Virginia

Hazelbaker Miss Mary Pennsboro West Virginia

Keith Mrs. F.E. Parkersburg West Virginia

Murray Mr. & Mrs. John Chester West Virginia

Vickers Mrs. Keith Huntington West Virginia

Let's Get Congressional Recognition for Short-wave Monitors During WWII

2011-02-10T17:22:00.001-08:00

While researching POW relay and monitoring for World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion (2008), I discovered a letter written by Senators (then) Biden and Roth asking the VFW for how many POW message relay monitors there may have been. One of their constituents was asking them to consider congressional recognition for the listeners and writers of the POW messages relayed. That letter dead-ended for all that I can tell. But I believe now is the time to revive the effort.

I have a list of 100+ short wave listeners and hams who wrote to POW families like mine during WWII. I'll publish that list here in the coming days and weeks with the corresponding states they they lived in and wrote from.

I'm asking for help from all of you to reach out to your elected officials and ask them to elevate this issue and ultimately obtain congressional recognition for the role that hams and short-wave listeners played in relaying POW messages back home, letting loved ones know they were alive.

I have drafted a letter that you can use (in whole or part) to send to your officials. Email me for a copy and personalize it as you see fit. Then, please let me know you sent the letter and to whom. I'll keep track on this end as well.

Make sure you subcribe to this blog so you'll receive updates via email and won't have to keep checking back for new content. I sincerely appreciate your interest and thank you for your continued support.

Midway. Robert Leo's Story Shared.

2011-01-12T16:07:00.000-08:00

Mr. Leo contacted me about an upcoming event I'm speaking at, the State Convention in Idaho for amateur radio. He shared with me his story from WWII in which he was trained to copy Japanese radio code. I found his story fascinating and asked permission to share it with you. I look forward to meeting Mr. Leo in Idaho in April.

MIDWAY

Written by Robert Leo, Bozeman MT, July 31st, 2010 revised August 22nd, 2010

W7LR, w7lr@aol.com; permission granted to Lisa Spahr for blog posting 1/12/11.

This is a story about the secret Japanese radio codes; the intercept and deciphering of those by our Navy in WW-II; and the use of the radio intelligence from that to make our victory and destruction of the Japanese naval fleet at the battle of Midway in June 1942 more possible. My role in this as a Navy radioman was to be ready and trained to copy that Japanese radio code from the Farallon Islands just off the coast of San Francisco, thus in the continental U.S. in CA and not at Midway nor on a battleship.

I didn’t know what the Japanese radio messages said, but copied their radio signals and wrote down the corresponding Japanese symbols, for our Navy’s translation and use.

My interest in writing this story is as an example of a contribution made towards helping win the war without having been on a battleship or airplane or beachhead, where many men and women showed so much bravery and sacrifice.

The word code has several meanings in this story. One use of this word is to refer to morse code, used by radio operators to send radio messages by dots and dashes. Another meaning is as in the Japanese secret radio codes. Secret codes are used to send information intended to be understood by only a certain audience. Ancient civilizations did this with cave or stone carvings. In WW-II our military utilized the Navajo soldiers as code talkers to send secret messages by voice. The Japanese sent some diplomatic messages by electronically scrambled voice, which were generally easy to decipher. The vast majority of Japanese wartime messages were sent by short wave radio using morse code of dots and dashes. The patterns of the dots and dashes corresponded to the Katakana characters of the Japanese language involved.

There are many different sets of characters used for Japanese writing. These may be somewhat like complex Chinese characters, or as Katakana characters. The complex characters are not suitable for radio transmission, and the 46 Katakana characters are used. These characters have equivalents of symbols, short English letter equivalents, or for radio transmission 46 different sets of dots and dashes. The radio intercept operator hears the dots or dashes in morse code, and then transcribes that by copying those Katakana symbols by hand onto paper. On the paper the symbols are written to begin in the upper right corner of the paper, then continue downward in that first column, and in a similar fashion in columns to the left. This was commonly known as copying the Japanese code. The operator does not know the meaning of these coded messages, but sends those off to be deciphered. That radio intelligence is then forwarded to the fleet commanders to improve their chances in a naval battle. A few of the Katakana symbols are illustrated below. In this example the English equivalents and morse code equivalents are also included. The word Honolulu is used, and written in the downward vertical column as HO NO RU RU. There is no L Katakana character. The example also shows that a message could be sent in plain language and be readable by those knowing that language. In wartime the messages would be sent with scrambled characters, then being able to be quickly decoded by the Japanese, or by our Navy with much difficulty.

(example did not copy; email Lisa or Robert for complete copy)

The secret aspects of these events of 68 years ago, have been declassified for many years, and are described in many books. The best book that I have found on these subjects was by Rear Admiral Edwin Layton, title: “And I Was There, Pearl Harbor and Midway, Breaking the Secrets”, published in 1985, and copyright for the Layton estate by Konecky and Konecky of Old Saybrook, CT. They have given me permission to use extracts from that book in this story.

Some extracts of Layton’s book follow.

The Naval battle of Midway June 4th, 1942 was a turning point towards winning WW-II in the Pacific against the Japanese.

The leadership and strategy of Admiral Nimitz with the U.S. aircraft carriers, Navy airplanes and brave pilots under his command made this possible.

Admiral Nimitz had the advantage of having radio intelligence information from our radio intercept of the Japanese code, and the decoding of that. His belief that the intercept information was accurate allowed him to reach Midway before the battle, and to prepare for that.

Layton, p405, paragraph one. Nimitz trusts Rochefort’s work and results with the Japanese code messages. Rochefort was brilliant with deciphering the Japanese code and may have been one of the most important persons in the Navy with radio intelligence information towards the success at Midway.

Paragraph two. Hypo (the code facility in Hawaii) and those in Washington had many serious personality conflicts, resulting in the lack of vital information being sent back to Hawaii. This could have had an effect at Pearl Harbor, and dispels the myth about knowing of the Pearl Harbor attack ahead of time.

p411. Rochefort figured out that the characters AF in Japanese messages were shorthand meaning Midway. He also had some information in messages about the Japanese battle plans for Midway.

The Hypo crew devised and sent some messages about a fictional failure of the water system on Midway. Following that with several messages back and forth by both the Japanese and Ameicans, Rochefort was able to decode more important information regarding the Japanese Midway battle plans and dates.

Layyton’s book in chapters 32 and 33 give the most interesting views about the battle of Midway, both before and during that event. The U.S. Navy decoders had an office sign that read “You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it helps”. Rochefort and his decoders used 3 million IBM cards a month, as this was before computers. He analyzed 140 messages a day, and could recall information or clue about a code back among the scattered boxes of IBM cards from months earlier. This was all by the amazing ability of his mind instead of a computer hard disk. His code unit Hypo kept trying to pinpoint the estimated date of the attack on Midway. They believed it was between 2 and 4 June, which was correct, but in conflict with the mid June date believed by admirals in Washington. It was imperative for Nimitz and the U.S. fleet to arrive near Midway before the attack. It was only the belief by Nimitz in the accuracy of Rochefort’s radio intelligence that the day was saved. Of course there were many more other decisions than radio intelligence made by U.S. commanders that were also important.

Layton’s chapters on the actual battle are extremely interesting but too long to repeat here. Briefly the U.S. Navy made good decisions and plans and few errors, in contrast with the Japanese errors. It wasn’t easy – Japan had 145 warships, to our 35.
War is hell. The Japanese had lost four carriers, one cruiser, 2,500 men, and 322 aircraft.
We paid a price too, 347 lives, one carrier, a destroyer, and 147 aircraft. Of course there were other big losses at Pearl Harbor, Pacific fighting, and in Europe and Africa.

Midway is a 2.4 square mile atoll, NW of the Hawaiian Islands. There are three islands with a total of 1500 acres, within a 15,000 acre lagoon. Midway is about half way between North America and Asia. In the 1940s the U.S. viewed Midway as an important defense post, and defenses there were improved. The islands are home to about 3 million birds, and 250 marine life species nearby.

How did I happen to do this work, or be prepared for that? I started getting ready at age 12. My father brought home a radio magazine then that showed how to build a simple radio. It had a radio part called a coil, made from wire, and that was wound onto an oatmeal box. It included other simple parts, one small tube, and some batteries.

I would listen to it by the hour and hear radio morse code of dots and dashes sent from commercial or Navy stations near and far. Eventually I could tell a dot from a dash, and then that three dots and a dash was the letter V, which was often sent many times before the radio station sent their call sign. I had many notebooks in which I recorded those call signs. All of this whetted my appetite for radio and engineering and the start of a career in electrical engineering and radio communications. Along the way I discovered amateur radio as a hobby and service where we communicate by morse code or voice to other amateurs all over the world. By 1937 at age 16 I took the exam in SF for the radio amateur license, and received the call W6PBV. By then I had built a 3 tube better receiver, and had bought a used transmitter for $50 by working in a grocery store for $2 a day. I was soon contacting far off places like Manchuria.

In our lives we have many mentors. One in San Mateo, CA, where I lived during the above time, was Doc Redeker. He was our radio instructor at the Junior College, but also a Captain in the Naval Reserve. He encouraged and helped many of us young guys to join the local Naval Reserve Unit in San Mateo. There we attended meetings and classes and learned the Navy message procedures. Our other mentor was Dave Baker, W6WX, who was our instructor. I started in that Naval Reserve unit as a radioman third class, Rm3c, and later in the Navy reached Rm1c. I was in the Navy five years during WW-II from Feb. 1941 to January 1946, all in the continental United States primarily in radio intelligence work. Later after Midshipmans school and staying in the Naval Reserve, I became an officer as LtCmdr.

We jump ahead to Feb 14th 1941. The Navy called me to active duty to operate their radio station NPG in San Francisco. My Navy duty was at their headquarters in SF to operate their morse code circuit 8 hours a day. In one shift I might handle 180 messages, sometimes typing those on an old typewriter or sometimes sending with a radio key called a bug (which is sent by hand to make dots and dashes). I was prepared to immediately take over this very important assignment and task at age 19 due to my radio experience since age 12, the Naval Reserve training in San Mateo, and my ability as an amateur radio operator.
I always feel that some of us have been given special talents, and mine were great ability with morse code, and with typing (I was 26 lessons ahead of my highschool typing class).

The Navy radio station NPG was the headquarters to serve and control Navy communications in the entire Pacific and western North America, and we were in contact with Navy ships in the Pacific, and Navy shore stations in Hawaii NPM, Guam, Canal Zone, Phillipines, Seattle, San Diego, etc. For big shore radio stations the headquarters; transmitters (that send out the morse code), and the receiving stations are usually in separate locations, to not cause interference between locations.

The NPG transmitters were at Mare Island near Vallejo, north of SF. I had a telephone line to that, and if I needed more radio power to contact the Phillipines I could call up and ask for more – the radiomen at the transmitter site could then bring up a 50,000 watt transmitter to do the job. Amateur radio transmitters are limited to 1,500 watts.

NPG had many radio operators, each to contact certain ships or areas. Each operator had a separate circuit with a separate radio channel or frequency and a separate receiver and transmitter and antenna. In the operating room was a small conveyer belt to deliver messages to be dropped off to the operator of a certain circuit. The operator could also use the belt to add messages that he had copied, to be on their way for proper distribution or action. On transmit he would validate each such message by his shorthand notation and date with one hand while sending with the other hand. A few rare operators could copy or send a message and carry on a voice conversation with someone at the same time. I never achieved or had that ability, but could send or receive for hours or an entire shift without error. This was important as many messages were encoded with five letter code groups in English letters.

Sometime in 1941 I was transferred to the Farallon Islands, 30 miles off shore from SF, and about 20 miles distant from Pt. Reyes in Marin County. Describing those islands is a whole story in itself, for another time. The Spanish called those the pointed rocks. The Navy callsign there was NPI. At that time it was part of a direction finding system to help ships enter the Golden Gate and not pile up on the rocks of the Farallones. The system had 3 stations, one NPI on the Farallones, one NLG at Pt Reyes, and a third one north of Half Moon Bay, NMC at Montara. Japanese commercial ships were welcome at that time, and from NPI I would get a message from one of their ship radio operators: “Please Mr. NPI, can you give us a bearing? The three Navy or Coast Guard stations would take bearings to the ship, and we would determine their location and advise them of that. The direction finder system there used an amateur radio receiver the National HRO, and a special direction finder antenna. This was all mounted in the second story of a silo type building. We could measure bearings of distant ships or stations to about one degree.

The Pearl Harbor attack occurred on December 7th 1941. Everything changed after that. Soon I was sent to Bainbridge Island Washington, near Seattle, to learn the Japanese code. I was sent back after that to the Farallones to copy the Japanese code from their ships and shore stations, and to give estimates of their bearings. This was before, during, and after the battle of Midway.

THIS WAS MY MOST IMPORTANT WW-II CONTRIBUTION.
Sometime soon after the above effort from the Farallon Islands, the Navy had other assignments for me. The first one was to send me to Marin County CA, with another navy radioman, Bud Gearhart. We lived in Inverness in a rented house on main street between the post office and the local bar, but our Navy duty was nearby at the AT&T radio receiving station near Pt. Reyes CA. This was on the Pacific coast overlooking the ocean with a giant antenna farm of huge rhombic antennas. It was a quiet location with no radio noise so that we could receive the faintest radio signals from Japan or elsewhere. We used another amateur radio receiver, the Hammarlund SuperPro.

Our duty was to receive and record diplomatic radio traffic from Japan sent to Rome or South America or elsewhere. Radio reception was outstanding at such a location and facility, and you could hear a pin drop radiowise. The messages were scrambled but in a very old fashioned simple manner, and our boss Lt Ray Kempf had designed and built electronics to unscramble those messages. We sent that information on to the Navy for them to forward to our state department for diplomatic radio traffic.

The Navy kept me on the move. They next sent me to the Two Rock Ranch an Army radio facility near Petaluma CA. There were just two of us Navy personnel there, to teach radio intelligence work.

I next heard about the Navy V12 program. That was to send some sailors to a university to obtain an engineering degree, then become a Navy officer, and so be trained for further duty. One of the Navy yeoman (secretary to you) at the SF headquarters let me know of the V12 program and said he could help me to apply for that. There were two openings for radiomen from the entire 12th Naval District. I was selected for one of those and sent to CalTech in Pasadena, where I worked toward a BSEE degree which I received in 1945. I was then sent to Notre Dame for Midshipmens school and became an Ensign. Then returned to CA again to Long Beach Navy yard and taught radio until discharged in January 1946.

At the time of ending Naval active duty, I received a letter from Simon Ramo. He was forming the electronics division of Hughes Aircraft, and had three engineers at the time. The letter offered me a position there to be the fourth engineer. I turned it down for a variety of reasons. It was another turning point in my life.

List of books:

The Complete Story of Codebreaking in World War II, Stephen Budiansky, Simon and Schuster, 2000

And I Was There, Pearl Harbor and Midway, Breaking the Secrets, Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton, 1985

Miracle at Midway, Gordon Prange, 1982, Penguin Books

The Farallon Islands, Peter White, 1995, Scottwall Associates

QST amateur radio, October 1943, page 31, The Japanese Morse Radiotelegraph Code, Charles Holden, ARRL, Newington, CT

Maritime Radio Historical Society, Radio Compass Station NLG, Pt Reyes, CA

www.omniglot.com, Japanese Katakana description

some of my Navy records

The Code Breakers, David Kahn, New American Library, 1973

The American Black Chamber, Herbert O. Yardley, Copyright 1931, Ballantine Books, NY. especially Japanese Secret Codes.

The Japanese Morse Telegraph Code, Donald Millikin, QST, p23, Sept. 1942

Also, RELAY, Dec 1942; and RADIO, May 1941 (neither located).

Robert Leo, Bozeman, MT July 31st, 2010 revised August 22nd, 2010

W7LR, w7lr@aol.com

Thank you Moravian!

2010-12-21T14:45:00.001-08:00

Another great year at the Moravian Book Shop. Thank you. We had a sell-out event and met wonderful book lovers and shoppers.

We'll be back next year!

Join me in Christmas City USA, Bethlehem PA December 11th

2010-12-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

I look forward to this signing every year. We love Bethlehem- what a charming city. And, at Christmas time there are few cities as festive. The Moravian Book Shop is the oldest in the country- and has a great following of book lovers.

Join us, and meet my daughter Bahia, on Saturday December 11th from 1-3 PM.

We don't need to tell you what a great gift this book or audio book makes for your history buffs, military supporters, or anyone who just loves a great story of inspiration and compassion.

Happy holidays everyone. We'll see you in Bethlehem.

2010 and 2011 Events

2010-11-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

Hello and happy holidays to all!

Please join us at some of our upcoming events. We are so excited to have such great plans on our calendar.

December 4th Open Book, Lewisburg WV 1-3 PM

December 11th Moravian Bookshop Bethlehem PA 1-3 PM

March 4-6th SWLFEST Plymouth Meeting PA

April 22-24th Idaho State Convention (Amateur Radio) Boise ID

May 20-22nd Hamvention Dayton OH

Event November 17, 2010 9:30-11:30 AM Waterfront (Homestead) Pittsburgh

2010-11-05T13:14:00.001-07:00

Please join me in the Waterfront area of Pittsburgh as we celebrate veterans and their families.

The Community Bridge Building Network is one of the finest networking groups I have had the pleasure to be a part of. I've been a member for more than 3 years now.

This month we are dedicating our meeting to celebrating veterans. Mike Kraus, the curator of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, and myself will be the featured presenters.

If you are available to join us on 11/17 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, cost is just $2, please email me ASAP for more information. RSVPs are required for the event as it always hits capacity a couple weeks before the meeting.

Join Us in Lewisburg WV December 4th from 1-3 PM

2010-11-05T05:17:00.000-07:00

Visit us at Open Book on Saturday December 4th from 1-3 PM to pick up an autographed copy of the book or audio book and see one of the Howard 430 radios that was used by one of our heroes, Flavius Jankauskas.

Open Book is located at 113 E Washington St, Lewisburg WV 24901 Telephone (304) 645-7331.

We welcome book clubs, history lovers, students, radio groups/clubs, women's social groups and all of those people who love a great story!

November and December Events

2010-10-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

Hello to everyone! We're excited about the great month of November approaching and specifically Veteran's Day. And, before you know it we'll be singing Jingle Bells! We hope to see you at an event in the coming months. Email me for more details about any event you can attend or if you want to add an event to our list. We are still available for speaking to your group or club for the wonderful holiday season ahead.

Join us at these events:

November 11th Friendship Village, South Hills

November 17th Community Bridge Building Network, Waterfront (Homestead)

December 4th Heinz History Center's Annual Author Fair, Pittsburgh PA

December 10th Kirkland Village, Bethlehem PA

December 11th Moravian Bookshop, Bethlehem PA

We're in Popular Communications Magazine!

2010-10-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you Gerry Dexter and Edith Lennon! I am so honored to have a review in the November issue of Popular Communications Magazine.

Gerry turned a simple review into an thoughtful and educational 2-page read. He did his homework and highlighted a few things I didn't know about shortwave listening during WWII (namely Arthur Cushen).

Our book, World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, salutes the men, women and children who were shortwave listeners and who took their time and spent their money helping POW families like mine during WWII. To be accepted and embraced by shortwave listeners today, in their top magazine, means the world to me. Thank you.

Bridgeville Historical Society Tonight (9/28)

2010-09-28T13:07:00.001-07:00

I'll be speaking at the Bridgeville Historical Society tonight at the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department.

Free Education for Veterans with CCAC

2010-09-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

Veterans in Allegheny County may be eligible for free training through Community College of Allegheny County. See here for details: http://wduqnews.blogspot.com/2010/09/ccac-unveils-veteran-training-program.html

Buy One Get One (BOGO) on Audio Books for a Limited Time

2010-07-06T07:47:00.001-07:00

We're making room for the nursery.

We're celebrating a belated July 4th.

We're trying to manage the heat with indoor tasks.

No matter what reason you like the best.... We're offering a GREAT deal on limited edition audio books! BOGO!

Use our online shopping cart at http://www.powletters.com/ and purchase two audio books for the price of one!

This offer won't last long. But we hope you'll use it as a way to say thanks to your veteran neighbor or friend, and thanks to his or her family for supporting them from the home front. Share this great story with someone today!

By the way, this photo is from WWII Weekend in Reading. I met some absolutely wonderful people and enjoyed the era-reenactments.

Whew. What a couple of weeks it's been!

2010-06-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

First it was the Midtown Scholar Bookshop History Roundtable in Harrisburg and then it was World War II Weekend in Reading. Sprinkle in a number of private events filled with story sharing and .... I need to sit down. :)

The highlights are too many to describe but I wanted to share a few photos with you. More photos will be loaded to our World War II Radio Heroes page on Facebook. So be sure to visit us there.

Now, I'm going to put my feet up!

Join me in Harrisburg for a History Roundtable this Saturday, Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Midtown Scholar Bookstore has invited myself and two other authors to a history roundtable to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. Our moderator will be from the Army Heritage Center.

The event will be Saturday, May 29th, from 2-4 PM.

Read more at: http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2010/05/midtown_scholar_bookstore_host.html

Visit the Midtown at: http://www.midtownscholar.com/

The Trib-Review Plugs WWII Radio Heroes!

2010-05-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks Bob and the Trib-Review!

Bob Williams, freelance writer for the Trib, joined me at a luncheon for area seniors. The event was supported by Comfort Keepers, Beinhauer Family Services and Gateway Hospice. Seniors learned about the story told in WWII Radio Heroes and also shared some of their own adventures.

Visit the Trib-Review article here: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/print_680782.html

Get WWII Radio Heroes at Your Local Costco!

2010-05-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share this news with you. Our book, World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion is now available at Costco. Thanks Costco!

Please spread the word and tell people they should pick up their copy today.

Military Spouses Day May 7th- Thank You Spouses

2010-04-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

We observe the Friday before Mother's Day to pay special attention to the role of the military spouse. We thank them for their contributions, which we know are great. They, too, make our military strong and effective in the support they offer from the homefront.

Thank you military spouses from the bottom of my heart.

For more on the day visit: http://www.army.mil/spouse/

Worth the Visit: Western Historic Radio Museum in Nevada

2010-04-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

We were in Reno and Lake Tahoe last week and found our way to Virginia City, and most importantly, the Western Historic Radio Museum. What a super cool place! Hams Henry (WA7YBS) and Sharon Rogers (KK7EI)own and run the museum.

Henry gave Rob and I the grand tour and to say he's knowledgeable is an understatement! The equipment was in perfect condition and much of it sponsored or donated by the big names in radio- so he has some exquisite pieces.

You must stop by when in the Reno area or traveling through NV. It shouldn't be missed. It was the highlight of our Virginia City tour.

More pictures are posted on my Facebook Page. Search "Lisa Spahr" and once we're connected check out my albums.

The museums homepage is: www.radioblvd.com

Cancelling Oakmont 3/9/10 but Allentown was Amazing!

2010-03-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

Good people,

I am very sorry to announce that we are cancelling our Oakmont Library event for 3/9/10. The library did not receive enough RSVPs. I don't know if I've ever cancelled an event before. It stings a little but rest assured we'll put another on- and I'll do a better job of getting the word out.

Conversely, our Allentown tour was a huge hit!

At Parkland Library on Thursday night we saw nearly 70 in the audience! The 10th grade of Parkland High was in full force as were their teachers. Erin was our host and she was extraordinary at making the event so successful.

From there we met with Eileen and the great residents of Luther Crest. We met a woman who told an incredible tale- her husband was shot down over China and he ejected. His parachute saved his life. He returned home and gave her the chute telling her to make a wedding dress out of it! (yes, that was his way of proposing). She did! The photo is below. It's stunning. She wore it and later her daughter and daughter-in-law did the same. Now it belongs to the Smithsonian!

Then, it was on to the main stage at the SWLFest, an annual gathering of the short-wave heroes I highlight in my book. To say we had a great time would be an understatement. Although running late because we got lost, we dashed in and delivered a story they had been waiting to hear for some time. We must have had 100+ in the room. This story brought a few tears, some incredibly nice comments and one person pointing out that we had received the first ever standing ovation in SWLFest history! That's kudos to how powerful this story is.

We wrapped up our tour with a stop at Country Meadows in Wyomissing. Verna and the fabulous residents of Country Meadows couldn't have been nicer hosts. One WWII veteran even wore his jacket to the talk. He joked that he couldn't button it anymore but it still fit everywhere else!

Thanks to all for a remarkable long weekend. We couldn't imagine spending it any other way.

And, for those who were planning to see us in Oakmont. My apologies. Let me know and I'll email you personally when we have another talk scheduled near you.

Allentown to Oakmont this weekend

2010-03-03T13:31:00.000-08:00

We're delighted to have so many stops to make starting tomorrow. Once our Allentown and Wyomissing tour is complete on Sunday, we'll head back to Pittsburgh for a book discussion at the Oakmont Library on Tuesday, March 9th.

Join us for an enjoyable evening program starting at 6:30 PM. http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=Oakmont

Join Us in the Allentown Area March 4-5

2010-02-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to be coming to the area of Allentown this coming week.

We'll be at the Parkland Library on Thursday, March 4th http://catalog.parklandlibrary.org/Parkland/default.asp

Friday, March 5th we'll be at the SWLFest
http://www.swlfest.com/

We'll have exhibits on hand and some great discussion about the role of short-wave radio during WWII.

Visit http://www.powletters.com/ for more information or email us at author@powletters.com

Iwo Jima Expert Sought by 2/18 for Media Inquiry

2010-02-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Iwo Jima Expert Sought

Submitted By: Fred W Hofmann
Title: Morning Producer
Media Outlet: KCPS Radio
Website: http://www.kcpsradio.com
Deadline: Thu, Feb 18, 2010 - 01:00 PM Central Standard Time

I became aware that Feb 19th is significant in history as the start of the land battle of Iwo Jima. I would like to interview (on live radio) an expert on the significance of that battle for 20-30 minutes. KCPS is a commercial talk radio station.
Click here to respond to this listing

Will You Help Make Soldiers & Sailors 100 Years Spectacular?

2010-02-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

On behalf of Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, I am reaching out in every direction asking you to support what has been a cornerstone of history in Pittsburgh and the surrounding regions, as well as present your business at an event that will only happen once in a lifetime.

Soldiers & Sailors is marking a landmark birthday – 100 years!

We are planning the Cannon Ball Centennial Celebration, which will be held on October 9, 2010 at Soldiers & Sailors in Oakland. This event will commemorate the official opening achievements of Soldiers & Sailors and ring in the next 100 years. As a member of the Sponsorship Committee for the Cannon Ball Centennial Celebration, I am proud to do my part and ask for your help.

Aside from celebrating, the Cannon Ball is also an opportunity for the community to become involved in continuing to honor the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. As a nonprofit entity, Soldiers & Sailors struggles to support the institution itself, let alone the veterans and their families who have relied on assistance over the past century.

As a sponsor, you will be the driving force behind this prestigious event. We will provide all of the resources necessary to ensure you make the most out of sponsoring, and you will have an opportunity to attend the black-tie event as a sponsor. There are numerous sponsorship opportunities available; therefore, your involvement and the amount of exposure received will be based on the sponsor level you choose. Several sponsorship levels also offer the opportunity to utilize Soldiers & Sailors’ beautiful ballroom or auditorium for any function (please email me for the sponsorship packet).

We must, together, continue our mission at Soldiers & Sailors for years and years to come. I appreciate your time in reviewing this information and hope you will join us for the big event!

Most sincerely,

Lisa Spahr

Author of World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion

Oakmont Library Rescheduled for March 9th

2010-02-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends.

Join us on March 9th at the Carnegie Library in Oakmont. Due to the weather we've decided to reschedule in the name of safety for all those who might have attempted to venture out. We're expecting another snowfall tomorrow night.

We'll see you in March. Thanks for your support.

Join me at the Oakmont Library February 9th at 6:30 PM

2010-01-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

As seen in YourTwinBoros News released today....
http://www.yourtwinboros.com/event/world-war-ii-radio-heroes-letters-compassion-lisa-spahr

World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion by Lisa Spahr
Submitted by Oakmont Library on January 25, 2010 - 3:58pm.
Start: Feb 9 2010 - 6:30pm
End: Feb 9 2010 - 7:30pm

This a story about strangers helping each other during a time of war. The book features more than 30 letters and postcards sent to the author’s family in 1943, alerting them of her grandfather’s capture and status as a prisoner of war. Upon discovering these letters, Ms. Spahr began researching the people who did this, and why, and reached out to find them or their next of kin, more than 60 years after the fact. Her journey is detailed in WWII Radio Heroes.Everyone who learns about this effort - absolute strangers listening to enemy radio each night in hopes of delivering good news to an awaiting family - is moved. Few people know it occurred, but the author hopes that will change with this publication.

Please register for this program at our website, www.oakmontlibrary.org or by calling the library at 412-828-9532.

Heinz History Interview with Brian Butko on YouTube

2010-01-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

I has the pleasure of being interviewed by Brian Butko at the Heinz History Center in December. Brian was also a community-voice on our audio book, along with his son.

I hope you'll take 10 minutes to watch the interview and continue to be excited about the story of our World War II Radio Heroes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_86pUots0MQ

Thanks Heinz and Brian!

A Veterans Hotline for When Help is Needed

2010-01-12T05:13:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of meeting the Executive Director and the Director of Outreach for CONTACT Pittsburgh the other week. CONTACT Pittsburgh is a great resource for all people in crisis. I was delighted to learn they have a veterans hotline.

There is no shame in reaching out for help when you think you might need it. We all visit that place at some point in our lives.

CONTACT Pittsburgh's Veterans Hotline

412-820-HELP 24 hours / 7 days a week

The Veterans Hotline is incorporated into our 24 hour Crisis and Suicide Hotline to provide round-the-clock, immediate emotional support to returning soldiers and their families. Staffed by professionally trained volunteers, the Veterans Hotline was created in response to alarming increases in the rates of suicide among returning soldiers. The Veterans Hotline is supported by a grant from the American Psychiatric Foundation. This line is available to veterans and their families 365 days per year. All calls are free, confidential and anonymous.

http://www.contactpgh.org/veterans_hotline.php

Wartime radio operator recognised ... from the BBC

2009-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

"A radio operator from Greater Manchester, who helped unlock German coded messages during World War II, has been recognised for his efforts.
Albert Garforth, 83, of Foxdenton Lane, Middleton Junction, spent the last year of the war helping the code-breakers at Bletchley Park unlock the Enigma code.
Their work meant the Allies gained vital information about German troop movements, securing victory in 1945.
Mr Garforth has received a Bletchley Park Commemorative Badge."

To read the rest of the BBC article visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8296953.stm

The Veterans History Project

2009-12-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Moving the past from its isolation in hidden war trunks and unspoken stories to the forefront of our attention is exactly what Lisa Spahr did in her book World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion and precisely what the Veteran’s History Project is trying to do. In order to preserve the history beyond textbook-bare outlines, veterans from conflicts ranging from World War I to the Persian Gulf Wars are telling their personal achievements and stories. This project is the nation’s largest oral history undertaking. However, it is able to reach an even larger audience through court reporters who transcribe the interviews at lightning speed. Court reporters are expensive but some have become so taken with the documentation of history and the personal stories of the veterans that they have either volunteered or sought out family members to interview. Like Sphar, these men and women are creating a cultural repository for our generations and those to come. Many veterans do not even speak to their families about their times in war, but this work will memorialize the personal traumas and highlights that are the foundations of human existence. To listen to a veteran’s personal story of a battle can much more deeply ingrain history into people, more so than sometimes dry textbooks at least.

With this ambitious endeavor, our nation’s history through the multiplicity of voices is being told because we should not be a place with merely one story but one of many. While these voices are being heard, we can only hope that those that aren’t may soon be. For more information on the project and to listen to interviews, please visit: http://www.loc.gov/vets.

Join me Saturday December 5th at Heinz History Center

2009-12-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

We had a great time last year. And, we're delighted they've invited us back. We'll be at the Heinz History Author Fair this Saturday, December 5th, from 10 AM until 2 PM. The event is free and open to the public. More than 40 authors will be on hand. It makes a great time to purchase a few books for gifts and any reader will enjoy the vast array of subjects.

Hope to see you there.

Military Connections- One Woman on a Mission

2009-11-24T05:29:00.000-08:00

After discovering her brother had joined the marines in the wake of 9/11, Summer Tissue crumbled. She couldn’t believe he’d be leaving her, but eventually, as his letters came, she transformed her grief into something productive. She began to send letters and pack boxes with things he had requested and trinkets of her affection and America. One day, her brother responded to her gifts by asking her to please send to his friend who had received nothing at all. Moved, she began what has become Military Connections, a national non-profit organization. Summer Tissue works a full-time job yet still has managed to send over two million boxes to deployed soldiers throughout the last five years. Her brother is home now but she continues to send things like wet-wipes and Girl Scout Cookies and plans to do so until all of the soldiers are back home. Last year, she was even able to send Terrible Towels; although, she did worry about offending any Cleveland Browns fans.

Summer was able to create an enduring organization but she relies on the generosity of others. If you’d like to donate time, money, or would simply like to learn more, please check out her website http://www.militaryconnections.org/.

We've teamed up with Summer and Miltary Connections! With any purchase, you can send a book to someone serving for only $5. We'll ensure Summer gets the book and a note from you for the service member. We thank you for your continued support. Now, let's thank them.

What a Week!

2009-11-16T17:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! We are coming off of one of our busiest weeks of the year.

Last week we toured the Pittsburgh area visiting with Redstone Highlands in North Huntingdon, Seneca Manor in Verona, the hosts of Word FM and KDKA Today Live, and began our journey to Bethlehem PA.

In Bethlehem we visited with the residents of Country Meadows and then had a sold-out book signing at the Moravian Book Shop, the oldest book shop in the country. We met up with our family and celebrated Thanksgiving early. It was a wonderful trip. On our way back, we stopped to pay our respects at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

Now, we’re back to our busy lives in Pittsburgh. I’m hosting the Champions Conference call next week, on goal setting and achievement. Guests can join us for $20 live or listen to the recording at their leisure. We’re also preparing to close 2009 with a few more book talks, the release of our new book: The Coach’s Guide to Wedding Planning, and prepare for 2010. We expect it to be another great year with new milestones!

Watch the Author Interview on KDKA Pittsburgh Today Live

2009-11-13T05:19:00.000-08:00

Celebrating Veterans Day this week, I was honored to be on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live show. View the show segment here: http://kdka.com/video/?id=65063@kdka.dayport.com

Veterans Day Author Interview on KDKA Television 9AM

2009-11-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Please join me on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live at 9 AM on Channel 2 in the burgh or online. I'll be featuring Flavius' Howard 430 radio from 1943- the actual one that he used to listen for my grandfather and other POWs. http://kdka.com/ptl If you miss the live show click on the link to watch it later.

Happy Veterans Day to you all.

Author Interview on WordFM Pittsburgh 101.5

2009-11-09T17:34:00.001-08:00

Listen for us on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, at 4:15 PM EST on WordFM 101.5 FM. If you miss the program visit the link later and still catch the show.

http://wordfm.com/

Happy Veterans Month! Send a Book Overseas!

2009-11-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

We are gearing up for one of our busiest weeks of the year. And, we love it!

This week we'll give at least 10 book discussions to diverse audiences. We'll be on WORD FM radio Tuesday, KDKA Pittsburgh Today Live TV on Wednesday and head to Bethlehem PA on Thursday for a book tour.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for all the updates and photos.

This month we're offering 10% off all orders from our website. Use the coupon code "VeteransDay2009" when prompted upon checkout.

We've partnered with Military Connections, a non-profit who sends 800+ packages overseas each month to veterans who do not normally receive packages. While making a purchase at our site be sure to select to send a book overseas to someone serving for only $5. We'll take care of all the details.

In the "special instructions" portion of your order form let us know if you'd like your books or cd's inscribed to someone special. We always sign every book ordered from our site, but if you want an extra special note included just let us know.

Happy Veterans Day, Week and Month- to all of you!

We're going to need lots of coffee!

- Your book team

2009-11-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Trib-Review covered our Veterans Day Program. Check out the article and share it with friends.

Great Start to Veterans Day Programs in November

2009-11-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you John A. Brashear Lodge 743 for your warm hospitality November 3, 2009. Your unique Veterans Day program was very special and well received. The three speakers all presented on the veterans that had influenced their lives and how that brought them to serve in their own ways today.

A special thank you to Giulio Magrini, Barbara Magrini, Lee Wagner, Summer Tissue, Mariah Crilley, and Bob and Joyce Mente. You all made the evening so special. I'm honored to have been a part of it. Happy Veterans Day to you all.

A Very Special Veteran's Day Program- Join us in Pittsburgh November 3, 2009

2009-10-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009 John A. Brashear Lodge No. 743 will conduct a new kind of Veterans Day celebration.

Typically we commemorate the day in many of the traditional ways we see in our communities. This year’s program is titled Three Veterans, Three Stories: Three Lives of Service. Our speakers will share their stories of veterans who touched their lives and how they’ve turned to serving thousands through their life’s work. Speakers include Lisa Spahr, author of World War II Radio Heroes; Sgt. Lee Wagner, USMC; and Summer Tissue, Founder of Military Connections.

We will welcome ladies and non masons to this event, in conjunction with the theme of the program. At 6:30 PM we will offer hot and cold hors d'oeuvres for our guests. At 7:30 PM our speakers will conduct a short presentation for our guests until they are joined by the members of our lodge at 8:15 PM to begin the formal program.

Evening Proceeds and Donations will be made to Military Connections, a non-profit organization that ships equipment, care packages, and supplies to troops stationed overseas. The holiday season is fast approaching and many of our Soldiers and Marines do not receive care packages from anyone, but Military Connections, who ships over 900 care packages a month. Over 700 of the troops on the Military Connection mailing list have no family or friends to send them a box. We want to ensure that they are not forgotten. This year, Military Connections is attempting to ship over 10,000 filled Christmas stockings to the troops. Each stocking costs $30 to fill and ship. Any support we receive for this project will boost morale at an especially difficult time.

Masons through history have supported their countries through military service, and they have been privileged to support the contributions of our veterans through the years. This year we are pleased to broaden our focus to the family and the community at large, and recognize their sacrifice. We grow as citizens through our families, and draw strength from the support of our communities. This will be the focus of our celebration for Veteran’s Day.

John A. Brashear Lodge No. 743
541 McNeilly Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15226

Meeting Mr. Jankauskas!

2009-10-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

I finally got the chance to meet Flavius Jankauskas (K3JA). He was one of the heroes I wrote about in World War II Radio Heroes. He wrote to my family at the age of 16 and then shortly thereafter went to sail ships for the wars effort himself, with the Merchant Marines.

I found Flavius when I reached out to another Jankauskas in the Philly area. This lovely man called me and said, "I don't know Flavius. I'm not even related to him! But, I've heard of him. I'd like to help you find him." And, he did. Within a week he had a good phone number and address for Flavius. We connected and have stayed in touch ever since.

Flavius was responsible for much of what I learned about short wave and ham radio during WWII, and today. He sent me package after package of things he found in the attic and basement from those days. It was always like Christmas when I got something from Flavius!

It took me too long to get there- 3 years! But, alas, I was able to meet him and his lovely companion, Friedl, in person, just a few weeks ago.

I spent a few hours with them, chatting as though we were old friends. Well, we are- even though we had not met in person before. I learned about Flavius' days in the opera- how fantastic! We talked about radios and his life and the irony of us all finding each other so many years after his wonderful deed to my family.

Flavius gave me the Howard 430 radio that he heard my grandfather's name on in 1943. I told him I'd treasure it and share it with others on my book tours. When the time comes, we'll make sure it goes into a museum for all to enjoy long after us.

My visit was as wonderful as I had always envisioned. He and Friedl are as wonderful in person as they are over the phone and email. I'm very fortunate to have met them. I look forward to my next visit!

In Honor of the Navy: A Short History

2009-10-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

Founded as the Continental Navy on October 13^th 1775, the navy of the United States actually predates the United States itself. After the Rhode Island General Assembly and George Washington began to amass naval might, the Continental Congress passed the resolution for the creation of a navy which would intercept and seize British arms and supplies. While the quick mobilization of the previously unruly colonies and the creation of the navy were impressive, America’s few ships paled in comparison to Britain’s royal fleet.

There were moments of glory for the small navy during the Revolution, however, a number of which came from the nation’s first naval hero, John Paul Jones. Originally hailing from Scotland and a close friend of Benjamin Franklin, Jones transplanted himself to the new world shortly before the Revolutionary war. With important men to vouch for his prolific nautical experience on merchants, brigs, and for a short time slavers, although he despised them and quit in the middle of the Caribbean, Jones was quickly placed at a high rank in the navy. Of his achievements, he took the British sloop of war, Drake, off the coast of Ireland and most famously captured the HMS Serapis. When locked in battle, the HMS Serapis’ captain questioned Jones, asking him if he was ready to surrender, or strike his colors, to which Jones merely quipped, legendly replying, “I have not begun to fight yet!”

Jones and others like him fought heroically for the budding United States and, despite the exact numbers of wins and losses, proved to the downtrodden colonies that the British were not invincible and that was enough for the morale of the people.

After the Revolutionary War the size and even existence of the navy fluctuated over the years with the vicissitudes of need and money, but by the War of 1812 the navy was more formally established and ingrained into the seams of American society. By 1845 the United States Naval Academy was formed, where Jones is currently interred. In the following years the navy continued to expand through the Civil War and especially under the guidance of the later President Theodore Roosevelt, who firmly believed in the importance of the navy to the protection of the nation. The navy increased, decreased, and increased again through the World Wars and ultimately the Cold War. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the United States became the uncontested naval superpower in the world.

Recently the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard, have realized the adverse link between crises and the economy and are working with each other and international powers to prevent tragedies from occurring.

On this coming anniversary of the United States Navy’s creation, let us bear in mind all those who have gone before us and will come after us.

After Action Review of my Philly Tour: The Big Blue Marble

2009-09-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

It was great to be back in the old city. I hit a few of my old haunts for good measure. The highlights were of course, finally meeting Flavius Jankauskas (one of the heroes in the book) and visiting readers at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore. (More on Flavius next week.)

The Big Blue Marble Bookstore is in Mt. Airy, a lovely neighborhood in Philadelphia. Sadly, I had never been there while living in Philly. Seeing it now, I sure wish I had. It’s filled with great big homes and warm neighbors. And, there is a cool co-op a few doors down from the bookshop.

I enjoyed my time getting to know Maleka and Mo, the shop’s keepers. They were surprised when I said my home base was Pittsburgh. What a drive!

The shop itself is a marvel. It’s not that unlike my own home. It was built more than 100 years ago, including 3 floors filled with books, and creaky narrow staircases. I loved it! They had a great children’s area downstairs and a delicious café upstairs- where the readings happen.

We had a small crowd who came because they love ham radio (Saul was our evening ham expert) or were simply interested in learning about a new topic. Even the young readers were intrigued by the subject matter. All in all- a good show. Thanks Blue Marble. I hope to return one day soon.

Frank William Crilley, Medal of Honor Winner

2009-09-22T11:45:00.001-07:00

As a curious young girl, I was always in things I shouldn’t be- scaling closest shelves and plumbing the depths of attics to uncover hidden Christmas presents, foraging through drawers for secrets unknown, and rummaging through hidey-holes for stashed candy and treats. So naturally, after some thorough scavenging work, I came across my great-grandfather’s story. Tucked away in a cold, metal filing cabinet, I discovered a yellowing newspaper clipping with a colorful illustration of a diver, replete with large, metal, ominous helmet, surrounded by sharks of varying sizes and ferocity and an article detailing the heroic deeds of Frank William Crilley.

My great grandfather was a diver for the navy in the early twentieth century. A man who, as family traditions murmurs, taught Amelia Earhart how to dive. He wore the cumbersome, metal helmets, the ones seen in old Scooby-Doo episodes, a number of which account for the décor in my family home. While he was diving off the coast of Honolulu, one of his fellows, William F. Loughman, became trapped in the water, his air hose jeopardized. In danger not only of entrapment, but also of the pressure generated by the depth of the water, Loughman needed immediate attention. My great-frandather realized all of this. I can only imagine the tumult of emotions that must have assaulted him. Shock. Confusion. Fear. And finally determination, his single-mindedness in rushing to his friend’s aid. Under water for two hours and eleven minutes, my great-grandfather surfaced with Loughman, alive.

Frank William Crilley received a Medal of Honor for his courageous deed that day and recently a dive school in San Diego, California was named after him. Another building is also dedicated to the memory of my great-grandfather, located in the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. In addition to his Medal of Honor, he was awarded a Navy Cross. My own father, his grandson, followed in his footsteps and became a diver as well.

It is always amazing to discover pieces of your personal history. The awe of unearthing where your ancestors came from and the connections they have to your life is a bridging moment, an instance where history and the present flow together as one. All are alive in yourself and therefore society. When that history is alive and ebbing beneath the communal body the present and future are illuminated. To know that my great-grandfather not only participated in history but lives on written down and memorialized feels like a tribute to me and the person I am in some small way and I can only hope to add myself to that living memory.

Writer of this article, Mariah Crilley, has joined Lisa Spahr in promoting World War II Radio Heroes while a student at Chatham University.

Join me in Philadelphia on September 18th!

2009-09-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

It will be so good to be back. I love and miss Philadelphia. I spent 2003-2007 at Temple University studying Psychology. I lived in the West, North and Art Museum areas. Boy, those were the days!

I'll be back the week of Sept 16-19. I'd love to see you at the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mt. Airy on Friday September 18th at 7 PM. I'll be signing books and doing a reading. Check out this link for more information and directions!

http://www.bigbluemarblebooks.com/events.html

Join me on August 20th on American Heroes!

2009-08-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

On August 20, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature an interview of Lisa Spahr the author of WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion.

Program Date: August 20, 2009

Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific

Topic: WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion

Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/08/21/WWII-Radio-Heroes-Letters-of-Compassion

About the Guest
Lisa Spahr, a former volunteer firefighter, "is an investigative psychologist who owns a life coaching and consulting business in Pittsburgh PA. Ms. Spahr has an extensive history in the field of research for universities and private organizations, focusing on law and psychiatry research, military applications, and policing operations and tactics. Examples of her work include: examining the construct of psychopathy in prisoner and juvenile populations, and creating guidelines for suicide bomb response for police officers in the United States.
Lisa Spahr said of WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, "More than 60 years had gone by before I found them. Dozens and dozens of letters written to my family during WWII- from total strangers- to tell my great-grandmother that her son had been captured and was being held as a POW. How did they know this? Well, it seems that the short-wave radio had held all of the answers. POWs were allowed to state their names and hometowns on the radio, and sometimes relay a short message to their families. Scores of Americans, listening to the German propaganda from so far away, heard my grandfather's information, and took it upon themselves to write to my great-grandmother. All of these dear people wanted to give my great-grandmother a measure of comfort to know her son was alive."

About American Heroes Radio
American Heroes Radio broadcasts from the Watering Hole; for a location heroes go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a
bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/08/21/WWII-Radio-Heroes-Letters-of-Compassion

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Radio During the Golden Age

2009-08-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Jerry Harris of Ashland MA wrote a wonderful article about radio during WWII. Definitely check it out.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/ashland/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1911310777/OPINION-Remembering-radios-golden-era

Fresno California Invites WWII Radio Heroes to a Radio Near Them!

2009-07-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for July 25, 2009 at 4 PM (EST).

Listen for me on KMJ 580 with Paul Loeffler. Paul does an outstanding job of recognizing our brave men and women- and those who support them. His show is called Home Town Heroes.

http://www.kmj580.com/pages/paulloeffler

If you miss the broastcast, you can listen to the Podcast from his site.

Thanks Paul. It was a pleasure to be on your show!

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PUT TO THE TEST — FIELD DAY 2009

2009-06-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

Local Radio Operators Test Emergency Communications During Nationwide Event

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, June 09, 2009

New Kensington, PA – MEMBERS OF THE SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY WILL BE PUTTING
THEIR RADIO SKILLS TO THE TEST DURING THE ANNUAL FIELD DAY EVENT, SPONSORED
BY THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE. THE 2009 FIELD DAY WILL SPAN 27 HOURS
STARTING SATURDAY, JUNE 27 AT 2 PM, RUNNING THROUGH 5 PM SUNDAY, JUNE 28.
FIELD DAY IS DESIGNED TO TEST AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS’ SKILLS AND
CAPABILITIES UNDER ADVERSE EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THOSE EXPERIENCED
DURING HURRICANE KATRINA. FIELD DAY OPERATORS FACE THE CHALLENGE OF QUICKLY
SETTING UP AND RUNNING 2-WAY RADIO STATIONS UNDER SIMULATED EMERGENCY
CONDITIONS WHERE COMMERCIALLY GENERATED POWER IS NOT AVAILABLE. ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY SOURCES INCLUDING GASOLINE GENERATORS, BATTERY, AND SOLAR WILL BE USED
TO POWER ALL THE RADIO AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT BEING USED IN THE EVENT.
PRESIDENT OF THE SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY, LARRY KELLER (AB3ER) SAYS, "ONE
OF OUR GOALS DURING THE 2008 FIELD DAY EXERCISE IS TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH
THE PUBLIC AND EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNITIES KNOW
THAT WHEN AN EMERGENCY ARISES, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND AND RECEIVE
CRITICAL INFORMATION, EVEN WHEN ALL OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS HAVE
FAILED."
THE SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY MEMBERS WILL BE OPERATING RADIOS FROM THEIR
CLUBHOUSE LOCATION NEAR NEW KENSINGTON AS WELL AS A SECOND FIELD STATION AT
TOWNSEND PARK IN MURRYSVILLE, PA. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO OBSERVE, ASK
QUESTIONS AND EVEN "GET ON THE AIR" FOR THE FIRST TIME IF THEY’D LIKE.
IN ADDITION TO EXCHANGING INFORMATION WITH OTHER RADIO OPERATORS BY VOICE,
THE SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY CLUB MEMBERS WILL BE USING ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS
OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS - CW - MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS MORSE CODE. THEY WILL
ALSO BE USING LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND
COMPUTER SOUNDCARD-BASED COMMUNICATIONS MODES.
"SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY IS A VERY PROGRESSIVE AND FRIENDLY CLUB, ESPECIALLY
WHEN IT COMES TO SHOWING PEOPLE WHO HAVE LITTLE OR NO RADIO EXPERIENCE WHAT
WE DO. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO TO VISIT EITHER OR BOTH OF OUR FIELD DAY SITES. VISITORS WILL BE
GREETED WITH A WARM WELCOME, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF SOME OF WHAT AMATEUR RADIO IS ALL ABOUT," SAYS DAVID KLEBER
(KB3FXI), COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN OF THE SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY.
MORE INFORMATION, SUCH AS DIRECTIONS TO THE FIELD DAY LOCATIONS, CAN BE FOUND
AT THE SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY WEBSITE AT WWW.SKYVIEWRADIO.NET.

Contact:
David Kleber, KB3FXI
412-720-0210
David.Kleber@verizon.net
Skyview Radio Society
2335 Turkey Ridge Road
New Kensington, PA 15068
www.skyviewradio.net

Reach Out to an American Hero Today!

2009-03-01T16:05:00.001-08:00

I was delivering a luncheon keynote recently to distinguished group of women in Upper St. Clair, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. One participant was delighted to share this website with me after my talk. It is a website where you can be matched up with a service member to share emails and letters. The website serves as a pseudo pen-pal matchmaker. I love the idea!

So, don't hesitate to check out www.AnySoldier.com and locate a deserving hero who would like to hear from you, your children's school, your organization, etc...

Let's keep in mind what a kind word from a stranger can do for someone who is serving our country in various capacities.

World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion is all about ordinary citizens reaching out to those in need during a difficult time in our history. Let's continue in that tradition by thanking and befriending our heroes today.

Bottom line: Let's show some love.

You'll be proud of yourself for doing so.

Mr. President, I am Disappointed.

2009-01-22T04:52:00.000-08:00

From Left: Rebecca Neuburger; Michelle Lanier; Joy Ilem; and Lisa Spahr. The Salute to Heroes Ball, January 20, 2009, Washington DC.

I was honored to attend the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball in Washington DC. The Salute to Heroes Ball honors those who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor- the highest military honor you can receive. We had 48 of the living 99 Medal of Honor recipients present. It was an awesome feeling to be in the same room with them.

I attended this ball four years ago for George W. Bush's Inaugural also.

The President and Vice President (and their respective spouses) have attended the Salute to Heroes Ball since the 1950's. They usually stop by for 10-20 minutes and share their respect for this honorable group.

Not this time. President Obama and First Lady Michelle did not arrive at the Salute to Heroes Ball. We did receive a visit from Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill.

I was terribly disappointed at President Obama for missing this opportunity to show his appreciation for our heroes. I believe he had a responsibility to be there, particularly at a time when our country is at war.

If you'd like to learn more about our Medal of Honor Recipients visit: http://www.cmohs.org/recipients.htm

Let's show them our appreciation. And, I will hope that the President does the same.

Pittsburgh Magazine Reviews WWII Radio Heroes!

2008-12-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

I just got it in the mail yesterday! Pittsburgh Magazine's January Edition has several book reviews. World War II Radio Heroes is one of them!

I want to thank Stephen Knezovich for his thoughtful review.

I am unsure if this review will appear on the website or just in print. The website is http://www.wqed.org/mag/index.php

If you are in or near Pittsburgh the magazine should be widely available. I subscribe to it, and have for years, because it always features some very interesting articles and things to do in the burgh.

I continue to be very appreciative of the positive attention we're getting with this book. Thanks to all!

Lisa

The Lincoln Highway Connection to WWII Radio Heroes

2008-12-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

I first met Brian Butko in the summer at the Bridgewater Book Festival. He is the author of a half dozen books, the editor for the Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, and an all around cool guy. He has great interest in history of course, but his areas of interest are more obscure than most historians. He writes about the roadside landmarks you remember as a kid, the places and faces that we love but often take for granted.. until there gone that is.

Brian and I kept in touch over the months and he volunteered himself and his son, Andrew, to read for World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion (2008). Andrew was our youngest reader and read for our most prominent hero in the book, Flavius Jankauskas (who wrote to my family in 1943 as a 16 year old short-wave listener).

Brian and I most recently came together again at the Heinz History Center's Holiday Book Fair. It was perfect timing for me to give him his copy of our work- the audio book was completed a week prior.

I'm privileged to know Brian Butko. He's a very fascinating man with great stories- and road trips to tell you about.

Check out his site and latest book here: http://www.lincolnhighwaynews.com/ Take a stroll down memory lane.

After hearing Brian talk about the Lincoln Highway, which I drive frequently, I look at it differently. I'm eager for the spring so I can take a road trip of my own!

Giving Back for the Holidays

2008-11-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

When you are making out your holiday card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Many thanks.
Lisa

Today and Everyday We Thank You!

2008-11-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of our veterans, their families and support systems! On Veterans Day, and everyday, I wish to send our most heart-felt thank you to those who served and those who serve- in all capacities.

You are our everyday heroes! We salute you!

Happy Veteran's Day 2008!

Lisa Spahr
and Family

Review in CQ Magazine!

2008-10-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

I am delighted to share CQ Magazine has featured World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion (2008) in their Review Section this month!

Thank you Bob Josuweit, Editor of Public Service for CQ!

Check out CQ at http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/

Happy reading!

Lisa

Heinz History Center Welcomes WWII Radio Heroes!

2008-10-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share this news with all of you. So many great things have been happening. We are finishing the audio book and expect it to be available for Thanksgiving and the gift-giving season. We are writing an article we hope will appear in Western PA Magazine (thanks to Jay Speyerer and Brian Butko). We are expanding out book tour by reaching out to other cities to offer talks and signings (York and Philadelphia are on the radar). ... the list goes on.

AND- I've just been told that World War II Radio Heroes will be a featured book in the Senator John Heinz History Center (a "must see" in Pittsburgh).... and... I will be one of the honored guests at the History Center's Holiday Book Fair on December 6th! Visit http://www.pghhistory.org/About_Heinz_Events.asp to learn more. Thank you Nan Best-Vitullo, Lee Heckman and Andy Masich.

I am really looking forward to all of the events and milestones that I noted. Thank you for helping us share this great story!

I hope to see you and your family and friends at the History Center on December 6, 2008 from 10-2!

Lisa

Many thanks to you!

2008-10-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

As we are finishing up the audio project- putting World War II Radio Heroes on a set of 3 CDs with bonus tracks- I have so many people I want to thank over, and over again... Here are some of the wonderful people who have been working on this project.

Executive Producer
Darryl Grandy

Designer
Dave Williams

Readers (in no particular order)
Donn Nemchick
Rob Lowery
John Sommer
Flavius Jankauskas
Morton Bardfield
Dave Williams
Morry Feldman
Jill Cueni-Cohen
Jay Speyerer
Brian Butko
Andrew Butko
Brian Nuckols
Beth Caldwell
Sandra Rebholz
John Herington
Jill Cueni-Cohen
Samantha Bennett
Mary Beth Kratsas
Randy DePaoli
Mel DePaoli
Kelli Burns
Nannette Best-Vitullo
Dave Capan
Miyoshi Anderson
Suzanne Heintzinger
Emil Heintzinger
Joanne Quinn-Smith, Publisher, www.PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com
Lori S. Bridgett
JoAnn R. Forrester
Louis C. Rizzo, CFP
Jamie L. Johnston
Gregg Mathis
Mary Pam Kilgore
Gregory Robert Kuntz

Also:
Intrigue Publishing, Denise Camacho
Co-Author, Austin Camacho
Renda Broadcasting Corporation

Last but not least, the named and unnamed heroes who gave us a story to talk about for decades and hopefully centuries.

Whew! An update on World War II Radio Heroes

2008-09-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hello good people.

My apologies for being so quiet for a few months.

We are in the recording studio now finishing up the audio book version of World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion. I have had the great pleasure of working with so many gracious volunteers lending their voices to our letters from 1943. And, I have been so fortunate to have a great executive producer, Darryl Grandy, leading us in all of the right directions. We should have the audio books available by the end of October- just in time for the holidays. The audio book will only be available via my website www.powletters.com and at the various speaking engagements that I go out on.

We have discovered the hamfest circuit! Rob and I attended our first hamfest at Skyview Radio Society, K3MJW, in New Kensington (near Pittsburgh) on August 24, 2008. We had a great time! It was one of our best book promotions yet! (Thanks to the good people of Skyview that had spread the word before we even got there!) We had a wonderful day with beautiful weather and met dozens of radio heroes. I was interviewd by Dennis Woytek of Skyview and you can see the interview here: http://www.skyviewradio.net/

We hit another hamfest the following weekend, in Uniontown PA, W3PIE, and saw many of the same radio faces as the week before! Its a following like I haven't seen in ages. Now, we are toying with the idea of joining our radio friends in Kutztown PA on the 19th and 20th of September. And, we'll definitely be in Dayton in 2009! How could we possibly miss that monster radio event?

I have a busier speaking schedule in the coming months than I have since earlier this year. I hope to be at a location near you. Check my website for the latest information www.powletters.com

Thanks for tuning in. I hope to see you soon.

Lisa

"I Can't Tie My Shoes, But I Have a Great Memory!"

2008-06-05T16:58:00.003-07:00

I am rarely at a loss for words.

The other day I was giving a talk at a retirement home, on my book World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion (2008). There were two "Spahr's" there. Wow. I've not met any other Spahr's in the Pittsburgh area until then. But my surprise didn't end there.

The lady of the pair took my breath away after my talk, as a few of us were conversing. She was born premature, 2 lbs in fact; lives with cerebal palsy; lost all of her family members with one exeption; and has been in a wheelchair all of her life. But her mind, is as sharp as a tack!

I commented on her memory at one point as she mentioned someone else's birthday (in a facility with more than 100 people!) and she said, "I can't time my shoes, but I have a great memory!" And, on her cue we all laughed.

This woman is ON! She's GOT IT! She has greater spirit than most people I meet on a daily basis. She has not allowed any handicap to hinder her life or the quality of her life. I learned so much from her in a mere hour.

She is happily married and has found wonder and amazement in each moment in life. She takes nothing for granted.

Wow. What an amazing woman! If I can be half that in this lifetime I'll be satisfied!

Who have you learned a valuable lesson from lately?

Visit a retirement center near you today! Take the kids! You'll be amazed at what you learn

2008-06-05T16:58:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

I had the distinct honor of being on The American Entrepreneur Radio Show this past weekend for their Memorial Day Program. Ron Morris and Darryl Grandy were phenomenal hosts.

Ron interviewed me for about an hour on World War II Radio Heroes: Letter of Compassion. The interview can be found here www.taeradio.com

I am delighted to have the opportunity to thank the men and women who serve our country in all capacities each day. I am sorrow filled to think of all those we have lost along the way. I try to remind myself each day of the ultimate sacrifice of so many, so that I may live the life of my dreams in a land I love so much. Thank you to all of our service personnel and their families. We are indebted to you.

Happy Memorial Day- every day.

June 14th- Flag Day. Where will you be?

2008-05-16T08:28:00.001-07:00

Flag Day is a significant day to many Americans. Unfortunately, some people are oblivious to what it means, when it is and what its for. I urge you to share the message with your friends, families and neighbors.

My education on the Flag began back in grade school. Our class would say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning with our hands over our hearts. In history class we learned about the addition of stars on our Flag over time.

When I went to work for The American Legion in Washington DC in 1998, my education on our Flag was enhanced even further. I learned that the Flag should be illuminated if you fly it at night or else it should be brought indoors. I learned that the Flag should not touch the ground. I also learned that it should be retired in an appropriate way, never thrown away.

Buying a flag pole and flying a Flag was an exciting part of owning my own home. I took great pride in my expression of honor for my country, our service men and women and the history of our Flag.

I take even greater honor as I prepare for Flag Day 2008 and the awesome ceremony that will occur at South Park (Pittsburgh, PA) as we retire dozens of our country's Flags that have flown all over the world in one of the only public ceremonies available. I have sat on the Committee preparing for this event for several months now. The other Committee members have been involved for years in building this event to what it has become. People from all walks of life will join together to honor the Flag. Media and politicians will take their place to be a part of the gathering too. We have singers and dignitaries coming in from all over the country.

I invite you to join us as we respectfully retire some of our nation's Flags. The event is June 14th, a Saturday, at South Park (Pittsburgh PA) at 6 PM.

Consider what the Flag means to you. When and how did you learn about it? Quiz others (in a friendly manner) and see what they think of Flag Day. Use this as an educational opportunity and a way to connect with others.

Feel free to email me for more information: author@powletters.com

Coaching For Writers- at the MWA

2008-05-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Wow. I've just returned from an energy filled weekend of fun AND education. I was a speaker at the Maryland Writer's Association Annual Conference.

I made an entire weekend of it. As I had lived in the DC Metropolitan area for several years, I decided to stay in Baltimore one night and then Annandale (VA) the next. I reconnected with some of my dearest friends, Austin and Denise Camacho at the conference, and Rebecca Neuburger and Michelle Lanier at their cool new home in Mt. Pleasant (DC). I also met dozens of new friends, all budding or accomplished writers who attended the conference.

I spoke to a standing room only crowd at my session titled, "Coaching for Writers: What keeps you up at night?" We began the session networking (something that many authors find REALLY hard to do) and then launched into identifying challenges AND resolutions to writing- and FINISHING your writing projects.

I must confess, this was one of the best talks that I've been a part of all year. Really. The audience participation and candor was tops. The energy to learn more, do better and achieve was awesome! I am guessing this session will become one of my greatest contributions to the writing world- outside of my own book World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion.

Thanks Austin, Denise, Ann Arbaugh (President of MWA)... you guys put on a great show.

Off to see a client.....
Lisa
Author, Speaker and Coach

Thank you Radio Operators, Listeners and Fans!

2008-04-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Wow.

This year has been a whirlwind one. They say that writing the book is 1/3 of the work. The real hard work comes in promoting it. Boy, were they right!

However, hard work does pay off. Not only have I had some really fulfilling book discussions this month but I've also been featured in two national magazines. Yes, TWO national magazines.

Both were cold calls. (Entrepreneurs will find that really exciting.)

The first is the Amateur Radio Relay League's QST Magazine. They were kind enough to review WWII Radio Heroes in their April 2008 edition. Humbly, they reminded me it was a small review. I braced myself. It was a huge (okay, so it was 1/4 page- I believe that is huge)! Thank you ARRL! I'm really looking forward to going to my first radio conference- Beltsville, MD June 5-7.

The second is America in WWII magazine. WWII Radio Heroes was one of three books featured in their review section, due out in June 2008. We received nearly a whole page of review! I was beside myself. This was a real honor.

What's next? I'll tell you- The American Entrepreneur Show on AM 1360 Pittsburgh with Ron Morris! The fun never stops!

Stay tuned. :)

My Most Enlightened Talk To Date

2008-04-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the privilege to talk to the World War II Prisoner of War Survivor's Group at the VA on Highland Drive (for our Pittsburgh readers). There were about 50 survivors and their family members gathered in a room at the VA dedicated to them and their comrades who are no longer with us. This was a very well established group who meets once a month for updates, to share time together and to hear a speaker. This month I was that honored individual- and the honor was all mine.

I am used to talking with people who know "a little something" about World War II. I am used to also talking with people who know very little- especially about my topic- POW monitoring or the use of short-wave radios to hear and share messages of our POWs. But, this group was entirely different for me. I only hoped I could keep their attention- after all, they know everything I was about to share with them. They are... my grandfather- the amazing man that I lost at the age of 11. They were the prisoners. The postcards and letters that radio listeners were writing were about them. I was merely one who stumbled upon my families letters two years ago and decided to write a book about it. This was fairly new to me. But, to them, this was history- a very personal part of their own history.

I've been around veterans long enough to know my role. I was there to share what I could with them, as a grand-daughter of a POW, about my book... but I was there first and foremost to thank them for their service- and thank their family members for their support of our nations veterans. Then, the most exciting part for me came... I was to listen. Listen to all that they wanted to share with me- the author.

These men were beyond kind to me in their attentiveness and appreciation for how lovingly I spoke of my hero- my grandfather. They cautioned me that as I read letters from him to and from family members, namely his girlfriend (my grandmother-to-be), that I be aware that letters were censored. I shouldn't just read what was on the paper, but between the lines. I should know that alot couldn't be said that was desperate to be. Also, I couldn't believe that all was well even if my grandfather said it was. After all, if the Germans didn't like what you wrote it was thrown away before it could ever be mailed.

The former prisoners also were interested. Where was my grandfather's prison camp? Which Stalag? They gave me a few leads as to where I could post information to find anyone who might have known him. They were part historian and part detective. They were what makes our veterans so special.

I am honored to have been a small part of their gathering. I am honored that I was able to say thank you.

Veterans History Project

2008-03-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

How many of you know about the Veterans History Project?

I am constantly meeting people who say that they've thrown away war letters, uniforms and other memorabilia because they didn't know what else to do with it. As generations pass these items become lost to a box in the basement, attic or, most sadly, the garbage.

Well, the Veterans History Project, a program by the Library of Congress, is interested in many of the collections and other items that you may find in boxes, attics or at yard sales.

Their website is very informative about what they accept and what they don't. Visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/ for more information.

I am planning to send 10 letters from my POW-relay collection to the Veterans History Project to ensure preservation of the materials far beyond my years. Join me in preserving our veterans history.

Putting life in perspective!

2008-02-28T04:39:00.000-08:00

Book signings are not the fanfare that you'd expect them to be. For small-time authors like myself there are no lines of fans waiting anxiously as you enter the store. There is no applause. No cramping in the hands from constantly writing a note in books being taken home by wide-eyed readers.

There is usually a coffee involved. And, some nice book store staff to converse with over the course of 2-4 hours. And, there is always my favorite activity- people watching. After all, I'm a psychologist. I love to observe behavior. And, my years of customer service are revisited as I yell out "Hello! How are you today?" as someone comes into the store.

Now that I have a dozen or so signings under my belt I've decided that documenting the people I meet would make for an interesting read. Perhaps even another book someday!

There are the young people that come to my table for the candy- and I get to tell them a little bit about WWII and/or preserving old letters in their families.

There are the widows who spend at least 15 minutes with me reminiscing about their service-oriented husbands, brothers and fathers. One person I met this week was the child of a WW ONE vet! How fascinating! The stories are endless.

There are the bored and tired that just stop off at my table for a breather- and someone to talk to- about anything. Sure, they try to take interest in the subject but often fall short.

There are the ham radio aficionados who are drawn to the table because of the word "Radio" in the title. They always teach me a thing or two.

There are those who want to be more in touch with what their families went through during WWII because they were too young to really understand it all. They almost always purchase a book with eagerness to read and absorb it for all that they can.

But, the one man who has stood out during all of this was the man who patiently talked with me for about 10 minutes about WWII, a war he served in proudly. After a while he mentioned that his "buddy" had brought him out to get him out of the house for the day. He then paused. Tears welled up in his eyes and he told me about loosing his wife of 60+ years the week before. He was lost without her. He didn't know what to do with himself. He apologized to me for tearing up and for dampening my "big day".

I should have thanked him for reminding me what life is all about. The important pieces. He helped to put my "big day" of book signing in perspective. My life isn't about my book or my few hours spent at a signing to share my book. Its about the relationships we have with people- those we love. Although this book is about them in many ways and shared an amazing story of helping each other- I, the author, have to keep perspective on my own relationships to those I love. After all, we are not guaranteed a tomorrow.

Here's to the book store visitors everywhere! You never know how you may touch someone.
Cheers.

York Sunday News Highlights WWII Radio Heroes!

2008-02-12T18:14:00.001-08:00

Thank you Gloria Jean Fogal for highlighting WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion in the Sunday news and on York Blog! This hometown author appreciates the love that York has shown for this amazing story!

Visit the story at http://www.yorkblog.com/books/2008/02/local_author_lisa_spahr.html

I'm always looking for new and creative ideas for marketing this awesome book! If you have an idea please share it with me via email author@powletters.com or via this blog (public access).

Thanks again York PA!

York PA was Outstanding!

2008-02-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

On Saturday February 2nd, WWII Radio Heroes was premiered in York PA at Borders, across from the Galleria.

I have to thank the Borders crew who took such great care of us all. The posters and press for the event were the best I had seen thus far.

In true fashion, my family put the alert out to our small town of Wellsville, their coworkers, and spread the word throughout York PA! Thanks to all! We saw some great people at the booksigning and sold a near record high number of books!

People seemed to really like the era-candy that I had on hand, modeled from the candy of the 1940's. We had the KDKA feature on the laptop and original letters for people to view. Also, we had POW Bulletins put out by the Red Cross for people to review.

As with all of the stops that WWII Radio Heroes has made, everyone has a WWII story to share. I am so fortunate to get to hear so many of them. Who knows... that may be the next book.

Thank you York PA visitors for your warm hospitality for this hometown girl. I hope to welcome you to Pittsburgh one day soon!

-Lisa Spahr, Author

WWII Radio Heroes is Launched! Welcome!

2008-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

One of the most incredible stories of a time before mine has been released. In December, I, along with a tremendous team of talented people, released WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, a non-fictional account of humanitarian greatness during WWII.

WWII Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion (2008) is a story about ham radio operators and others alerting families of POWs during a time of war. The book features more than 30 letters and postcards sent to the author’s family in 1943, notifying them of her grandfather’s capture and status as a prisoner of war. Upon discovering these letters I began researching the people who did this, and why, and reached out to find them or their next of kin, more than 60 years after the fact. My journey is detailed in WWII Radio Heroes.

The Foreword is written by John Sommer, Jr, Executive Director of The American Legion. Contributions to the book include: Flavius Jankauskas (K3JA) and Morton Bardfield, both authors of postcards and letters from 1943 to POW families.

Contact: Lisa Spahr (412) 867-9991 or author@powletters.com
Publisher: Intrigue
ISBN 978-0-9762181-7-3
List Price $15.95; 76 pages
Copyright 2008

*Original letters are available for loan to museums and libraries. Author is available for speaking engagements.

I wish to thank:
John Sommer, Jr.
Austin Camacho
Denise Camacho
Craig Fischer
Dave Williams
Flavius Jankauskas
Morton Bardfield
All veterans and their supporters
All ham radio operators and the people who support them

The book launch was held January 15, 2008 at The American Legion in Washington DC. The event was a wonderful success. The Radio and Television Museum was on hand to demonstrate how radio operators and listeners would have pulled in this information from enemy radio.

From the launch I wish to thank:
Brian Belanger
John Sommer, Jr.
Rebecca Neuburger
Kristin Kappelman
Michelle Lanier
Oscar Hernandez
Joyce Faulkner
Pat Avery
Sandy Brown
Vince Brown
All veterans and their supporters
All ham radio operators and those that support them

For more information about WWII Radio Heroes please visit www.powletters.com I welcome your comments and personal stories about WWII.

The author-Lisa Spahr