My mother's family lost three of five brothers in WWII. The middle one, Dale Wilson, was lost just off New Guinea, the copilot of a B-25. They were never found.My grandparents got three letters from the west coast from shortwave listeners. One is listed on page 176--Mrs. H.L. Flowers--but her letter was sent from Seattle, Washington.The other two aren't listed: Nancy Street of Reno, Nevada, and M/M F. G. Dolliver of Los Angeles. I'd like to include them among these state-side heroes. They gave my grandparents hope for several months.The same three people also named John Stack, the bomber's navigator, but none of the other four.I'm writing a book about the Wilson family, and have a website with a WWII section. I'd started a blog piece called "Radio Tokyo Named Dale Ross Wilson as a POW." JoyNealKidney.com
Showing posts with label world war ii radio heroes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label world war ii radio heroes. Show all posts
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Welcoming Joy Kidney's story! Adding TWO More Heroes to Our List!
Friends, I can't begin to tell you the delight it gives me to open my email and see a message related to POW relay in my inbox. This latest one was from Joy Kidney. She's given me permission to share it here and she's joined our Facebook Page (World War II Radio Heroes). And, do you know what her contribution means.... we are adding TWO more Heroes to our master list, bringing our total to 302!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Celebrating Pauline Holtzclaw of Charlotte NC - another World War II Radio Hero identified!
Hello friends. The story repeats itself yet again. I find myself the recipient of another wonderful communication that goes like this:
Rick and I are friends on my World War II Radio Heroes Facebook Page. Please friend him and thank him for his efforts and preservation of this piece of the story. We continue to seek Congressional Recognition for those like Pauline, who supported our POWs and their families with these precious notes. Please continue to reach out to your legislatures and ask for their help. I have materials you can use to that end- simply email me.
"A few years ago I stumbled across an old 5X7 3-ring binder that belonged to my mother. In it are neatly and almost perfectly typed words of hymns, songs, poems, quips and little sayings. Strategically placed in the middle of them is a poem entitled “A Soldier Speaks” from the Office of War Information. The 15 pages that follow that poem are typed and handwritten addresses, service numbers and short memos from a POW to a family member here in the US or Canada that my mother notated. Up to now, I have made an assumption that because she was a Red Cross volunteer during WWII, in Charlotte, NC, that she may have jotted these messages to relay them to families stateside. Unfortunately, my mom passed in 2003, so this all comes as a bit of a mystery to me. Then I come across your video and hear how many people, all over the country would write the names, addresses and notes from POW’s that they heard on the radio and would relay those messages to those families. I’m wondering now, if that was what my mom was doing, instead of it coming through her volunteering with the Red Cross..."That was the beginning of my communication with Rick Bartlett of Georgia. He shared with me the beautiful contents of that ring binder he found after her passing. Like myself, Rick couldn't put the materials down. He read and reread each note and then began searching for the POWs that his mother wrote about. He has become far more of a researcher than I, in fact. His work is impressive. I'm including a few documents that he was kind enough to share, and grant permission to share.
Rick and I are friends on my World War II Radio Heroes Facebook Page. Please friend him and thank him for his efforts and preservation of this piece of the story. We continue to seek Congressional Recognition for those like Pauline, who supported our POWs and their families with these precious notes. Please continue to reach out to your legislatures and ask for their help. I have materials you can use to that end- simply email me.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Proud to Add Another WWII Radio Hero to Our Master List for Congressional Recognition. That makes 294 and counting...
I am delighted to add Bessie May Dean Adcock to our list of World War II Radio Heroes- men and women who aided families like mine, alerting us that our loved one had been captured and was serving as a POW.
Hero: Bessie Mae Dean Adcock (married to W.T. Adcock) P.O. Box 98 or Reams Avenue Roxboro, North Carolina.
I learned about Ms. Bessie May as I learn about most others, by the word of a good citizen trying to help someone (and sometimes that someone they are trying to help is me). In this case, I received an email from Kathy Young, the Director of Person County Museum of History in Roxboro North Carolina.
One of her volunteers brought more than 100 responses from letters written (by her Mother) to POW families and was wondering what to do with them.
If you know anything about this story, World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, you know that we salute each and every person involved with POW message relay. Their service to POW families, the POW him/herself, and the country at large, is largely unknown but is priceless to those of us affected.
Thank you Ms. Bessie May. Thank you to her daughter. And, thank you to Kathy Young for reaching out to me. Adding another name to this list of exemplary Americans makes for a delightful start to 2014.
Happiest of New Years to all of you.
- Lisa
Hero: Bessie Mae Dean Adcock (married to W.T. Adcock) P.O. Box 98 or Reams Avenue Roxboro, North Carolina.
I learned about Ms. Bessie May as I learn about most others, by the word of a good citizen trying to help someone (and sometimes that someone they are trying to help is me). In this case, I received an email from Kathy Young, the Director of Person County Museum of History in Roxboro North Carolina.
One of her volunteers brought more than 100 responses from letters written (by her Mother) to POW families and was wondering what to do with them.
If you know anything about this story, World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, you know that we salute each and every person involved with POW message relay. Their service to POW families, the POW him/herself, and the country at large, is largely unknown but is priceless to those of us affected.
Thank you Ms. Bessie May. Thank you to her daughter. And, thank you to Kathy Young for reaching out to me. Adding another name to this list of exemplary Americans makes for a delightful start to 2014.
Happiest of New Years to all of you.
- Lisa
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Join me in Philadelphia on September 18th!
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
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
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Join me on August 20th on American Heroes!
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
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
Monday, July 13, 2009
Fresno California Invites WWII Radio Heroes to a Radio Near Them!
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!
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!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Reach Out to an American Hero Today!
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.
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.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Pittsburgh Magazine Reviews WWII Radio Heroes!
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
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
Monday, November 24, 2008
Giving Back for the Holidays
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
A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001
Many thanks.
Lisa
Monday, November 10, 2008
Today and Everyday We Thank You!
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
You are our everyday heroes! We salute you!
Happy Veteran's Day 2008!
Lisa Spahr
and Family
Friday, October 24, 2008
Review in CQ Magazine!
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
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
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Heinz History Center Welcomes WWII Radio Heroes!
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
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
Friday, October 17, 2008
Many thanks to you!
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.
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.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Whew! An update on World War II Radio Heroes
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
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
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