Bob Lents, WWII submarine veteran and member of USSVI Twin Lakes Submarine Base flew to Bremerton, Washington to be honored at the USS Seawolf reunion. He is the only remaining crew member of the first Seawolf that disappeared 4 October 1944. Before it disappeared he was transferred to the USS Perch and later ended up in a Japanese prison. To read his story go to http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/aug/25/seawolf. Terry L. Kuhn is the new editor for the S-28 Yankee Doodle Dandy-Gram newsletter. He served aboard the Andrew Jackson (SSBN 619) and the Billfish (SSN676) and is from Wilmington, NC. William (Bill)Whelan of Cary, NC was the former editor for years and is the chaplain for the U.S. Submarine veterans of WWII, NC Chapter All Clear. James Myers is the All Clear newsletter editor & publisher. I am the new editor of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII/Arkansas Diamond Chapter newsletter. November 2-3-4 we will be meeting at the Travelers Inn at Eureka Springs. We are praying that good health will allow a big turn-out. I will be gathering news to keep members unable to attend updated. By sharing news of what is happening with members will bring each other closer. We watched, THE WAR, a Ken Burns film last week on AETN. It is a film the whole family should have watched and should watch next week. Many of us know little of that war and those who knew want to forget. We learn from our mistakes I am told... but do we? This was a war I am told we had no choice but go to war for the enemy had approached our shores and skies. In Their Words, AETN's WWII Oral History Project Joseph Truman Blanchett, a member of the Diamond Chapter recorded his story aboard the USS Seal (SS-183) built in 1938 and is one of the veteran's in my book (Submarine Stories of World War II). The USS Sea Fox (SS-402) Association and former crew members donated time and money to purchase a plaque to be placed on the Commemorative Plaque Wall at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. All crew members are welcome to attend the ceremony coordinated by Master Chief Frank Lister, TMCM(SS),USN (RET) who served aboard 1956-59. It will take place on 30 October, 2007. To learn more click on http://seafoxassoc.homestead.com/index.

Nine veterans share their experiences while serving in the USS Navy during the 1940s. Many had never been away from home when they ventured beneath the sea to an unknown world of silence, to spy and destroy enemy ships. November 5-7 release and book signing at the Military Writers Society of America Conference at Branson, Missouri.

Children's books/war stories. Letters from Korea by Pat Avery (Kids World Series Red Engine Press) is for ages 9-12. The 48 page book is a story of a boy learning from his grandmother the sadness of war through family letters and photos she had received. In the back of the book are pictures of several veterans who served in the Korean War. Tommy's War by Pat Avery and Eric Ray (Kids World Series) is written for children to understand why a parent or parents have to serve their country during the time of war. The 36-page book teaches patriotism and provides insight to how children can relate to war. Summer of my German Soldier by Bette Greene is a teen novel. In reading this book I learned Arkansas had Japanese interment camps during World War II. Ms. Greene put many of her childhood experiences into this book. For more information go to http://www.enotes.com/summer-german/author-biography, enotes.com is a comprehensive online educational resource for students, teachers and researchers. My Friend the Enemy (A Yearling Book www.randomhouse.com/kids) by J.B. Cheaney is a teen novel where a young girl learns the true meaning of being an American. Hazel meets a young boy who is hiding to keep from going to an interment camp. They are enemies, but will they become friends or will Hazel tell her family. In this book you will learn about the Japan's balloon bomb attacks on Oregon during World War II, Young America Work Corps, Junior Auxiliary Air Patrol and a whole lot more. There is so much I didn't know so I went to "Attacks on North America during World War II, at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Remember always check all facts three times or more. Also, go http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com, Cynsations blog Sunday October 2,2005 under "Relocation and Internment in Children's Books" where you will find an interview with J.B. Cheaney about her book, My Friend the Enemy.

Check out SALUTE,an 18 page military newsletter at www.redenginepress.com to read my article, Korean Conflict: USS SEA FOX SS-402 as it was told to me by Melvin T. Smith The boat photo is courtesy of George Arnold who is the president and webmaster of the Sea Fox Association. The USS Sea Fox (SS-402)will hold their reunion at Branson, Missouri in 2009. To learn more click on http://seafoxassoc.homestead.com. Membership in the Military Writers Society of America is free. To receive all the benefits update your membership for $25. For more information go to www.militarywriters.com. Max McCoy agreed to write a review of my book. Max writes novels,screenplays and is an investigative reporter. He is Journalist-in-Residence at Emporia State University, Kansas. His website is www.maxmccoy.com and he has the most exciting blog "BackStory" filled with history, travels and the May 07, tornado at Greensburg, Kansas with lots of interesting photos. I knew Max had several Navy links on his website including USS Submarine Veterans Inc. Click on http://ussi.org/home.asp then click on-Find a Base--click on state(AR) where you will see Twin Lakes Base-click on their website and click on -Submarine Stories of World War II. The names of the veterans and their boats are list that are in my upcoming book. The book will be released November 5-7 at Branson, Missouri. What surprised me when I was reading Max's blog his dad was in the U.S. Navy in 1944. His dad served aboard the USS Pennsylvania at Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in modern history. I didn't know this when I asked him to review my book. This makes it extra special.

I created this blog to share my involvement in writing military articles and promote my upcoming book, Submarine Stories of World War II. My husband is a veteran of WWII, Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He served on five submarines and with Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 7 during his twenty year career. I have a room filled with books, letters and articles gathered since 1984. When I shared my interest in this field I meet other writers who are writing military books and articles. Colleen Tucker announced at the last Ozarks Writers League meeting the Military Writers Society of America will hold their annual conference in Branson, November 5-7 during Veterans week. Pat McGrath Avery wrote an article on the up coming MWSA in the BUGLE Branson Veterans Task Force paper. For more information contact Lloyd King LAK@aol.com or Ms. Avery at riverroadpress@yahoo.com. After I announced I was a member of MWSA, I had writers asking questions. One has a daughter who is a military historian, one is writing a children's picture book about the war and her son writers for Army Times, and a writer who is an associate member of the Razorback Base. The National Veterans of World War II will be holding their yearly convention September 3-8 at Billings, Montana. Vice Admiral Albert H. "Big Al" Konetzni Jr., will be the main speaker. He is known as "Big Al, the Sailor's Pal." He was kind enough to write the foreword for my book. Until next time smooth sailing.