A Thousand Letters Home, Northville, MI
Following the 2006 death of her father, Aarol W. “Bud” Irish, of Saginaw, MI, Teresa Irish opened the Army trunk that had resided in the family home her entire life. There, nestled in row after row, were her dad’s nearly 1,000 letters from WWII. Visited only by him over the course of six decades, the letters were postmarked from Nov. 1942 to Dec. 1945. The fragile and yellowed pages were written to Bud’s parents back in Hemlock, MI, and to the sweetheart who would later become his wife, Elaine Marie Corbat. From lonesome, moonlit nights listening to the Hit Parade, to the foxholes and front lines in Germany where Bud would receive the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart, to correspondence with the heartbroken mothers whose sons died by his side, this is a moving and historic story of life and loss, hope and perseverance, unwavering faith, and true love. A Thousand Letters Home, One WWII Soldier’s Story of War, Love and Life,is comprised of 320 of these poignant letters and 104 corresponding photographs.
The firsthand account through the eyes, heart and words of one soldier mirrors the journeys of many who served in WWII. From training camps across the U.S.A., to Ports of Embarkation where they boarded ships and crossed the ocean to fight on foreign soil, millions of young Americans were abruptly pulled from civilian life and thrust into the unfamiliar world of a military at war. At every opportunity, Bud poured his thoughts and feelings into his letters, all amidst reassuring words to loved ones a world away. Unable or perhaps reluctant to recount what they had experienced, many veterans chose to spare their loved ones the detailed atrocities of war – these would be their own personal burdens to bear for the remainder of their lives.
A Thousand Letters Home was named Reviewer’s Choice by Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch. The Military Writers Society of America called it “a fascinating book…a treasure trove,” and concluded “highly recommend.” ATLH received Honorable Mention in the 20th Annual Writer’s Digest Self Published Book Awards which included 3,000+ submissions. Ms. Irish was the featured speaker/author at over 60 events in five states in 2012, and appeared on ABC News, NPR, The National Defense, Veterans Radio, and Military Author Radio. The story of the “journey of the letters” has been reported in newspapers throughout the country. The book’s introduction, as well as letter excerpts and a photo gallery may be viewed at www.AThousandLettersHome.com.
