Marie L. Sturdevant

Somewhere in the Western Pacific: the War Through the Eyes of My Father Marie L. Sturdevant

Wartime letters, written seven decades ago, between soldier and sweetheart, family and friends, provide rare glimpses into the very heart and emotions of those individuals collectively known as the Greatest Generation. Through these first-hand accounts in the written word, one is left with a greater sense of the human side of this conflict, World War II. These were not the fighting machines depicted in war movies, rather they were young men, vulnerable and scared, and at times terribly homesick. They were doing their jobs in conditions that were difficult and extremely hazardous. Their sacrifices, together with those made on the home front, helped to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. Somewhere in the Western Pacific is the story of one young man called to duty to serve as an armorer with one of the most successful fighter squadrons in the Pacific War, the 342nd Fighter Squadron. You will follow his journey from basic and technical training through his deployment to the Western Pacific Islands and then home again to "good old Worcester, Massachusetts." This book is filled with excerpts from the many letters written by Sgt. Sven Louis Sandstrom to his sweetheart and future wife, Hildur Virginia Carlstrom. They are filled with anecdotes of life in the military during the most catastrophic conflict in history. He wrote about life on the bases and in the jungles of the Western Pacific Islands: New Guinea, the Philippines and Ie Shima in the Ryukyu Islands. He also wrote about red alerts, jumping into the fox-holes in the darkness of night, as well as how he and other members of his squadron spent time during off-duty hours. A time-line of the war in the Pacific, commentary and a history of the times, along with World War II vintage photos from Sgt. Sandstrom's collection add to the overall presentation of this unique piece of history.