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Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2006
¿Courtesies of the Heart¿ The history of war is frequently presented on a massive scale involving the clash of great powers, the destruction of staggering numbers of people with feats of glory and heroism to punctuate the bloody accounting that constitutes a war¿s record. Within this swirl of events are many small, intricate stories about individual lives and families that rarely are told outside of the family circle. In ¿Courtesies of the Heart¿ we learn of one of these small stories of heroism and sacrifice in a powerful and memorable way. It is a story of World War II (WWII), a fallen pilot, his daughter and the remarkable ¿ad hoc coalition,¿ to use the author¿s phrase, of individuals who helped to achieve a homecoming almost sixty years after he had been reported as Missing in Action (MIA). In WWII¿s aftermath the vanquished turned to rebuilding their cities and lives and responding to occupation. For the victors it was a time of homecoming and reunion, at least for those whose loved ones returned. Yet, as the troops returned home, there were many American families missing from those waiting at the gangplank or on the tarmac. These were the families and loved ones of the 78,000 soldiers, sailors, marines and others who at war¿s end were still MIA. If the average family in 1940 included some 3.1 persons, then at least a quarter of a million American¿s had no homecoming. Beyond the immediate family there was an extended family of relatives, girlfriends and for many of the missing the families they had started just as the war swept them up and into its maw. This population now surges to well over a million Americans for whom war¿s end brought no closure. These were the families who had received the yellow telegram, opened no doubt with great anxiety that invariably began, ¿The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret¿¿ These telegrams announcing that someone was missing in action offered the assurance that as new information became available it would be sent on to the family. Though some of the missing did finally return, they were the exception. For most the next message was to advise these families that their loved one had been determined, for administrative purposes, to be non-recoverable and thus legally dead. Yet this message was too abstract in its finality. There was no body, or remains, and in many cases personal effects were only those few items left behind before battle. These artifacts would come to have iconic power for grieving families with little to hold to, less to hope for. America¿s desire for normalcy and prosperity engaged the entire nation and with it the MIA families of WWII. They too, to the extent possible, returned to normal lives. Sweethearts would find new beaus and wives would marry again and parents would accept their grief as simply a new but lasting element in their lives. And the decades would begin to roll by. Yet, now over a half century later the desire to bring the missing home has resurfaced with the children and relatives of those missing from WWII. Today scores of American families are engaged in the difficult work of recovery, and this is the story of one daughter¿s long, but ultimately successful search for her father. While the pace has been agonizingly slow, the process of recovery and repatriation of WWII MIAs is underway. Kenneth Breaux¿s intriguing book, ¿Courtesies of the Heart,¿ is possibly the first definitive work that details the complex and fascinating story of what this recovery process involves. Breaux¿s book brings together a fascinating cast of individuals on both continents, at first unknown to one another, and of instances where fate and good luck would be as important as hard work and dedication. In telling this story, Kenneth Breaux outlines the overwhelming odds faced in attempting the recovery of a WWII MIA. The complexity becomes so daunting that, at times, the trail seems to have ended. Then a new l
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Posted May 7, 2006
'Courtesies of the Heart,' Ken Breaux¿s touching tribute to fallen WWII pilot Lt. William Lewis, is a story about a daughter¿s interest in finding out about her father¿s fate after a 1944 plane crash and the friend who began the fact-finding mission to solve the mystery. After much disappointment in obtaining information from U.S. military sources, the author miraculously discovered Jan Zdiarsky, founder of a museum in Kovarska, Czech Republic, devoted only to the battle in which Lt. Lewis was shot down. Ken, Jan, a U.S. military team, foreign military members and several volunteers painstakingly searched the Ore Mountains for the remains so that a daughter, who was an infant when her father died, could properly bury the father she never knew. From the sacrifice and kindness of a German hiker in 1944 to the diligence of special people living worlds apart almost sixty years later, the story¿s ending is a remarkable one that will leave readers with tears in their eyes, a smile on their face and a warm spot in their heart, knowing that compassion and friendship brought a brave man home.
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Posted May 3, 2006
It was my privilege to watch from the sidelines as this book was developed. A critical reading left no doubt that my next task was to decide who should receive the next copy. Ken Breaux was uniquely qualified to relate this story to the rest of us. His personal involvement - his sensitivity to truth and honoring everyone involved - his focus on discovering, evaluating, and clearly explaining the details - his experience in war (Vietnam, aviation combat, military procedures and record systems, dealing with MIA/KIA) - his experience with, and respect for, combat veterans of previous wars - his pride in his country and its warriors, including himself. This wonderful story (and the many collaborators) deserved the best possible story teller, and it got him! Ken Breaux succeeded in skillfully weaving together the many details and stories as he moved his readers toward the long-delayed but satisfying conclusion - beautiful!
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Posted May 3, 2006
One of the most aptly titled books that you will find. This heart-warming narrative by Ken Breaux recounts the search for, discovery, recovery and eventual return home of Lt. William M Lewis Jr of the 55th FG. Listed as 'missing in action' on 11 September 1944 Lt. Lewis was finally laid to rest in his native Tulsa, OK soil some fifty-eight years after his death. The ¿Courtesies¿ in the title refer to the many ostensibly disinterested and unconnected people of various nationalities each had a part to play in helping return a fallen warrior to his family. By making full use of the research facilities provided by the Internet and the ease of communication that it provides, the author was able to make full use of the interests and knowledge of many individuals to help fulfil the desire of Lt. Lewis¿ surviving relatives to know what had really happened to him. The scant information provided by officialdom to the next of kin of so many heroes, fallen in the line of duty, often leaves many unanswered questions to add to the pain and grief that such losses bring. Although concerned with just the one individual loss, this book is in fact a fine tribute and work of homage to all those who served their country and paid the ultimate price. Very well written and researched, this book will provide not only a very enjoyable read but an emotional experience to all veterans and their families.
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Posted May 7, 2006
Courtesies of the Heart is an engaging story infused with an eclectic composition of both tragic and fortuitous events coupled with the appearance of devoted individuals whose connections to those events reveal clues that lead to an ultimate resolution. This is truth surpassing fiction, and author Ken Breaux¿s account of his odyssey to resolve questions regarding the death of a World War II airman is told with genuine story-teller¿s skill. Along the way, the reader, especially one with family members involved in that world- encompassing conflict, will recall the events in their own lives when so many of America¿s young were mobilized in defense of this country. Sometimes approaching the narrative as classroom instruction, Breaux introduces the reader to glimpses of military aviation background which are quite interesting and necessary to fully appreciate the circumstances. On the other hand, his quotes of Goethe and Gladstone underpin his sincere attitude and personal style. His prose is particularly captivating when he records sentiments in the context of the events unfolding in the narrative. It would seem that the book is timely in this generation as the country is now faced with wartime casualties and the effects on the personal lives of military personnel and their families. The book¿s uniqueness lies in that the narrative it encompasses did not end with WWII but stretches across some six generations and includes disparate individuals and circumstances that have one connecting link.
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Posted April 28, 2006
This incredible story chronicles the remarkable set of circumstances that combined with tenacious investigation and generosity of time and spirit to locate -- over 50 years later -- the crash site of a WWII fighter pilot whose fate had never been known. The way this puzzle was solved by individuals and groups from various countries is a true inspiration and a moving testimony to the power of internet technology combined with kind, generous people who were not willing to give up trying to solve this mystery. Some readers will love this book just for the true story. History and WWII buffs will appreciate the military and aviation details that the author used to enrich the telling of the story and make it much more vivid. My 87 year old father -- who flew P-38s and P-51s in Europe -- was part of the same overall mission in which the missing pilot in this story participated. He was so enthralled with this book that he bought eight copies and has just ordered more to send to all of his WWII and pilot friends.
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