I finished our own Theresa Kaminski’s well-written “Angels of the Underground.” The book chronicles the experiences of American women caught in Manila under Japanese occupation during World War II. I did not know much about the war in the Philippines so this was an enlightening book (For example, I didn’t realize how close Manila, Bataan, and Corregidor were to each other).
The book ostensibly is about four American women who worked underground or with guerilla outfits against the Japanese occupying Manila and Bataan Peninsula (three of the women were awarded the Medal of Honor back in the United States after the war). All four women were heroes in their own way (Peggy Utinsky is my favorite – The paraphrased Donovan line “Superman and Green Lantern ain’t got nothing on her” applies to this five foot tall red-headed Irish woman), but to me the book was chock full of heroes.
Americans, Filipinos, and people of other nationalities risked their lives - without pay, without training, without financial or military support – to do their part to keep POWs and other interned civilians from dying of disease and starvation. (There was a lot of disease and very little food and medicine in the Philippines). And the contributions made by the religious, priests and nuns, and doctors and nurses and anyone with medical expertise are amazing.
Virtually every hero (and not just the four American women) in this book could have sat back passively and waited it out. But they didn’t. And a lot of those heroes were killed or tortured for their efforts. All would have been forgotten without books like Angels of the Underground
Thanks so much for reading the book, Joseph, (your review would look fabulous on Amazon) and for using a Donovan paraphrase to describe Peggy. She was my favorite, too, with Gladys running a close second. Peggy is the scrappy friend we all want at our side. Gladys is the boozy aunt who can figure her way out of any situation. Many of these women received the Medal of Freedom, created by President Truman to honor civilians who contributed to the U.S. war effort overseas.
I've been working on a book proposal for my new project, which will feature the same kind of ensemble cast in a different, difficult wartime situation.
Gorgeous MeiMei and Ahab! I love how cats snuggle together--or try to push the other one out of the comfy spot.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. It's just beautiful in central WI.
Cats are about my speed today and these two are precious!
Had a nasty migraine this weekend. I was hoping to appease it with rest and sleep yesterday (didn't work). Today at Mass we had a combined choir with the children's choir - 40-something of them, about that many of us. Our kids really do sing like angels (they got to sing for the Pope last year). It's our saint's feast day (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque) so I wished her a happy feast day and asked for mercy with the headache. God bless her, she must have felt sorry for me and called in a favor. Much better now. Someone donated two beautiful bells from a French foundry (she was French) and we got to see those before they disappear up to the bell tower.
One thing I love about this group - always have something new to add to my reading list. I passed along 10 books last week. Bought 12 on Friday. That's progress, right? Someone dropped off a whole slew of Jack Reacher books at Goodwill, along with The Federalist Papers, On Writing Well, and Founding Brothers. It's as though someone said "Cynthia's going to be coming by today and she needs these."
Hated to miss the contest but looking forward to reading all the entries. Happy Sunday, everyone! And Happy Monday to the Monday people!
Lovely cats! I love it when they'll cuddle even as adults.
Joseph - put that up on Goodreads and Amazon! It sounds amazing and I admit I don't really read much non-fiction. Congrats to have such an intriguing story, Theresa!
Back from a weekend wedding trip. Hubby let me 'sneak away' for an hour to write while he plays with the kiddos. It's a gray day --my fav for writing. Only thing better would be if it were raining.
The look on Ahab's face is priceless. I love how expressive some cats (and dogs!) are.
I've still been having a hard time getting anything read, despite all of the glorious offerings which 2016 has provided (and is still!)
One of my friends is engaging in a "writing my own pulp setting for fun and maybe profit" venture and spent some time over here talking about that today, so maybe something for me to noodle around with, maybe not. Who can say?
Okay Theresa and Lennon My 'review' is now posted on Amazon and Goodreads. And on Amazon.com I got a 'Verified Purchase' designation. That should help. too.
One of the interesting bits from Theresa's book still confounds me.
The Japanese held Americans in an internment camp (a former college). In deciding a woman's nationality, the Japanese considered the woman to be of her husband's nationality. So American-born and raised Gladys Savary was considered French because she married a Frenchman (and consequently she was not interned).
Darling kitties...! Love. We had an inspiring, uplifting day here at the sanctuary. A young lady, 12 y/o, read my books about the rescue horses (and dogs, cats, pigs) residing here and wanted to meet the critters in person. Her family drove over today from Atlanta. And this incredibly selfless 12 y/o handed me a check for $2500 (made out to Proud Spirit). Her own funds...! To use at her own discretion. And she decided to help a herd of rescue horses. Pretty cool...
Theresa, I haven't forgotten that I owe you an email about my family's story in the Philippines! It includes internment for my grandmother, the first marriage of an internee and rescuer (my great-aunt and uncle at Los Banos), and my grandfather, who as military intelligence worked with the rebels and came back to search for Japanese holdouts after the end of the war.
22 comments:
Good morning! Ahab and Mei-mei are lovely - and Mei-mei's markings are gorgeous!
Too cute! Love the way they're both looking right at the camera.
LOVE tuxedo cats! The one on the left has the most adorable markings.
Aw, Ahab looks so relaxed. Wonderful markings on those pretty kitties. I think MeiMei's could double as a Rorschach test.
I finished our own Theresa Kaminski’s well-written “Angels of the Underground.” The book chronicles the experiences of American women caught in Manila under Japanese occupation during World War II. I did not know much about the war in the Philippines so this was an enlightening book (For example, I didn’t realize how close Manila, Bataan, and Corregidor were to each other).
The book ostensibly is about four American women who worked underground or with guerilla outfits against the Japanese occupying Manila and Bataan Peninsula (three of the women were awarded the Medal of Honor back in the United States after the war). All four women were heroes in their own way (Peggy Utinsky is my favorite – The paraphrased Donovan line “Superman and Green Lantern ain’t got nothing on her” applies to this five foot tall red-headed Irish woman), but to me the book was chock full of heroes.
Americans, Filipinos, and people of other nationalities risked their lives - without pay, without training, without financial or military support – to do their part to keep POWs and other interned civilians from dying of disease and starvation. (There was a lot of disease and very little food and medicine in the Philippines). And the contributions made by the religious, priests and nuns, and doctors and nurses and anyone with medical expertise are amazing.
Virtually every hero (and not just the four American women) in this book could have sat back passively and waited it out. But they didn’t. And a lot of those heroes were killed or tortured for their efforts. All would have been forgotten without books like Angels of the Underground
Thanks so much for reading the book, Joseph, (your review would look fabulous on Amazon) and for using a Donovan paraphrase to describe Peggy. She was my favorite, too, with Gladys running a close second. Peggy is the scrappy friend we all want at our side. Gladys is the boozy aunt who can figure her way out of any situation. Many of these women received the Medal of Freedom, created by President Truman to honor civilians who contributed to the U.S. war effort overseas.
I've been working on a book proposal for my new project, which will feature the same kind of ensemble cast in a different, difficult wartime situation.
Gorgeous MeiMei and Ahab! I love how cats snuggle together--or try to push the other one out of the comfy spot.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. It's just beautiful in central WI.
Cats are about my speed today and these two are precious!
Had a nasty migraine this weekend. I was hoping to appease it with rest and sleep yesterday (didn't work). Today at Mass we had a combined choir with the children's choir - 40-something of them, about that many of us. Our kids really do sing like angels (they got to sing for the Pope last year). It's our saint's feast day (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque) so I wished her a happy feast day and asked for mercy with the headache. God bless her, she must have felt sorry for me and called in a favor. Much better now. Someone donated two beautiful bells from a French foundry (she was French) and we got to see those before they disappear up to the bell tower.
One thing I love about this group - always have something new to add to my reading list. I passed along 10 books last week. Bought 12 on Friday. That's progress, right? Someone dropped off a whole slew of Jack Reacher books at Goodwill, along with The Federalist Papers, On Writing Well, and Founding Brothers. It's as though someone said "Cynthia's going to be coming by today and she needs these."
Hated to miss the contest but looking forward to reading all the entries. Happy Sunday, everyone! And Happy Monday to the Monday people!
Lovely cats! I love it when they'll cuddle even as adults.
Joseph - put that up on Goodreads and Amazon! It sounds amazing and I admit I don't really read much non-fiction. Congrats to have such an intriguing story, Theresa!
Back from a weekend wedding trip. Hubby let me 'sneak away' for an hour to write while he plays with the kiddos. It's a gray day --my fav for writing. Only thing better would be if it were raining.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Lovely cats, and a lovely review Joe Snoe. I agree with the others, pop that up on Amazon - it's well written and very interesting.
Well done Theresa!
I hope all have had a lovely Sunday...back to the porch and the outline for me. POP! Yes, that was my beer.
Two pops? Blame the outline.
It's a wet and miserable Monday morning here. I'm rather jealous of MeiMei and Ahab - I wish I could spend the day curled up on the lounge too!
The look on Ahab's face is priceless. I love how expressive some cats (and dogs!) are.
I've still been having a hard time getting anything read, despite all of the glorious offerings which 2016 has provided (and is still!)
One of my friends is engaging in a "writing my own pulp setting for fun and maybe profit" venture and spent some time over here talking about that today, so maybe something for me to noodle around with, maybe not. Who can say?
What sweethearts! I wish my cats would get along like that. The best I can hope for at any given point is nonviolent indifference.
Okay Theresa and Lennon
My 'review' is now posted on Amazon and Goodreads. And on Amazon.com I got a 'Verified Purchase' designation. That should help. too.
One of the interesting bits from Theresa's book still confounds me.
The Japanese held Americans in an internment camp (a former college). In deciding a woman's nationality, the Japanese considered the woman to be of her husband's nationality. So American-born and raised Gladys Savary was considered French because she married a Frenchman (and consequently she was not interned).
Thanks, Joseph, and Lennon, too, for the prompt. Those reviews matter.
Donna, some day I'll have to tell you my story about Mrs. Everhart's fur coat.
Yay, lovely kitties! :D
I hope everyone's having as relaxed a weekend as they seem to be... ;)
Darling kitties...! Love. We had an inspiring, uplifting day here at the sanctuary. A young lady, 12 y/o, read my books about the rescue horses (and dogs, cats, pigs) residing here and wanted to meet the critters in person. Her family drove over today from Atlanta. And this incredibly selfless 12 y/o handed me a check for $2500 (made out to Proud Spirit). Her own funds...! To use at her own discretion. And she decided to help a herd of rescue horses. Pretty cool...
Melanie, that's wonderful. We hear too much about problem kids - it's great to hear of such an amazing girl. Thanks for all you do.
How come I can never see the name 'Ahab' without thinking of Ray Stevens?
Melanie
That wonderful story needs to be spread far and wide; and told often over the years. I hope you keep her informed of what happens to "her" horses.
Theresa, I haven't forgotten that I owe you an email about my family's story in the Philippines! It includes internment for my grandmother, the first marriage of an internee and rescuer (my great-aunt and uncle at Los Banos), and my grandfather, who as military intelligence worked with the rebels and came back to search for Japanese holdouts after the end of the war.
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