Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 31, 1942: Indian Congress Party demands immediate complete independence from England. Japanese take Toungoo, Burma, and Christmas Island south of Java.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 30, 1942: Allies divide responsibilities for war theaters: US in charge of Pacific, with Adm. Chester Nimitz over the Pacific Ocean Area and Gen. Douglas MacArthur over the Southwest Pacific Area; Britain from Singapore to the Mediterranean; US and UK to share responsibility in the Atlantic.

Book Club Beat - Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

Welcome to Book Club Beat, where book clubs share about their discussions.

Book club name and location: Bibliovores, northern California

Title and Author: Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

What it’s about:

While Jane Lindsay waits for her husband to decide if they'll stay married, she finds a 16th-century betrothal ring. Certain that it belonged to Lady Jane Grey, she's drawn to the parallels in their lives. Was Tudor England's 9-day queen another victim of other people's choices? Will Manhattan's Jane realize she's responsible for her own happiness?

Were discussion questions available? Were they helpful?

Yes, in the back of the book. We did use some of the questions and found them helpful.

What we liked about the book:

Many of us are fans of Susan Meissner's writing. We enjoyed the realistic characters, the depiction of the dangers of Tudor England, and the questions raised by the story. Interestingly, we all responded that we were more drawn to Lady Jane Grey's story than to modern Jane Lindsay's - but Jane Lindsay's story prompted more discussion and thought.

Anything we would change about the book?

We all would have liked more development of Jane Lindsay's spiritual story line. It was clear she needed to grow spiritually, but she made only the tiniest step.

Fun connections (did the story inspire food, decorations, etc.?):

One of the ladies made a decadent red velvet cake - Jane Lindsay's favorite.

Deep connections (this story made us think about the following discussion topics):

As with all of Susan Meissner's books, Lady in Waiting brought up many discussion topics. We were intrigued by Jane Lindsay, a passive people-pleaser content to let other people make her decisions - and how she finally recognized that in herself and moved to change. We spent a lot of time discussing her controlling mother too - was she a manipulative shrew or motivated by love? We also discussed how we can train our own compliant people-pleasing children to make their own decisions and not fall into the temptation to control.

Do you recommend this book for other book clubs?

Absolutely. Susan Meissner's novels are naturals for book clubs - great characters, beautiful writing, and topics real women can relate to.If you belong to a book club and would like your group to be featured on this blog, let me know! Pictures of the book club can be included if you'd like. Christian or "clean secular" fiction/nonfiction only please. The questionnaire is short, and I'll obtain the book cover and story blurb.

If you're looking for a book club, check out the Book Club Network at http://www.bookfun.org/ , an on-line meeting place for Christian book club members and authors. Join the fun!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 29, 1942: British announce plans for postwar semi-independence for India.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 28, 1942: First RAF area bombing, against Lübeck, Germany; 520 killed, most of wooden city burns. British ram and destroy lock gates and dry dock at Saint Nazaire, France with old US destroyer Campbeltown laden with explosives, in conjunction with commando raid; 360 Germans killed, 169 British.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 27, 1942: Gen. Sir Thomas Blarney assumes command of Australian forces. RAF retreats from Akyab, Burma to India due to Japanese bombing. Congress grants free mail privileges for military personnel on first-class materials.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 26, 1942: Jewish homes in Germany required to be marked on the exterior.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 25, 1942: Standard Oil president William Stamps Farish II pleads no contest for conspiring with Nazis and hiding patents for synthetic rubber from US government.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 24, 1942: Japanese begin intensive artillery and air bombardment of Bataan and Corregidor. All Japanese-Americans on Bainbridge Island near Seattle ordered removed under military guard.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 23, 1942: Japanese seize Andaman Islands to protect route from Singapore to Rangoon. Offshore from San Francisco, US blimp bombs US sub Gato by mistake.

Book Beat - The Discovery by Dan Walsh

In June of 1942, U-boats landed eight German saboteurs on US soil, at Long Island, New York and at Jacksonville, Florida. They were all captured within two weeks before any of their planned sabotage missions had been attempted, and six of the men were executed for espionage.

In The Discovery, Dan Walsh takes this fascinating sibebar of US history and crafts a compelling novel - or more precisely a historical novel within a contemporary novel.

When his beloved grandfather dies, Michael Warner inherits his home in Charleston, the typewriter on which Gerard Warner wrote dozens of bestselling novels, and an unpublished manuscript. The unpublished novel is unlike anything else his grandfather wrote - a World War II story of a German saboteur who lands by U-boat in Florida and takes the name Ben Coleman to blend in. He's not the spy he led the Nazis to believe he was, but a German-American desperate for a way home. Ben falls in love with Claire Richards - an impossible love. All deception has a way of unraveling, and Ben finds himself in a fight for his freedom and his life.

Michael is drawn in to the tale of spies and danger and romance, but certain aspects of the story prick his curiosity. As he works to solve the mystery, he learns more about himself and his dreams.

Thrilling, romantic, and intriguing, The Discovery is a suspenseful, beautifully written, and deeply satisfying story. I've thoroughly enjoyed all Dan Walsh's novels, but I'm convinced this is his best yet!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 22, 1942: British statesman Sir Stanford Cripps tries to persuade Gandhi to encourage India to help war effort.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 21, 1942: Roosevelt signs bill making violation of Executive Order 9066 (removal of Japanese-Americans from the west coast) a federal offense.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 20, 1942: Use of gas chambers begins at Auschwitz concentration camp. Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrives in Adelaide, Australia and makes “I shall return” speech, vowing to return to the Philippines.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 19, 1942: Lt. Gen. William Slim takes command of British forces in Burma. Japanese begin drive in Sittang Valley in Burma, are opposed by Chinese troops.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 18, 1942: President Roosevelt creates War Relocation Authority under Milton Eisenhower to remove all Japanese-Americans from west coast. Adm. Ernest King named US Chief of Naval Operations, in addition to previous role as C-in-C, US fleet.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 17, 1942: Britain begins rationing fuel and electricity. Gen. Douglas MacArthur flown by B-17 from Mindanao to Australia.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 16, 1942: Japanese bomb Darwin, Australia. US and Australian planes bomb Japanese shipping and installations at Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.

Girl Scouts in World War II

This week, the Girl Scouts celebrated their 100th birthday. Founded by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia on March 12, 1912, the Girl Scout organization promoted character building through outdoor activities, community service, arts and crafts, and homemaking skills.

When World War II started, the Girl Scouts were well poised to take a solid role on the Home Front.

Organization

In the 1940s, the Girl Scouts had three levels: Brownies (ages 7-9), Intermediates (ages 10-14), and Seniors (ages 14-18). Troops existed throughout the United States - and even flourished in the internment camps for Japanese-Americans.

Uniforms

The official Girl Scout uniform of the 1940s consisted of a brown dress for Brownies, a medium green dress for Intermediates, and a darker green for Seniors. Mariner Scouts (Girl Scouts who specialized in boating and water skills) had a special blue uniform. Wartime restrictions on the use of metals led to replacing the zippers in the uniforms with buttons. Compare the catalog from 1942 above with the catalog from 1943 on the right. Badges were sewn on the sleeve, a challenging task.

What? No Cookies?

For those of us who live for Girl Scout cookie time, one wartime sacrifice seems especially painful. Rationing and shortages of sugar and butter meant a discontinuation of Girl Scout cookies for the duration. While they were sold in 1942 and 1943, they were unavailable in 1944 and 1945. In 1944, the Girl Scouts first sold calendars on a nation-wide level to fill the funding hole.

Wartime Activities

Girl Scouts were very active on the US Home Front. The girls sold war bonds, conducted scrap drives, and cultivated Victory Gardens. During the war, Girl Scouts collected 1.5 million items of clothing for war refugees. Many girls also worked as farm aides or operated bicycle courier services.

In 1942, the Girl Scouts started a hospital aide program for Senior girls. These high schoolers were trained to help in hospitals--feeding patients, performing clerical work, serving as messengers, preparing supplies and equipment, and making beds. No official uniform was provided, but many girls made smocks of green-and-white striped cloth, or wore white smocks over their Girl Scout uniforms.

Liberty Ship

To honor the Girl Scouts, a Liberty ship was named for the organization's founder. The S.S. Juliette Low was launched on May 12, 1944 at the Southeastern Ship Yards in Savannah, Georgia, Juliette Gordon Low's hometown. The ship was christened by Margaret Gordon, the first Girl Scout and Juliette Gordon Low's niece.

Sources:

http://www.girlscouts.org (the official website of the Girl Scouts)
http://vintagegirlscout.com (a fun unofficial website with all sorts of pictures and memorabilia)

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 15, 1942: Norwegian resistance seizes SS Galtesund and sails to Britain.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 14, 1942: Gen. Douglas MacArthur arrives in Mindanao, after evacuating from Corregidor on Roosevelt’s orders.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 13, 1942: US Army Quartermasters begins training dogs for K-9 Corps War Dog Program. Julia Flikke, Director of the Army Nurse Corps, becomes first woman colonel in US Army.

My Third Blogoversary - Giveaway Winner!

Thanks for all your comments on my Blogoversary post last week! Forty-seven people left comments here or on Facebook! I drew a random name, and Dawn Burgess Scott is the winner! She can select one of my novels.

Thank you all for coming with me on this blog journey. I appreciate the company!

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 12, 1942: US forces land at Noumea, New Caledonia, including first operational unit of Seabees. Metropolitan Opera star Ezio Pinza detained on Ellis Island as enemy alien. Benny Goodman records “We’ll Meet Again.”

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 11, 1942: In the Philippines, Gen. Douglas MacArthur evacuates Corregidor by PT boat with his family and staff for Mindanao. Col. Karl Bendetsen appointed director of Wartime Civil Control Administration to supervise removal of Japanese-Americans from west coast.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 10, 1942: Britain reports that spending for WWII has surpassed spending for WWI. Japanese land on Bougainville in Solomons and at Finschhafen, New Guinea. Iran declared eligible for US aid under the Lend-Lease program.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 9, 1942: Japanese complete conquest of Java and gain control of entire Netherlands East Indies.

It's My Third Blogoversary!

Today I'm celebrating the third anniversary of my blog! And because I'm celebrating, I'm giving away a book!

Leave a comment on this post here or on Facebook for a chance to win a copy of your choice of my four novels: A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, or Blue Skies Tomorrow (all now available), or With Every Letter (coming September 2012). Please leave your email address in the following format: sarah[at]sarahsundin[dot]com, so I can contact you if you win. US or Canada only, please. I'll announce the winner on Monday, March 12. I started this blog only because my lovely website designer made me. She set it up in case I ever decided to blog, which I had no intention of doing. I started with random funny stories and devotions, then added the "Today in World War II History" posts in June 2009 to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and now I also post stories about World War II, recommended books, and devotions.

Thank you to everyone who follows or reads this blog! I appreciate your encouragement and support.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 8, 1942: Governor of Netherlands East Indies surrenders to Japanese, 60,000 POWs. Japanese land on New Guinea at Lae and Salamaua. War Production Board places restrictions on women’s clothing to save 15% of yardage, exemptions for bridal and maternity clothes.

For more, here's my blog post on Clothing Restrictions in World War II

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 7, 1942: Japanese occupy Rangoon, Burma. First African-American flying cadets graduate at Tuskegee Army Air Field, AL.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 6, 1942: US Gen. Joseph Stilwell meets with Chiang Kai-shek for first time in Chungking.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 5, 1942: Gen. Sir Alan Brooke becomes chairman of British Chiefs of Staff, in addition to his position as Chief of Imperial General Staff. British expand conscription to men 41-45 and women 20-30.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 4, 1942: Two Japanese flying boats bomb Pearl Harbor—no damage. Aircraft from USS Enterprise group strike Marcus Island.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 3, 1942: Operational debut of British Lancaster bomber. Japanese bomb Broome, Australia, 70 killed including Dutch evacuees from the East Indies and US airmen.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 2, 1942: In Australia, all adult civilians are liable for compulsory war service. US Army reorganizes into three autonomous commands—Ground Forces, Army Air Forces, and Services of Supply. U-boats shell shore installations on Puerto Rico.

Book Beat - By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer

Be still my heart! A shipboard romance, a prodigal son, Tricia Goyer’s rich historical research, and all the Titanic’s lushness and impending doom—By the Light of the Silvery Moon is everything a historical romance novel should be.

Amelia Gladstone is thrilled to board the Titanic, knowing her beloved cousin and a respectable suitor await her on the other side of the Atlantic. Always drawn to help those in need, Amelia is moved to give an extra ticket to a filthy man in rags. However, Quentin Walpole is not what he seems. Amelia finds herself in the middle of a love quadrangle with this prodigal son, his older brother, and her intended suitor. As the Titanic steams toward her fate, Amelia and Quentin explore their faith, their pasts, and their hearts.

Tricia Goyer is one of my favorite novelists, and this book delighted me. Goyer's storytelling and research shine, and the characters are truly engaging. Most importantly, this story truly touched and moved me. I highly recommend it.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Mar. 1, 1942: In the Battle of Sunda Strait, heavy cruiser USS Houston is sunk off Java, 693 killed.