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Carol Edgemon Hipperson welcomes feedback from readers. for a personal reply to your question or comment, email the author at this address: carol@carolhipperson.com |
Thomas Dunne Books/
St. Martin's Press, 2008
St. Martin's Press, 2008
Twenty-First Century Books/
Millbrook Press, 2001
Millbrook Press, 2001
Below are the author's replies to readers' questions and comments in November 2009. |
November 18, 2009, email from Larry--Ashland, Ohio
Re: Radioman and The Belly Gunner
"I enjoyed both books as each is an individual record of the people and events of that particular time during the
war. I could relate to the Ray Daves story, the hardships of growing up in somewhat poor conditions, work hard
to find for a young man and the struggle of developing a future during those pre-war times. Ray took
advantage of every opportunity to advance himself with his proven abilities and knowledge of Morse Code. He
was a natural for the Signal Corp training which provided him with a great deal of war time adventure along with
the danger of his situations.
"I suppose my sense of adventure comes from your descriptive writing of the exploits of both Ray Daves
[Radioman] and Dale Aldrich [The Belly Gunner]. Each man had a sense of direction for his life and future.
Their military service was not an adventure for them but a patriotic duty that each felt, to serve their country
prior to and during the war.
"One thing about retirement, you can re-read a book after several years and it seems like a new addition just
released! ! These two books will be on the top of my list in the coming years. Thanks for your God given talent
to write these two interesting books . . . . Your next book will be a pleasure to receive."
11/20/09, Author's Reply . . . Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Personally, I think it takes more hard
work than talent—plus a few flat-out miracles—to write books like these. It also takes a combat veteran who is
willing to answer about a thousand questions on a subject he would prefer not to talk about. And I don’t expect
the next book will be any easier, because it will come from interviews with a typical enlisted man with combat
experience on the ground in Korea. I haven’t chosen a title yet, but I think the third book in what I call “The
American GI Series” will be done by 2012. I sincerely hope you will want to read (and re-read) that one, too.
Re: Radioman and The Belly Gunner
"I enjoyed both books as each is an individual record of the people and events of that particular time during the
war. I could relate to the Ray Daves story, the hardships of growing up in somewhat poor conditions, work hard
to find for a young man and the struggle of developing a future during those pre-war times. Ray took
advantage of every opportunity to advance himself with his proven abilities and knowledge of Morse Code. He
was a natural for the Signal Corp training which provided him with a great deal of war time adventure along with
the danger of his situations.
"I suppose my sense of adventure comes from your descriptive writing of the exploits of both Ray Daves
[Radioman] and Dale Aldrich [The Belly Gunner]. Each man had a sense of direction for his life and future.
Their military service was not an adventure for them but a patriotic duty that each felt, to serve their country
prior to and during the war.
"One thing about retirement, you can re-read a book after several years and it seems like a new addition just
released! ! These two books will be on the top of my list in the coming years. Thanks for your God given talent
to write these two interesting books . . . . Your next book will be a pleasure to receive."
11/20/09, Author's Reply . . . Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Personally, I think it takes more hard
work than talent—plus a few flat-out miracles—to write books like these. It also takes a combat veteran who is
willing to answer about a thousand questions on a subject he would prefer not to talk about. And I don’t expect
the next book will be any easier, because it will come from interviews with a typical enlisted man with combat
experience on the ground in Korea. I haven’t chosen a title yet, but I think the third book in what I call “The
American GI Series” will be done by 2012. I sincerely hope you will want to read (and re-read) that one, too.
November 5, 2009 email from Joel—Portsmouth, New Hampshire
RE: Radioman
"Recently read 'Radioman'. I want to encourage you to find more of the folks behind the
scenes, like radiomen, who sometimes get in unique situations. One you might want to research
is the unit that was doing routine training upgrades as Army Air Force personnel arrived in
England during WWII. . . . My father was involved, a graduate engineer who lead one of the
teams. Unfortunately he has passed on, but there were others who might have even more
backstory. Try "American Raiders" by Wolfgang W.E. Samuel for data on the teams. I
understand the training crews had some sidelines. I know my father was consulted by flight
personnel before a certain raid on where to place bombs to collapse a certain building. That
may have been unofficial. He spoke Canuck from his work in the Maine woods before college
and found it useful dealing with the French.
My degree is in History, but I went the library route, working for Brown University. Your book
was special to me because I am a radioman by avocation, having been a Civil Air Patrol
Communications Officer for 50 years (joined as a cadet) as well as a 'ham'."
11/5/09 Author's Reply . . .
For every veteran of every war, I think there is an untold story, and your father’s
experience with the Army Air Force is no exception. It is possible that a book to
explain it would be of interest to many professional historians, including yourself.
You might be the one to write it.
As for me, I am currently engaged in research for the next book in what I call
“The American GI Series”, the history of the war in Korea. Not surprisingly, those
who fought the battles on the ground in Korea are just as reluctant to talk about it as
the combat veterans of the World War II. It might be even harder for me to write the
history of the war in Korea from an enlisted man’s point of view than it was to explain
World War II through the eyes of The Belly Gunner and Radioman.
I sincerely appreciate your words of encouragement. Thank you also for your many
years of service with the Civilian Air Patrol and at Brown University.
Best, Carol Edgemon Hipperson
RE: Radioman
"Recently read 'Radioman'. I want to encourage you to find more of the folks behind the
scenes, like radiomen, who sometimes get in unique situations. One you might want to research
is the unit that was doing routine training upgrades as Army Air Force personnel arrived in
England during WWII. . . . My father was involved, a graduate engineer who lead one of the
teams. Unfortunately he has passed on, but there were others who might have even more
backstory. Try "American Raiders" by Wolfgang W.E. Samuel for data on the teams. I
understand the training crews had some sidelines. I know my father was consulted by flight
personnel before a certain raid on where to place bombs to collapse a certain building. That
may have been unofficial. He spoke Canuck from his work in the Maine woods before college
and found it useful dealing with the French.
My degree is in History, but I went the library route, working for Brown University. Your book
was special to me because I am a radioman by avocation, having been a Civil Air Patrol
Communications Officer for 50 years (joined as a cadet) as well as a 'ham'."
11/5/09 Author's Reply . . .
For every veteran of every war, I think there is an untold story, and your father’s
experience with the Army Air Force is no exception. It is possible that a book to
explain it would be of interest to many professional historians, including yourself.
You might be the one to write it.
As for me, I am currently engaged in research for the next book in what I call
“The American GI Series”, the history of the war in Korea. Not surprisingly, those
who fought the battles on the ground in Korea are just as reluctant to talk about it as
the combat veterans of the World War II. It might be even harder for me to write the
history of the war in Korea from an enlisted man’s point of view than it was to explain
World War II through the eyes of The Belly Gunner and Radioman.
I sincerely appreciate your words of encouragement. Thank you also for your many
years of service with the Civilian Air Patrol and at Brown University.
Best, Carol Edgemon Hipperson