World War II

June 6: Where From Here?

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 6 Comments

It’s June 6, 2020. Peaceful protests, intense rioting, political bickering, Civil War topics suddenly trending on Twitter, looming COVID-19, personal solitude. That pretty much sums up the last week. Hardly a good time to be back-publishing my semi-frivolous “plague journal” from the last twelve weeks, I thought. So it sits a little longer. Best-laid plans are getting altered on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, as I try to navigate for three different organizations in the history field. In this time when listening and sincere attempts to understand others’ views and positions are desperately needed, should I be “soapboxing” about history?

I started praying about it when I work up this morning. This had been the week to re-launch the blog and celebrate Gazette665’s Sixth Birthday! Did that even matter now? I thought, feeling discouraged.

And then, I remembered, this image from 76 years ago:

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History Read-Along: Pearl Harbor Christmas, Chapters 7-9

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 2 Comments

There’s been some talk on our Facebook page and hints that this book might not have been a winning holiday surprise, but we’ll stick with the history reading and continue with the chapter summaries which have been well received. Let us know your favorite holiday history books in the comments and we’ll keep them in mind for next year!

This week we’re reading Chapters 7-9 in Pearl Harbor Christmas by Stanley Weintraub. The chapters are titled: December 26, 1914; December 27, 1941; December 28, 1941. And here’s the summary, some favorite quotes, and a little extra history and inspiration. Continue reading →

History Read-Along: Pearl Harbor Christmas, Chapters 1-3

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 2 Comments

Did your books arrive yet? We’re reading Chapters 1-3 which are called Prelude, En Route, and December 22, 1941 in our new read-along book by Stanley Weintraub, Pearl Harbor Christmas. 

Later this week (December 7) will mark the 77th anniversary since the attack on Pearl Harbor, the “day which will live in infamy,” the day that officially brought the United States into World War II and prompted a declaration of war from Congress. This history book that we’re reading helps us gain a better glimpse of the international situation and the private diplomacy and meetings that occurred between two Allied leaders over during Christmas 1941.

Here are the summaries, quotes, and notes for these first few chapters…  Continue reading →

History Read-Along: Pearl Harbor Christmas

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 6 Comments

You’re cordially invited to join us for our holiday history read-along! Since our summer and autumn reading focused on World War II, we thought we’d finish the year with the same theme.

Our new book is non-fiction but not as daunting as Inferno. Just two hundred pages of large text and some photos, this book will focus on Christmas 1941 as Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill met to discuss and decide on a war strategy while America reeled from Pearl Harbor and still sparkled with holiday lights.

Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941 Continue reading →

History Read-Along: Gunner’s Run, Chapters 29-31

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / Leave a comment

It’s the final installment of our weekly read-along through the historical fiction novel Gunner’s Run by Rick Barry. Give us a vote in the comments if you prefer nonfiction or historical fiction read-alongs, and we’ll take your opinions into consideration as we plan for 2019!

We’re aware this post is one week overdue and send our apologies. Let’s just say, we hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as ours and when a loved one is home on military leave – that’s simply the most important. We’re aiming to get back on schedule and stay on schedule through the rest of the holiday season.

Even though this is the ending of the book, there are no major spoilers – just some historical details and facts from World War II.

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