HOW TO BUY
WHAT: "WWII Radio Man: A History of WWII as shared by Sgt. Jones" published by Greyden Press
ONLINE: www.greydenpress.com/Store
IN-STORE: Crab Apple Books, 1385 Central Ave., Middletown
COST: $32.95
Seven months after losing her husband of 68 years, Dorothy Jones embarked on the ambitious goal to publish a book chronicling World War II through the eyes and words of her late husband.
Sgt. Fred “Fritzie” Jones served as First Infantry in the Sixth Division of the Army from winter 1941 until Nov. 16, 1945. The service sent Fred to Kentucky, Hawaii and California for training before he was stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea.
Dorothy, now 92, who lives in Hamilton, worked for about three years to get her book — “WWII Radio Man: A History of WWII as shared by Sgt. Jones” — published. The 300-page book is now available through Greyden Press and locally at Crab Apple Books in Middletown.
“People kept saying, ‘Don’t give it up,’” Dorothy said. “This was my goal before I died. I loved him so much and he was so good to me. I thought this was the only thing I could do for him to leave a legacy.”
The book includes full copies of over 400 letters that Fred wrote to Dorothy during his years in the war. It includes sentiments of love and longing between the couple; stories of Fred’s training and deployment; and stories of the people and natives he encountered during the war.
Fred served as a radio transmitter operator and received both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star in 1945. After leaving the Army, he worked locally as an architect.
The book also includes a letter Fred wrote shortly after being deployed to let Dorothy know he didn’t love her anymore. And subsequent letters asking for forgiveness because he really was just scared about being in the Army and didn’t know if he’d ever return to her.
“He was always afraid he’d leave a widow behind,” Dorothy said.
The couple met in 1940 at Middletown High School. They married in November 1942 while Fred had a short leave from the Army.
Dorothy laughs now thinking about a letter Fred once wrote talking about the Army censoring of letters written by the soldiers and how he’d never want anyone to read his letters.
“… and I just published them,” Dorothy said.
Dorothy said she’s re-read the book at least four times since it was completed.
“You feel like you’re sitting there with him and he’s talking with you,” Dorothy said.
Dorothy has sold about 70 copies of the book so far. She’s looking for different veterans groups and retirement communities to visit to share about the book and sign copies.
Dorothy called the book a godsend and said she couldn’t have made it to age 92 without the “closeness” the letters from Fred give her.
“Fred keeps me going,” Dorothy said.
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