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UID:events.uid.2656@www.discovernikkei.org
DTSTART:20100926T000000Z
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DESCRIPTION:In 1942\, Virgil Westdale was a successful young flight instruc
 tor when the government ousted him from the Air Corps and demoted him to a
 rmy private. Having grown up as a Japanese American midwestern farm boy\, 
 Westdale (a hapa) had his first taste of Japanese culture when he was sent
  to train with the all Japanese American unit\, the 442nd Regimental Comba
 t Team. He was ultimately transferred to the 522nd Artillery Battalion\, w
 here\, as a member of the Fire Direction Center\, he helped push the Germa
 ns out of Italy\, rescue the "Lost Battalion" in France\, and free prisone
 rs from Dachau Death Camp in Germany.\n\nAfter the war\, Westdale went on 
 to pursue a career in research and development with large corporations. He
  received 25 U.S. patents and earned an international award for his work w
 ith photocopier components. In retirement\, he has been working for the TS
 A\, returning to the worlds of aviation and national security.\n\nWritten 
 for the lay reader as well as the history buff\, Westdale's stories of Wor
 ld War II challenge preconceived notions of what we think we know about a 
 soldier's life in Europe and offer images that go beyond the history books
 .\n\nThere will be a book signing after the program.\n\nAbout the Authors\
 nThe son of a Caucasian mother and Japanese father\, Virgil W. Westdale wa
 s born in 1918 and grew up on a midwestern farm. After the war\, he obtain
 ed two university degrees and received 25 patents for his work as a scient
 ist in research and development. He lives in Grand Rapids\, Michigan and e
 njoys tap and ballroom dancing.\n\nStephanie A. Gerdes teaches third grade
  in Grand Rapids\, Michigan. She received her bachelor's degree from Wheat
 on College in Wheaton\, Illinois and her master's degree in reading and la
 nguage arts. She is active in her church\, teaches piano\, and enjoys hist
 ory\, reading\, cultural events\, and ballroom dancing.
DTSTAMP:20240419T115012Z
SUMMARY:Book Signing: Blue Skies and Thunder: Farm Boy\, Pilot\, Inventor\,
  TSA Officer\, And WWII Soldier Of The 442nd Regimental Combat Team  by Vi
 rgil Westdale and Stephanie A. Gerdes
URL:/en/events/2010/09/26/book-signing-blue-skies-and-thunder-farm-boy-pi/
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