It was an entirely different time. Sex was hardly ever mentioned; love for sweetheart and country was valued above all else. Popular CNN talk show host King (How to Talk to Anyone Anytime, Anywhere) gathers stories of couples brought together by, or in spite of, WWII. Not all of these touching stories have perfect, happy endings. For instance, Anne Hetrick and Harry Greissman's relationship and years of correspondence end with the couple deciding to part. But Harry, a budding journalist and official forward observer to the Battle of the Ardennes, writes evocatively of overseas life: "Christmas services in a winter woodland blanketed with snow and ice, shattered by cannon and small arms fire. Above the cannon's roar and the angry spitfire of machine guns and rifles you can still hear the still, small voice of an organ piping hymns." Another story tells of Will Metzger, a former daredevil turned Army Air Corps pilot whose plane is shot down over Greece. His wife, Doris, spends a torturous couple of days wondering about his fate. Will escapes with the help of the Greek and British underground and returns home, receiving the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his heroism. Babies are born and not seen by their fathers until they are toddlers. Some couples, years later, celebrate their 50th wedding anniversaries still as close as ever. A master interviewer, King has captured the earnestness of youth, the dreams of glory and the sense of urgency of these young lovers. This book deserves a place alongside other WWII remembrances and will be a popular addition given the resurgence of interest in wartime experience. 30 b&w illus. (Nov.)
