“Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand (My dad)

I just finished this book (in July 2013). I can only give it the highest praise as it has answered a lot of questions as to why I didn’t understand my dad…a decorated WWII veteran!

My sister recommended this book but had been hesitant to lend it to me (we live states apart) as she has wanted her sons to read it. They were very close to our dad, who was a bombardier in World War II. This book is a story about another bombardier who flew in the same type of plane our dad did. Dad never really talked much about his experiences in the war until he and his fellow squadron reunited in 1989. I need to find the rest of his documents that tell me more!

I’ve started this blog to help me sort through what I have learned about my dad and subsequently, me.  So I want to dedicate this to my dad!  I was once “daddy’s little girl” then went through the rebellious teen years when I didn’t really understand him or where he was coming from, only to see our relationship redeemed after I entered my chosen profession, serving our country in law enforcement.

In the meantime, here is a clipping of one article I found about my dad.  This book now makes his feat miraculous!   Dad did say he knew the Lord saved his life on more than one occasion….and now this book helps me fully see and understand how miraculous his service to our country was and all the rest of our servicemen!

 

13th Mission Tries Bombardier’s Luck

Lt.Rijnovan 15th AAF in Italy – the number “13” almost caught up with second Lt. Lawrence Rijnovan, 22, of 1552 Wyoming St., Dearborn, bombardier on a B–24 Liberator bomber, and the fact that the assault on Linz, Austria was his 13th Mission didn’t help much.

At “bombs away,” the lights on Lt. Rijnovan’s indicator panel blinked out – all but two. He tried to salvo the two bombs that had frozen to their shackles in the 40° below zero temperature but was not successful.

Lt. Rijnovan rushed back to the bomb bay and saw the bombs armed and “ready for business.” He loosened the bombs with his fingers and “kicked them out over the target.”

Lt. Rijnovan, a graduate of Fordson High School was a defense worker in Detroit factories prior to entrance into the Air Forces, on February 20, 1943. His wife, Dorothy, lives in Brownstown, Indiana.

 

These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses, as between a man and his wife, and as between a father and his daughter, while she is in her youth in her father’s house.”

Numbers 30:16

Additional blog posts about my dad: Coffee date with Dad, WWII Our Parents