A Tale about Tailspin

I don't always talk about books I've read (because there's sooooo many), but once in awhile, there's a little more to it. Here me out – especially if you're in the Wisconsin Rapids area.

The premise of this book Tailspin according to the "book blurbs" online and our thoughts: World War II tail gunner Gene Moran (from Wisconsin!) fell four miles through the sky without a parachute and lived. Captured by the Germans, he survived a harrowing eighteen months as a prisoner of war, including a six-hundred-mile death march in 1945 across Central Europe.

When Gene returned home, he kept those memories locked up for nearly seventy years. His nine children knew little of their dad's war story. But when John, a young history teacher (also from Wisconsin!), learns of Gene's amazing fall, he's desperate to learn more. Finally, Gene agrees.

As the interviews go on, John faces an ordeal of his own. His wife is fighting brain cancer. What will happen to his wife and his two young children? John must continue uncovering Gene's story of survival as he himself confronts the greatest trial of his life.

It was really a captivating book. And even more so because we happened to get a copy of the book because Gene Moran's grandson is married to the daughter of some friends of ours. Small world.

But there's more...

The author – John Armbruster – will be at our Wisconsin Rapids airport at 7 p.m. on February 15 to talk about Tailspin, share videos, photos, historical artifacts and do a Q&A session after his presentation. The event is FREE, but books will be available for sale and for signing.

We both read the book and were so moved, we just wanted to share. 

Plus, you gotta support writers when you can.

P.S. Message me for my Venmo account.