The Friends of the Red Wing Public Library and the Goodhue County Historical Society will co-sponsor a program on American GIs in World War II by Thomas Saylor on Saturday, March 12, 2011, 10 AM, Foot Room, Red Wing Public Library, 225 East Avenue.
Dr. Saylor’s book, Long Hard Road, details the experiences of American soldiers as prisoners of war during World War II. Based on more than two years’ worth of oral interviews, Long Hard Roadtells the stories of some of the 110,000 American military personnel who were taken captive by the Germans, Japanese, and Italians between 1941 and 1945. Surviving, often in terribly difficult circumstances, is the beginning of their stories. These veterans also discuss coming home and readjusting to civilian life.
Thomas Saylor is an associate professor of history at Concordia University.