by Diane Moody
Many of the men who flew these life-saving missions remember them with gratitude, tremendously thankful for the opportunity they had to bring hope to a nation so desperately in need. Those messages of “MANY THANKS” and “THANKS, YANKS!” spelled out in tulips and other ways meant the world to them.
And to the Dutch men, women, and children who waved and cheered as they flew over them, the images and memories of those ten days have never been forgotten.
May we never forget.
Glenn Hale — Then and Now
1944 - 1945
Glenn with daughters Diane Moody
and Morlee Maynard 2009
About the Author
Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Diane Hale Moody is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She lives with her husband Ken in the rolling hills just outside of Nashville. They are the proud parents of two grown and extraordinary children, Hannah and Ben.
Just after moving to Tennessee in 1999, Diane felt the tug of a long-neglected passion to write again. Since then, she’s written a column for her local newspaper, feature articles for various magazines and curriculum, and several novels with a dozen more stories eagerly vying for her attention.
When she’s not reading or writing, Diane enjoys an eclectic taste in music and movies, great coffee, the company of good friends, and the adoration of a peculiar little pooch named Darby.
Visit Diane's website at dianemoody.net and her blog, “just sayin’” at dianemoody.blogspot.com.
Acknowledgments
With overwhelming gratitude to my daughter Hannah Moody for the stunning book cover that brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it. Thank you for using your God-given talents to bless this story with a cover so beautifully befitting its subject. But even more important, bless you for the heart you put into it on behalf of your grandfather. You’re the best, and I’m so proud of you, sweetie.
As always, many thanks to my proofreaders—my good friend Sally Wilson, my husband Ken, and the ever-diligent Old Eagle Eyes himself, Glenn Hale. Dad, not only did you catch numerous typos, you made sure Danny’s story was accurate—in Chicago, at Northwestern University, and all the way to the skies over Europe. He thanks you, as do I!
To Anita Van Melle for her expertise making sure I didn’t embarrass my Dutch characters by putting the wrong words in their mouths. Bedankt, Anita!
To Melanie Beasley who likewise helped me with the German language, and to her friend Janne who also took a look at my Dutch. Danke, ladies!
To Bob Penovich, for your tireless dedication to teach the next generation about Operation Chowhound and the many accomplishments of the 390th. Thank you so much for loaning me your prized copy of Memories of a Miracle: Operation Manna/Chowhound by Hans Onderwater. Wow, what a gold mine of information! Thanks also for answering all those pesky email questions I kept sending you. You’re a saint!
To Wendy MacVicar, for your friendship and inspiration on so many levels. Thank you for lighting the match back at the 2011 reunion that sparked this story and gave Anya a voice. How I thank God for you!
To Bill MacVicar, Wendy’s father-in-law, who has so willingly served as president of our 390th Veterans Association for all these years. Thank you for all your hard work and that tender heart of yours that still beats for freedom.
To Iris Taggart, our dear friend of so many years. Iris’s husband Robert “Tag” Taggart flew with the 390th, and though Tag died several years ago, Iris has faithfully attended every reunion. Her contagious passion for the B-17 and the other warbirds of WWII keeps her busy arranging air shows and inspiring young people to get interested in aviation through the Young Eagles program. We love you, Iris!
To Ray and Sally McFalone, thank you for the massive undertaking to videotape interviews with our 390th veterans. You have given their precious memories new life, enabling their stories to be heard for generations to come. Your insightful questions and meticulous editing have produced a beautiful history that we will never forget.
To my husband and best friend Ken who quite literally publishes and markets all our books. I couldn’t do this without you. I love doing life with you more every single day—and then some. (P.S. My bags are still packed for Hawaii, in case you wondered.)
And finally, a special thanks to my dad, Glenn Hale. I have loved every minute working on this project with you. Thanks for answering my bazillion questions and always filling in the gaps with your colorful insight. If money grew on trees, I would have flown us over to Framlingham to soak up the local flavor and ambience of your memories there. How fun would that have been? Still, between your many resources and impeccable, precise memory, I think we did a pretty good job. Thank you for letting Danny share so many of your experiences. I hope you’re pleased with him. Thank you for your service to our country and the uncompromised patriotic spirit that flows so strongly through your veins. I am so blessed, so thankful, and so very proud to be your daughter. Love you, Dad.
Resources
Eman, Diet with Schaap, James. Things We Could Not Say. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1994.
Freeman, Roger. The Mighty Eighth in Color. Specialty Press Publishers & Wholesalers, Inc., 1992.
Ippisch, Hanneke. Sky: A True Story of Resistance During World War II. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Kaplan, Phillip, and Smith, Rex Alan. One Last Look: A Sentimental Journey to the Eighth Air Force Heavy Bomber Bases of World War II in England. New York: Artabras Publishers, 1983.
Onderwater, Hans. Memories of a Miracle: Operation Manna/Chowhound, 29 April – 8 May 1945.Rotterdam: Ad. Donker, 1995.
Sanders, Ronald. Translated and revised by Voyles, Hannie J. Storming the Tulips. St. Louis, MO: Stonebrook Publishing, 2011.
The Story of the 390th Bomb Group (H). Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 1947.
Van der Rol, Rund, and Verhoeven, Rian. Anne Frank: Beyond the Diary. New York: The Penguin Group, 1993.
Van Stockum, Hilda. The Winged Watchman. Bathgate, ND: Bethlehem Books, 1995.
WWII: Time-Life Books History of the Second World War. New York: Prentice Hall Press for Time-Life Books, Inc., 1989.
Wycoff, Johanna. Dancing in Bomb Shelters: My Diary of Holland in World War II. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, 2010.
390th Bomb Group: 50th Anniversary Commemorative History. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 1994.
The 1943 Syllabus: The Yearbook of the Junior Class of Northwestern University. Chicago: Students Publishing Company, 1944.
The 1944 Syllabus: The Yearbook of the Junior Class of Northwestern University. Chicago: Students Publishing Company, 1945.
Online Resources
The Dead of 7 May 1945. City Archives: Amsterdam Treasures, Second World War. Retrieved from:
http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/english/amsterdam_treasures/second_world_war/doden_op_7_mei_1945/index.en.html
Madison, James H. (Fall 2007). Wearing Lipstick to War: An American Woman in World War II England. Prologue Magazine, Vol. 39, No. 3. Retrieved from:
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/fall/lipstick.html
Barris, Ted.(May 2005). Manna From Heaven. Legion Magazine. Retrieved from:
http://www.legionmagazine.com/en/index.php/2005/05/manna-from-heaven/
Myers-Verhage, Shelby. [1995]. Postmarked from Amsterdam: Anne Frank and Her Iowa Penpal. Reprinted from Palimpsest and used by permission from the State Historical Society of Iowa, as retrieved from:
http://www.traces.org/anne.html
Operation Chowhound/Manna: 8th Air Force B-17 Food Drop over Holland, April-May 1945. [Video file]. Retrieved from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4utm_gB_zs0
Operation Manna – 65 Years of Canadian-Dutch Friendship [Video file]. Retrieved from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHFWJ9GkNqE&feature=related
More Than Food: The Manna-Chowhound Food Drops. Retrieved from:
http://operationmanna.secondworldwar.nl/
Other Titles from OBT Bookz
(click the title for more information)
From Author Diane Moody
The Runaway Pastor’s Wife
Blue Christmas –The Moody Blue Trilogy (Book One)
Blue Like Elvis –The Moody Blue Trilogy (Book Two)
Confessions of a Prayer Slacker
Tea with Emma – The Teacup Novellas (Book One)
Strike the Match – The Teacup Novellas (Book Two)
Home to Walnut Creek – The Teacup Novellas (Book Three)
From Author McMillian Moody
Ordained Irreverence – Elmo Jenkins (Book One)
Some Things Never Change – Elmo Jenkins (Book Two)
Table of Contents
Copyright
Other Titles from OBT Bookz
Dedication
On a personal note
Part I1June 1938Chicago,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Part II
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Part III
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Part IV
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
PART V
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
Part V
60
61
62
63
PART VI
64
65
The Rest of the Story
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Resources
Other Titles from OBT Bookz