Letters Home

Frank Hathaway was 17 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. He enlisted in the Army Air Force and began his transformation from college student to pilot. Writing home during his years away, Hathaway detailed as much about his life in training and flying in the Southwest Pacific as censors would allow. Now quoting liberally from his correspondence, Hathaway tells the story of his service flying over jungle, mountains and long ocean passages in New Guinea, the Philippines and on to Japan. The book contains vivid descriptions of life in the cockpit as well as observations about native village life, plane crashes and Japanese reaction to Americans in their midst after the occupation. This is the chronicle of one soldier, a man who was part of what is now known as "The Greatest Generation."