Memoirs of a World War I Baby Boomer

We think of baby boomers as the generation born after WWII, but most wars lead to a crop of baby boomers. Author Trapp suggests that, for those born after WWI, the world has been a remarkable evolving panorama of change, more extensive than that experienced by any other generation alive today. Unfortunately, there are few World War I Baby Boomers left, particularly those with WWII military service. Fortunately, one of those is Phil Trapp. Even more fortunately for the reader, he is a gifted story teller.

“Memoirs of a World War I Baby Boomer” is an engaging collection of life stories and reflections that chronicle one man’s unique journey through the 20th century into the 21st. The stories alone would be reason enough to read these memoirs. Some stories tell of seemingly mundane everyday experiences that turn out to be rich in life lessons and insights. Other stories are dramatic and moving, particularly incidents from his military service at Iwo Jima and Okinawa during WWII. While the chapters follow the chronology of his life, Trapp uses thoughtfully selected vignettes to shed light on the unique forces and context that shaped the WWI baby boomers and to personalize their impact.

There is something for everyone in “Memoirs of a World War I Baby Boomer.” It is rich in historical and human detail and humor. Trapp’s anecdotes about his family’s history remind us of how few steps separate us from the early leaders of our country. For example, Phil’s ancestor knew such remarkable historical figures as Washington and Jefferson. And Phil’s grandfather was alive in the days of the Civil War.

As Trapp’s life is explored in subsequent chapters synchronized with major world changes and life stages, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression come to light in new personalized ways. We learn how both family and events shaped his thinking, and we come to treasure such unique characters as his mother and grandfather for their very specific views of how one is to live one’s life and see the world. Admittedly, the World War II chapter is particularly powerful and poignant. His earlier novel “The Red-Ribboned Letters” captured elements of that experience. Larger issues of war and humanity are conveyed with honestly and pain here in the memoirs.

The remaining chapters guide us through Phil’s return from WWII to a world filled with educational opportunities and hope. Not surprisingly, he chose the route of clinical psychology. There are intriguing vignettes of the early stages of the psychology profession and graduate education in this field. Trapp explores his time at the University of Arkansas, painting a picture of how different the university world was in decades past. He also provides snapshots of his engagement in other events of state and national importance, reminding us how one individual can make a difference. The retirement years are presente...