Letters From Hell to Huia: A true life family saga – World War II became our World War too

In the closing months of 1940 as Europe and the Mediterranean became engulfed in war David Woodward Fletcher, a young New Zealand soldier, volunteered for duty to God, King, and Country. Experience the epic true story of his life’s journey and the four and half years of his overseas war service that would change his life forever and influence his family after him for three generations. This inspiring, often heart wrenching, tale follows Dave’s transformation from a carefree rural youth to a battle-toughened soldier who finds love in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Much of it is told in his own words, woven into the narrative from his war letters, love letters, and post-war memoirs. There are added insights gleaned from the author’s own conversations with his father once they had navigated the silence between them, and recollections of coming of age in the tempestuous 1960’s as the son of a war veteran. The author’s two-decade journey later in life to understand his father’s war experience led to a profound discovery: a rich tapestry of family histories woven across cultures and continents. This sweeping family saga entwines the stories of Dave’s Māori daughter-in-law with connections to the legendary 28 Māori Battalion, and his grandson’s American wife with roots in the brave soldiers of the US Red Bulls Infantry Division. Join the author in this journey to walk the battlefields that shaped his father’s life and lead his own family to embrace the legacy of their grandfathers. With its rich historical context and deeply personal narrative, “”From Hell to Huia”” is a must-read for anyone interested in World War II North Africa and Italy Campaigns, New Zealand’s military history,antipodean family sagas, the human experience, or simply a previously undisclosed part of the local history of the tiny hamlet of Huia. —- ISBN: 9798302591470 | ISBN10: B0DPWDJ2CN | ISBN-13: 979-8302591470