Heroes are often unassuming in nature and can be easily overlooked. Such are the majority of men and women who have served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces.

As the years continue to push back the events of the world wars further into history, stories are lost as our veterans have aged and passed. So many never talked about the atrocities they witnessed, the fear and the bravery, and the sheer horrors of war itself. Whether blocked by trauma or simply unable to find the words to convey all of it to those who didn’t experience it, many found solace with fellow veterans.

All of this was the experience of Victor Hepburn Small, a prairie boy from Saskatchewan, Canada, who enlisted in 1942 at the age of eighteen. His story, he finally concluded, was “a story worth telling.” From his boyhood prairie life to his experiences with the Calgary Highlanders and the Royal Regina Riflemen, Victor shared those memories in various forms in the book. From personal memories, photographs, and the “blue bomber” letters sent during the war, this book gives insight into his own experiences, and adds to the collective experience of all who served.

I personally want to thank Joanne Wolf Small for reaching out to Veteran Voices regarding this book. I encourage you to visit their website, where they have included more of Victor’s photographs and memorabilia from the war years, as well as options for ordering the book.