Overview

Most American women of the 1940s did not attend college; learn to fly a plane, drive a 21/2 ton truck or a Sherman tank; or serve in war zones, but Blanche Gregory Barnes did before the age of 28. ""Forged in Fire"" is a coming-of-age tale of a sheltered midwestern woman who, after suffering a sudden, heart-breaking loss, found something larger than herself that ultimately provided her a new purpose for her shattered life. The vehicle for this transformation was the American Red Cross's new and innovative overseas clubmobile program. As a ""clubmobile girl,"" Blanche served on multiple 8th Air Force air bases outside of Kettering, England, including Molesworth Airfield, the home of the famous 303rd Bombardment Group or ""Hell's Angels,"" then she served on the continent at the Cigarette Camps located outside of Le Havre, France, and finally in war-torn Germany. Along the way she crossed paths with such notables as Medal of Honor winner Col. John ""Killer"" Kane, journalist Ernie Pyle, and U.S. Generals George S. Patton, Jr., Omar N. Bradley; and Leonard T. Gerow, as well as movie actress Marlene Dietrich and the members of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. She also witnessed first-hand the destruction and tragedy of world war. Forged in Fire expertly weaves Blanche's story in with the history of the clubmobile program, and how it raised the morale of America's fighting men. The backbone of the program was a cadre of well-educated, independent, and resolute women (such as Blanche) who served up coffee, doughnuts, and hope for the future to hundreds of thousands of war-weary, exhausted American GIs.

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9781965278727

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Robert Gangwere is an attorney and an avid historian and genealogist. He retired from the Federal Government after 32 years of service with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). While with SBA, he served as the Agency's ethics official, Deputy General Counsel, and acting General Counsel. He has a bachelor's and a master's degree in American history from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and a law degree from the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC). He is the co-author of ""Kansas City: A Place in Time"" (second edition) and a former member of the Kansas City Historic Preservation Commission. Since retirement he has taught several American history courses for seniors funded through a grant program and hosted by UMKC.Robert is married with two children and five grandchildren, and he spent decades interviewing his mother about her World War II experiences and researching the Clubmobile Department of the American Red Cross during World War II. ""Forged in Fire"" is a result of those efforts.

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