War Bonds

Love stories from the greatest generation. By Jocelyn Stott.

“Much has been written about the military history of WWII, but the battle campaigns and heroic deeds are only part of the story,” says Cindy Hval, Spokesman Review columnist and now author. Hval celebrates the release of her first book in February titled, “War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation.” It seemed the topic of love and war was a popular one from her Love Story series.

Hval explains, “Every time I wrote a story that featured a WWII-era couple, my inbox overflowed with letters and they all had a common theme; ‘so inspirational’ and ‘we want more.’ One morning my husband, Derek, looked at me and said, ‘What if you compiled all of these stories in a book?’ And ‘War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation’ is the result.”

According to Hval, the premise of “War Bonds” is the dating and courtship of couples who met or married during or shortly after WWII. Underscoring these tales are the principles of maintaining lasting love in the face of tumultuous times, as well as the daily challenges of building a life together. Each narrative begins with a World War II-era song title and concludes with a "Love Lesson" from the featured couple.

The book includes photos from the 1940s as well as current photographs of each couple who have, remarkably, sustained marriages lasting well over 50 years.

Below is an excerpt from Hval’s book:

Jerry had been taken to prison camp, and as he was being processed, the guard pointed to his wedding ring and motioned for Jerry to remove it. But after days of uncertainty and fear, that was where Jerry drew the line. “You get to the point where the initial fear is gone,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens. I didn’t give up my wedding ring. I said, “I vowed to never take it off. I’m not taking it off.’”

Most of the couples featured are from Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. “I can't afford to travel all over the world to interview people, though I'd love to! But also because of local military bases like Fairchild and Farragut, many military folks retired here,” says Hval.

When asked what she found most compelling about the Greatest Generation she’s featured in “War Bonds”, Hval says, “They are amazingly humble and don't think of themselves as special. To them, marriages that spanned six to seven decades aren't that remarkable. They are relentlessly positive. They downplayed the hardships they endured and choose to focus on the good times. They are wickedly witty. I spent a lot of time laughing with these couples. I loved watching them banter back and forth.”

Hval says “War Bonds” offers a unique look into the Greatest Generation, World War II and, perhaps above all, love. “Most of us want to believe that love can last forever. Who doesn't want their own happily ever after? But the reality is many marriages fail. What happened when these soldiers came home to wives they'd been separated from or sweethearts they'd left behind? In these stories, readers won't find the magic pill that makes marriage last, but I think they'll find hope and inspiration in the grit and humor the couples in ‘War Bonds’ share. I know I did.”

Hval has been a writer for the Spokesman Review since 2005 covering news and features, and a columnist since 2007. She has also been featured in numerous anthologies including seven editions of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series.

The biggest challenge of writing a book compared to a column, Hval says, is the quantity of words. “I was surprised how hard it was for me to let go of some of the journalistic formulas and allow myself to use adjectives and descriptors.”

Another thing Hval had to improve upon was her personal care. “It’s often been said that writing is a solitary process, but when you have a husband, four sons and two cats, solitude doesn't come easily. I have wonderful friends who offered me quiet places to write. In taking time away to write, I discovered I am a much happier person when I can carve out time and space to be alone.”

“War Bonds” will be released to bookstores nationwide in February and can be preordered now through Barnes and Noble and Amazon. “War Bonds” can also be ordered from the publisher at Casemate.com.

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