Donald's Story [Paperback]

Sandra Merrill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 1996

The story of a North Dakota farmboy turned P-51 fighter pilot during World War II, killed in action Christmas Day 1944.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Donald's Story is one of the best World War II era military biographies to appear in the last several years." -- Midwest Book Review, September 1997

"A very good book--one of only a few I've read straight through!" -- Col. Donald J.M. Blakeslee, WWII commander 4th Fighter Group

"Fantastic work. Very moving. Fascinating and unusual. There are scores of WWII stories but the hook for this one is the way [the author] fell into uncovering it. This book transcends typical WWII accounts and exploration of family histories...I really believe she has created something unique and universally appealing. Very impressive." -- Gary Brueggeman, WWII Historian and Educator

"It is wonderful. I was captivated by [Merrill's] method and the quality and character of such a fine and human work... [She is one of only two] writers I can think of whose work has wrenched me so emotionally and literally made me gulp in sorrow." -- Philip Kaplan, author ofOne Last Look, Their Finest Hour,

"My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed 'Donald's Story ... and [it] gave me particularly such a clear picture of what those boys went through." -- Virginia Braley, Wife of 336 Pilot Richard Braley, 4th FG

"The Book Is Wonderful. Sandra Merrill has achieved the remarkable task of telling three stories at once...Donald and his family then, her experience of rediscovery now, and the overall history of the 4th Fighter Group in WWII. I was moved many times and salute her for it." -- Jeff Ethell, noted aviation author, 1996

"The best book [about the 4th Fighter Group] since 1947 and Grover Hall's '1000 DESTROYED'... the most intimate story of a fighter pilot, and one not to be missed. Be warned, though, it is a very personal story of a shy young fellow, from the boondocks of North Dakota, who got into the flying game, after only wanting to be an airplane mechanic. It will tear at your heart, especially when you know from the beginning that he didn't make it all the way through. The author uses Donald's letters to his folks and others as her sources, and they are the mainstay of the book [and] bring [Donald] back to life... It's four handkerchiefs or stars if you choose." -- Thomas C. Dorsey, Maj USAF Retired To be published, Military Magazine

"The idea intrigued me from the outset: Fifty years after the death of a fighter pilot during WWII, tragically on Christmas Day of 1944, his niece resolves to write a book memorializing his life and death. I could hardly wait for a look at her finished draft. I had been an instructor pilot and a fighter pilot myself, and had read many books written by other military pilots in this very unique profession. But how would a niece view this fraternity? ...The book was worth the wait. As I read it I saw my own innocence, hope, pride, patriotism and supreme effort as the author's uncle progressed from farm to heroic action in the greatest of all wars. I will admit tears were in my eyes as she visited his gravesite in Holland after fifty years. Could it possibly have been that long?" -- James L. Brewer, author of Mules, Missiles & Men

Captain Donald R. Emerson (with his P-51 Mustang Donald Duck nose art) was a little-known ace with the 4th Fighter Group, based in Debden, England, during World War II. His passing on 25 December 1944 was overshadowed by the death that same day of Major George Preddy, the 352nd Fighter Group's top ace. The story of Donald Emerson, as told by his niece, will touch you as few others will. Sandra Merrill's first literary effort tells this story well and provides a rare invitation into an otherwise very private sorrow. The book is unique in its perspective, telling three stories in one. It effectively merges the lives of Donald and his family, the general history of the 4th Fighter Group, and Merrill's own fascinating voyage of rediscovery. It is surprising how well it all fits together. When she finally visits his grave in Margraten, the Netherlands, it's an emotional moment. Fully documented with photos and text, [this book] is a great tribute to a Mustang pilot who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country, but it also reveals how his loss affected his family. I can't recommend it highly enough; it is that good. -- Robert DeGroat, Aviation Writer, reviewed in FLIGHT magazine, October 1996

From the Publisher

This poignant account of Donald Emerson's service in World War II with the 4th Fighter Group of the 8th Air Force is recommended to every reader. Sandy Merrill has magnificently succeeded in combining Donald's advancement to a 4th Fighter Group ace with the parallel story of her family while providing the additional treat of the history of WWII's most successful fighter group in the European Theatre of Operations.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Tebidine Publishing; 1st edition (April 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964954141
• ISBN-13: 978-0964954144
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,540,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "One of the best of the WWII air books", July 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Donald's Story (Paperback)

The achievements of the 4th Fighter Group, the Debden Eagles of the Eighth US Army Air Force in World War II England, are genuinely heroic. The men of the 4th led all the other U.S. fighter groups in the European Theatre of Operations in the destruction of Luftwaffe aircraft, having at least 1,010 officially credited. In the likes of John Godfrey, James Goodson, Ralph 'Kidd' Hofer, Don Gentile, Don Blakeslee and others, the 4th generated more top-scoring aces than any other American fighter group of the War.

One relatively unsung hero of the 4th FG is Captain Donald Emerson of Pembina, North Dakota. Captain Emerson died on Christmas Day 1944 when his P-51 Mustang was downed by enemy ground fire. On that day his group was escorting B-24 bombers which were attacking a target near Kassel, Germany.

As a military aviation writer, I have read all of the better books about the air war in World War II...or so I thought...until I discovered Donald's Story by Sandra D. Merri! ll. Sandra Merrill is Captain Emerson's niece and about nine years ago, she began to 'study World War II'-and hated every minute of it. But she was becoming deeply affected by her uncle's wartime letters home which had been saved by her family. She enrolled in a college course about the War and, being a gifted writer, was moved to write Donald's Story, a riveting, bittersweet memorial to a man she knew only as a family legend.

"I was conscious of listening to Donald's Story for nearly 40 years, but I had listened as if it were some homespun fairy tale. It wasn't until I had sons nearing draft age that Donald suddenly became more than a deified storybook figure-a real human being, my own flesh and blook. And then the dormant obligation I had felt to tell Donald's Story began to stir, and I knew that even though he was just one among countless thousands of unknown heroes, he still might speak for many of them-reason enough for his story to be told. I was about to set out! on an odyssey of discovery, and by reading Donald's letter! s, finding his friends and recording old memories, I was going to do my best to remember an uncle that I never really knew."

In a unique approach to her format, Merrill manages to escort the reader through Captain Emerson's brief life, her own rediscovery of him, and almost the entire history of the 4th Fighter Group in World War II England. Emerson's poignant letters home, which he wrote throughout his training and his combat service, are the essence of Donald's Story and, unless you are made of wood, you will be moved by them. Merrill's journey of discovery is the reader's journey, and it is heart-breaking, uplifting and quite unforgettable.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great subject, great writing, great presentation!!, June 27, 1998

By 

Joseph W Noah - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donald's Story (Paperback)

Joe Noah, author of GEORGE PREDDY - TOP MUSTANG ACE: I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Tullius at one of his Hangar Parties before reading the book, and the pleasure of meeting Sandra Merrill after reading it. Both Bob & Sandra have done an outstanding job memorializing an outstanding fighter pilot who gave his life for our freedom. Captain Donald Emerson and Major George Preddy were killed during the Battle of the Bulge flying P-51s on Christmas Day 1944. Both were shot down by ground fire.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT!, April 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Dover, DE 19901) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donald's Story (Paperback)

Reading Donald's Story was like going back in time to those days of WWII. Well writen with letters and actual history of that era cleverly blending to make a wonderful story. Reading the book make me feel like at times that I was actually in the cockpit wiith Donald.