When You Come Home: The True Love Story Of A Soldier's Heroism, His Wife's Sacrifice and the Resilience of America's Greatest Generation (Historical Romance) [Kindle Edition]

Nancy Pitts (Author), Tom Brokaw (Preface)

Book Description

"Daphne Cavin's poignant story of love, loss and sacrifice was one of the most memorable I encountered in writing The Greatest Generation. Her daughter now completes the story with this very heartfelt book." - Tom Brokaw

The war claimed Daphne Kelley’s young husband’s life, but it couldn’t keep Raymond – and his abiding love – from being with her when she needed him most.

First glimpsed in Tom Brokaw’s landmark bestseller, The Greatest Generation, the true-life love story of Daphne and Raymond Kelley went far deeper than Brokaw’s feature could reveal. Now When You Come Home provides the complete account of what New York Times book reviewer Michael Lind cited as “perhaps the most compelling” love story in Brokaw’s book.

Taking its title from a poem newlywed Daphne sent her soldier husband during World War II, When You Come Home tells of their young love in the heartland at the brink of war, and of the crushing uncertainty and fear as they find themselves a world apart. And when the poem comes back to Daphne – blood-stained by Raymond’s mortal wounds – When You Come Home shares the extraordinary event that restores the grieving young widow’s faith in the transcendent power of love.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Daphne Cavin's poignant story of love, loss and sacrifice was one of the most memorable I encountered in writing The Greatest Generation. Her daughter now completes the story with this very heartfelt book."
- Tom Brokaw

“Daphne Cavin’s story is perhaps the most memorable of all the stories I’ve been privileged to tell in my newspaper career. Daphne shared her memories and her scrapbook documenting her brief marriage to a soldier who was killed in action in southern France in 1944. I wrote her story in February 1998, and it took on a life of its own when Tom Brokaw’s researchers discovered it and included it in the best-selling book, The Greatest Generation. Brokaw put Daphne on the NBC Nightly News several times and she became a symbol of the sacrifices made by war widows. Her daughter Nancy Cavin Pitts has done a wonderful job of fleshing out Daphne’s poignant story in When You Come Home. It makes this war widow’s story come alive in rich detail in ways that newspapers and television never could. Mrs. Pitts has given us the definitive portrait of a World War II war bride whose love was lost in the defense of freedom.”
– John Flora

Product Details

• File Size: 447 KB
• Print Length: 244 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0984765506
• Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (September 29, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005R41792
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,619 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure July 4, 2012

By Kim

Format:Kindle Edition

When You Come Home is the kind of story that leaves you feeling that you never want to close the pages. If you can keep the book open, you will maintain connection with the people inside.
I was priviledged to meet Nancy Cavin Pitts and hope one day to meet her again to thank her for sharing a most deeply moving story of a time we can never forget and a love we never want to. Read it. Share it. You'll never be the same.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A moving story of lost love in wartime December 11, 2011

By John Flora VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Daphne Cavin's story is perhaps the most memorable of all the stories I've been privileged to tell in my newspaper career with The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star.
Daphne shared her memories and her scrapbook documenting her brief marriage to a soldier who was killed in action in southern France in 1944. I wrote her story in February, 1998 and it took on a life of its own when Tom Brokaw's researchers discovered it and included it in the best-selling "The Greatest Generation." Brokaw put Daphne on the NBC Nightly News multiple times and she became a symbol of the sacrifices made by war widows.
Her daughter Nancy Cavin Pitts has done a wonderful job of fleshing out Daphne's poignant story in "When You Come Home." It makes this war widow's story come alive in rich detail in ways that newspapers and television never could.
Nancy Cavin Pitts has given us the definitive portrait of a World War II war bride whose love was lost in the defense of freedom.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Written - Can't Put it Down When Start July 10, 2012

By Jen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a Wonderfully Written book that you can't put down once you start. As you read it takes you back to the World War II Era and gives you great insight to the emotions, fears, struggles, and a taste of the daily life in the years near and during the War. It is a great testimony to true love and the sacrifices love endures and carries us through in our lives. Gives you renewed thankfulness for the sacrifice and service of those, and their spouses and families, that protect and have protected the US and our freedoms. A definite must read. Thank you for sharing and gifting us with this wonderful love story.