Tony's War

Tony was an urbane, witty, college-educated Long Island boy whose WWII army career was recorded in 256 letters sent home to his parents as he lived through the experience. They begin with his departure for basic training in October, 1942 and continue until his return home from the Philippines in December, 1945. His first two years of stateside maneuvers were an involuntary adventure, a bit of a lark that had interrupted his life not unpleasantly. But when he lands in a combat zone on the heels of MacArthur, his perspective on life changes forever. This is the story, in his own words, of one individual soldier's complete WWII experience.

TONY'S WAR chronicles here-and-now thoughts, observations, and fears of a war-time soldier. The letters describe in minute detail: basic training, stateside duty at several army camps, the trans-Pacific journey to war, hospital convalescence, and life in a jungle combat zone. There are disturbing secret letters sent to his father's office with revelations not meant for his mother's eyes, journal entries of events that would not have been passed by the censor, and the text is augmented by many of his photographs and drawings.

Take a journey into the heart and soul of a member of the Greatest Generation, a WWII soldier.

About the Author

Edward Anthony Zahn was born March 31, 1921 to Ed and Marie Zahn. His father, an MIT alumnus, was working as a project manager for Thomas Edison in West Orange, New Jersey. Their son was to be an only child.

Both parents doted on their boy. In 1927, now living in Stewart Manor, Long Island, they took him to nearby Roosevelt Field to watch all of the takeoffs of aviators who aspired to be the first to make a solo transatlantic crossing, many of whom were never heard from again. Tony was there to see Lindbergh take off.

When he was 10 years old, little Eddie's mother offered him a dime - a fortune at the time if he would allow her to call him Tony. The name stuck. He would be known as Tony for the rest of his life.

Tony was a classically trained pianist, a talented artist, an accomplished sailor, a skilled roller skater, and had a passion for photography and a professional understanding of cameras and developing techniques. His father had not speculated in the stock market so did not suffer from the crash of 1929. The family was financially well off. So Tony developed into an urbane, witty, confident gentleman. After graduating from Sewanhaka High School in 1938, he attended Tilton Junior College in New Hampshire, where he was on the staff of the school's newspaper.

In the summer of 1941, Tony took a job with Western Electric in Mount Holly, New Jersey. By July, 1942, he had shopped around to all but the Marines, when an offer came through that men who had worked for Western Electric, if they enlisted, based on knowledge and skills, could go in as a T5. This was a rank in the US Army and Army Air Force in WWII that stood for Tech 5. It was equal to a corporal in pay but lacked the command of a corporal. Tony accepted that offer, went through the process, and on the day he was leaving to get sworn in at Whitehall St, his draft notice was in the incoming mail. So he went to his induction, then contacted the draft board to notify them that he was already in.

Tony's WWII Army career is recorded in 256 detail-packed letters sent home to his parents over the course of 38 months, as he lived through the experience. His cosmopolitan upbringing, profound sense of humor, and extreme intelligence shine throughout his writing. His skills as an artist, photographer, and musician played a part in his military career. His drawings and photographs supplement the text of his letters.

Sherie N. Zahn, Ph.D. has written the Prologue and the Epilogue. She is Tony's daughter.

Dettagli