Endorsements
"Never Give Up The Jump is a unique insight to the wartime experiences of an American hero. Readers will see his war, and that of others, through snippets of incredibly intimate and personal letters, which highlight the effect of war both at the front, and at home. At points in this read it is hard to keep one's emotions in check! This is a fine addition to the existing library of books highlighting the exploits of the American Airborne Warrior."
-Adam G.R. Berry. Author: And Suddenly They Were Gone. Overlord Publishing.
“I am most impressed - this is a real contribution to our understanding of the men of WWII airborne units and their families. Histories of World War II continue to appear as new sources became available. This book provides a significant contribution to our knowledge of the 508th Parachute Infantry’s service in the European Theater. The existing histories of the 508th focus on the larger view – the strategy – of the Regiment during the War. This book takes to the men of the Regiment and their families, on both the home front and the battle front. The book‘s descriptions of the 508th’s training and combat provide new insights into the Regiment’s history. The officers' wives’ “Round Robin” letters is a unique contribution showing how the women worked to hold their own morale and courage. In all, this is a marvelous contribution to our understanding of the men and families that were the Army’s parachute troopers.”
-George Cressman, Jr. , PhD, Senior Historian, Camp Blanding Museum.
"Never Give up the Jump is an outstanding telling of a World War II story through the medium of saved personal letters -- such a rare possession during those climactic years. Sue and Jack have given us a unique peek into love letters, to tell a remarkable story."
-Ron Drez, Author, historian, and combat veteran.
“Never Give Up the Jump is a heartwarming, beautiful love story which unfolds in letters sent during WWII between the battlefield and home. It is a glimpse into the thoughts and emotions of those separated by war, and living for the next day.”
-Judy Drez, Vietnam war wife.
“The majority of the books on WWII describe the events on the battlefield but very few deal with the subjects Talleys have through more than 1200 letters and documents. The almost daily exchanges depict the state of mind of George Gurwell and his wife Jeane but also that of the women officers of the 508th PIR since their entry into the army, the epic of the brand new combat units, the famous US paratroopers, until their return to the United States in 1945 for the lucky ones. The authors have selected letters representative of the state of mind of this generation which had just gone through the Great Depression and which was going to be sent across the Atlantic to liberate Europe of the Nazi yoke. This book speaks of the sacrifice of the soldiers as well as the sacrifice of the wives of these officers who remained in the USA who built a close bound of real support between them. Hasty weddings before departure, then the pain of these women and families who received a telegram from the War Department announcing the sad news of the death of these heroes who fell in battle in the name of our freedom. These young widows, these young mothers remained with their heads held high despite the hardships. This publication finally tackles one of the things least treated in most historical books of the Second World War; PTSD linked to their prolonged presence on the front line, physical and psychological fatigue, bombardments, loss of brothers in arms. These disorders also affected wives who had the heavy task of continuing to manage daily life with the anxiety and stress related to the fear of losing their loved one. These women, some of whom are already mothers, or were pregnant, demonstrated courage and unfailing self-sacrifice even for those who will be hit hard by the loss of their husband. Victory in Europe meant the end of hostilities in Europe but for many veterans the return home will not be followed by any treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.”
-Eddy Lamberty, WWII Battlefield Tour Guide, Belgium.
“Many a reader will have wondered what it was like to be on the front lines as a paratrooper in WWII, and also how the families back home dealt with the little news they received. Never Give Up the Jump brings you into the front lines based on 1100 letters from Susan’s parents exchanged in 1943-1945 and wartime letters by the wives of fellow officers, all set in chronological order and placed in historical context. The book provides a unique glimpse in the hearts of American women who lost their loved ones on the battlefield. This book takes you through WWII in a way unsurpassed by any other. Lieutenant Gurwell was responsible for processing personal effects of many paratroopers of the 508th, including many friends who died on D-Day. He suffered from PTSD after the war and Susan and Jack movingly describe their efforts to get him talk on his war experiences. Their journey into the past continued after his passing in 2004 to meet veterans who served with George Gurwell for missing answers on his WWII service. A book that will leave a lasting impression of gratitude for the 508th PIR in their odyssey to defeat Nazi-Germany, and the authors who enabled you to read it from your comfortable chair.”
-Frank van Lunteren, author: Birth of a Regiment: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Sicily and Salerno.
“Susan Gurwell Talley and Jack Talley set out on an amazing mission to document the war experience of Lt. Gurwell, the men of the 508th PIR and their loved ones on the homefront. Using an astonishing collection of wartime letters written by Susan's father, mother and other officers of the regiment and their wives, this book gives us a riveting account of their experiences, the struggle for survival, love, loss and trauma. Where the post-war impact of PTSD is often neglected, Jack and Susan break the silence in which so many GI's from World War II carried the pain of trauma. Their journey to find answers, healing and closure, show us amazing parallels with trauma that is experienced by modern veterans and their families. 'Never Give Up the Jump' is a moving story that unconditionally gives honor to whom honor is due: the brave Red Devils of the 508th PIR and their families!”
-Thulai van Maanen, Dutch (combat) veteran, granddaughter of a WWII regional resistance leader, WWII historian.
“A trove of over 1000 letters between a young Lieutenant in the 508th PIR and his wife provide a special lens to read a powerful story of love and war from D-Day through VE-Day in World War II.
-Mark Vlahos, historian and author.