An excerpt from Jonathan Kellerman's foreword: "When it comes to music; the human factor is all. Yet so many books on musical instruments obsess on the fine points of construction while neglecting the talented people who began the process: transforming planks and slabs and slivers into masterpieces of sonic beauty. That's understandable; many players and collectors live and breathe trivia. But it's an approach that misses the point. In 'Kalamazoo Gals;' John Thomas has chosen to rise above that; fleshing out the most human of stories without neglecting the techno-stats that guitar geeks crave. The goal John set for himself was monumental: illuminating the elusive history of a legendary group of WW II-era Gibson guitars known in the vintage trade as 'Banners' because of the decal affixed to their headstocks. Now recognized; nearly three quarters of a century after their manufacture; as among the finest acoustic guitars ever produced; over 9000 Banners were built during a period when; according to 'official' accounts; no Gibson instruments were produced because the company had shifted to churning out war goods. Even more remarkable; much of the work that went into Banners was performed by a group of young Michigan women with no prior training in musical instrument construction! The contributions of Rosie the Riveter and her cohorts to the survival of American manufacturing during the 'Good War;' are well known and beyond profound. But until now the contributions of a band of intrepid; unpretentious; stunningly skillful; thoroughly American women to both the war effort and to the endurance of one of the greatest musical instrument manufacturers ever known; has gone unheralded. Kudos to John Thomas for telling their story."
#2400680 in Books Red Engine Press 2008-03-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .65 x 6.00l; .94 #File Name: 0978515811288 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. One Survivor is now gone.........By ChevychikWalt Whitcomb; one of the survivors of this massacre just passed away this week in Redondo Beach; CA. I met Walt and his son David in 1987. He used to do my mother's taxes and was the most wonderful man. I purchased this book from him and he kindly signed it for us (My mother bought one also). He deserves the recognition of the hero that he was; not to mention he also touched and helped so many lives after this event.God Bless you Walter. I haven't seen you in a long time; but cherished your friendship nonetheless. My thoughts are with your family at this time.Stacy P. (Torrance; CA.)4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. This book is a must read....By Mindy LawrenceThe term "HERO" is often debated and misused. Those who fit the term are reluctant to accept it. In fact; they are the first to tell you they don't qualify. Readers of They Came Home: Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors by Joyce Faulkner and Pat McGrath Avery will find the story of the survivors of the Sunchon Tunnel Massacre a profoundly moving account of seven men who fit every portion of the definition of hero. I've been fortunate to meet five of them and found it a deeply moving experience.Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors is a true story of events during the Korean War. Avery and Faulkner conducted painstaking research. Both women interviewed survivors; survivor's families and worked with the United States Department of Defense to assure accuracy in its telling. Faulkner creatively weaves together the soldiers' stories in a modern-day form of Greek tragedy using the men's individual stories as a chorus. The impact is tremendous. These two writers have uncovered vital information.This book should be in every school and college library. It should be mandatory reading material in every history classroom in the nation. Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner have done this country a great service by telling this mostly forgotten story of incredible heroism; comradeship and survival during the Korean War.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An important storyBy Andrew LubinAuthors Pat Avery and Joyce Faulkner have written a powerful story of a barbaric and savage treatment of American Army POW's during the opening months of the Korean War.Flush from their opening week's victories over unprepared; poorly trained; and poorly-led American Soldiers; the North Koreans herded some 250 POW's onto a train north the North Korean-Chinese border in October 1950. Starved and beaten; the soldiers ran a gamut of emotions from giving up and dying; to attempting to escape. In the North Korean town of Sunchon; 100 soldiers were executed; and another 33 were executed later when the train came under fire from American fighter jets. With the train disabled; another 91 were marched north; with only a few finally being rescued by American forces.Their book "Sunchon Tunnel Massacre Survivors" is a thoroughly-researched story which includes multiple interviews with the eight survivors still alive today. The authors concentrate on the stories of the individual survivors; as opposed to American or N. Korean strategy and tactics. The result is a human interest story that will appeal to a far wider audience than that of a normal "military book;" which can only serve to get this story of bravery and courage into the wider audience it deserves.
