Writer relates the human side of World War II
Jack Ellis Westbrook, who grew up in Rule, tells the stories of his experiences fighting in Europe during World War II in his excellent book, Code Name: Baker Catcher ($23.99 paperback).
Before Westbook died in 2003, he filled a large three-ring binder with stories and pictures from his war years. During Covid, his youngest daughter, Celia Thrash, pulled out the binder and began turning his tales into a book.
The stories are very well-written and quite compelling. For readers interested in World War II, this book is a straightforward, honest, easy-to-read, day-to-day account of what it was like to be a young second lieutenant from a small town in West Texas fighting for his life and for his country in a foreign land.
Thrash, who lives in McAllen, will be in Abilene to sign books at Texas Star Trading Company from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, August 25.