Blue Skies and Thunder: Farm Boy, Pilot, Inventor, TSA Officer, and WW II Soldier of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

I have recommended this book to many people and all have enjoyed it. Virgil Westdale's sister was my second-grade teacher and her daughter is a life-long friend. I had no idea about the family's history growing up half-Japanese in rural Indiana or about Virgil's service in WW 2. Virgil just passed away last month at age 104!

Really enjoyed reading this! He lives in the vicinity where I currently live. Yesterday he was honored by a VFW group on his 100 birthday.. My husband worked for his brother at one time. I grew up near Camp Shelby where the 442 trained. We attended college classes with some of the division that came back to Hattiesburg after the war.

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Westdale while on a flight. We have similar interest. We have lived and visited many of the same places. We exchanged business cards. I bought this book and have picked it up from time to time to read on flights. I can hear him reading it. Mr. Westdale makes me proud not only to be an American, but an engineer from Michigan. Thanks, Virgil!

Great book by a great man!

Amazing man! Made lemonade time and time again!

Interesting memoir. Easy, friendly reading. It's as if you're sitting with the author and he's telling you his story.

This book is a joy for those interested in both World War II and an American journey through the 20th (and 21st) century. Written in short descriptions of life as a farmer through his retirement in 2009 from the TSA the story never really slows down. Not a typical war story, much of the WWII drama comes from his struggle to become a pilot as a Japanese-American. National policy at the time conspired to keep an accomplished young pilot out of the cockpit and into a fire support team on the ground. Description of combat through Italy and Germany is certainly riveting, but I really enjoyed the descriptions of how Mr. Westdale got into and out of battle. His post-war careers could be book worthy on their own. Very interesting life! I had the fortune to meet him at the Grand Rapids Military Ball this year, found him a delightful person to have at my table, and bought the book that very night! Just wish I had read the book before meeting him as I now have a thousand questions for him...

This book was captivating,from beginning to end.Virgil's life was compelling,from page one.The descriptions of his childhood all the way through to an employee of the TSA...stillgoing strong at 91! Those who have known Virgil have long anticipated the arrival of this book,and I found it well worth the wait!He is the most pleasant,caring and interesting person to call a friend. A gentle giant. So talented as well.