New Memoir Offers Glimpses of Hawaiian Life During World War II
“80 Years of Memories of Life in Hawaii and Beyond” by William Harrison Wright, Jr. (published by Trafford Publishing) offers a cross section of life during and after the Second World War told in the perspective of the author, William Harrison Wright, Jr., a native Hawaiian. This posthumous publication is a heady mix of personal anecdotes and historical tidbits, all of which reveal glimpses of the zeitgeist of the era as well as Hawaiian culture.
Wright was born in 1929 and was raised in Hawaii. The book narrates his life in Hawaii during major world events such as World War II and the Korean War. Post-war life in both Hawaii and the mainland USA are also described. While war stories are an important part of this memoir, it also brings to life other events, places and people that made the author’s life more meaningful. “80 Years of Memories of Life in Hawaii and Beyond” is a deeply moving story filled with real-life adventures, historical tidbits and hard-won wisdom. Wright’s account offers compelling new insight into what it was like to live during a time of rapid global change.
About the Author
William Harrison Wright, Jr. was born and raised in Hawaii, in the town of Kekaha, Island of Kaua’i. At the outbreak of the Korean War, he volunteered for active service, spending his entire tour of duty at Fort Ord, California. He was later hired to work on the cruise missile project and served as a group leader on the B-1B Bomber program until his retirement. He passed away in February 2013.
