Description
Autographed by author Mary Thomas Sargent on inside cover. 1984 hardcover has some normal wear. No dustjacket has some wear and a tear at bottom left. The pages are clean and in good condition. The binding is secure.
This remarkable memoir offers a rare glimpse into the life of an American Red Cross girl stationed at a remote B-29 air base in India during World War II. Mary T. Sargent’s vivid and honest account transports readers to a world far removed from the familiar battlefronts of Europe and the Pacific, where she and her fellow Red Cross workers played a vital role in boosting morale and providing comfort to the airmen tasked with the daunting mission of bombing Japan from the other side of the globe.
Sargent’s narrative is a testament to the resilience and courage of these often-overlooked women, who endured harsh living conditions, long separations from loved ones, and the ever-present threat of enemy attack. Her candid descriptions of the camaraderie, hardships, and occasional moments of levity experienced by the Red Cross staff and the airmen they served offer a poignant and humanizing counterpoint to the grand strategies and statistics that typically dominate historical accounts of the war.
Beyond its historical significance, “Runway Towards Orion” is a beautifully written and deeply personal memoir that resonates with universal themes of sacrifice, friendship, and the indomitable human spirit. Sargent’s autograph lends an extra layer of authenticity and collectibility to this already rare and invaluable record of a little-known chapter in World War II history.
