This raw story centers on a young man, thought to be killed in an attack on Stalingrad...István Kovács, Hungarian soldier, brother of Ilona, uncle to Pip, son of Judit and Zsolt. He survives and returns only to find his homeland under Russian occupation. The 1956 Hungarian Revolution reinforced a decision; István must escape to England where he tries to find his nephew. Buck Remke, veteran and former American tail gunner, still fights a war inside. As a former POW, he experienced torture and witnessed death. Every day, in his mind, he extracts "revenge" against his Nazi captors. His life only made bearable by the dreams and fantasies of his love, Ilona. After receiving life-changing news, he gathers the strength to move on. In the early years, István volunteered to help his country but gets caught up in Hitler's war machine. He struggles to return home and find "redemption" but only discovers shock and disappointment. Pip, who loses his parents at a very young age, is thrown into a British orphanage - post WWII. He deals with unsavory adults and frightening peers, but survives. As he reaches his early teens, the boy finds answers, but will the "resolution" bring him peace?
About the Author: Victor Merkel enjoyed creating the character of an American war veteran, Buck Remke, who served as a tail gunner in WWII. The co-author's brother, Walter "Buck" Merkel, Jr., provided the inspiration for Buck Remke; he served as a crew member on the Amazin Maizie and accumulated in excess of 25 combat missions. The author's research for TailGunnerR3 started when he discovered the limited options available for veteran airmen with battle fatigue. Although many veterans were hospitalized or sedated to manage depression or violent behavior, Walter moved on, pursued a successful career and had a family. Victor majored in Business Administration from University of Wisconsin and enjoyed an international sales career before choosing to pursue a career in historical novel writing. TailGunner: War Defines Us, part of a two book series, co-authored with Ann Frommer, sets the stage for TailGunnerR3, where three family members, lost to each other by two continents find redemption. Victor Merkel and his wife, Fran, call Arizona home. Their daughter, Deb Merkel Wanamaker lives in Pennsylvania with her family. vine2@cox.net http: //www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vicannpress TailgunnerR3 is Ann Frommer's second novel coauthored with Vic Merkel. It continues where Tailgunner: War Defines Us, left off. TailgunnerR3 gave Ann the opportunity to research the Cold War and its impact on the Eastern European countries. Her husband, Robert Frommer and his family left their homeland of Hungary for a better life after the '56 uprising'. This story mirrors in part what they went through. Ann's childhood dream of becoming a writer came after a successful healthcare management career where she began writing and publishing medical articles. She was the editor of a healthcare quality magazine, The Alert, that won national recognition. Ms Frommer, an RN, studied liberal arts at Columbia University, art at NYU in New York, and completed her bachelor's and master's degrees at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. In addition to writing, she is a landscape photographer whose work is exhibited in multiple New Jersey galleries and hangs in private collections. Ann and her husband are world travelers; they enjoy spending time in Budapest but their favorite spot is at home in northern New Jersey. Afrommer_art_books@verizon.net https: //sites.google.com/site/annfrommerhome/