The Last Jump: A Novel of World War II - Softcover

Nevola, John E

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1432755617 ISBN 13: 9781432755614

Publisher: Outskirts Press, 2010

Synopsis

The Last Jump is a story of discovery as a modern day journalist explores the military experience of his estranged father in World War II.  Aware of the existence of a long lost family secret, our protagonist enlists the aid of four aging World War II veterans who knew his father.  When he finds out they know about the secret and have sworn an oath never to reveal it, he begins the difficult task of  carefully cajoling the information from men he considers to be true heroes.  His odyssey takes him back in time to a country vexed with racial and gender issues but united as never before or since. 
 
After the last veteran passes away, his hopes are dashed but one reaches from beyond the grave to identify the only other living person who who knows the secret and he races against death to reach her. A shocking conclusion awaits him, if only he can get there in time!
 
This book resonates with veterans of all wars and their sons and daughters.  Active military and patriotic supporters of our Armed Forces also love this book, especially fans of Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan.
 
So, come and join the adventure as we take a trip through a time in this country when everyone pulled together to achieve the improbable victory against the forces of evil.  Learn what it was like to live in and fight for America in the dark days of World War II and enjoy a rousing war story and an elusive mystery.  We have much to learn from that generation.  The Last Jump teaches us some of it.  And keeping their memory alive is something they earned.
Some proceeds from the sales of The Last Jump are donated to assist families of the fallen through the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund.

About this title

From the Author:

A historical fiction book requires significant research to understand the personalities of the famous participants and the location of various units and the timeframe in which the action is taking place.  The challenge is to seamlessly place the fictional characters in historically accurate situations and venues to tell the story.  As such, it took 4 years to write this book and a year to edit it.
 
As part of the research, I've met and talked to numerous World War II veterans.  They are almost universally humble, modest and appreciative of the gratitude so generously expressed by many, in both America and Europe, so late in their lives.  My own life has been enriched and blessed by meeting these men and women.  They touched me in so many ways and I was proud and honored to capture and include some of their recollections and memories into the fabric and backdrop of The Last Jump. 
 
This book resonates with veterans of all wars and their sons and daughters.  Active military and patriotic supporters of our Armed Forces also love this book, especially fans of Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan.
 
So, come and join the adventure as we take a trip through a time in this country when everyone pulled together to achieve the improbable victory against the forces of evil.  Learn what it was like to live in and fight for America in the dark days of World War II and enjoy a rousing war story and an elusive mystery.  We have much to learn from that generation.  The Last Jump teaches us some of it.  And keeping their memory alive is something they earned.

Some proceeds from the sales of The Last Jump are donated to assist children of the fallen through the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund.

From the Inside Flap:

J.P. Kilroy, a middle-aged divorced journalist, regrets ignoring his mother's only deathbed request. Even her last letter, which exposed the existence of a dark family secret, could not motivate him to reconcile with the father who abandoned them many years before.  When he receives an invitation from the White House to attend a long overdue Medal of Honor awards ceremony, he also discovers his estranged father, an honoree, had recently passed away.
 
Was the secret now lost forever?  The only fragile links remaining to the past are four aging veterans who served with his father.  His only hope of unraveling the mystery rests with the free-spirited Sky Johnson, a rough and tumble paratrooper, Frank West, the studious company commander, Harley Tidrick, Omaha Beach veteran and cousin of his father's best wartime buddy and Lincoln Abraham, the only living black honoree at the Medal of Honor ceremony.
 
Kilroy reaches out to them in an effort to uncover the truth but soon discovers the four men not only know the secret, they all took a solemn oath never to reveal it.  Undaunted and with the aid of Cynthia Powers, an alluring Army press liaison, he accepts the challenge to engage the veterans into revealing the truth by any means necessary.  Their conversations become a verbal odyssey and flashback to the racially charged attitudes in America during the War.  Kilroy learns about the altruism and contributions of Americans on the Homefront, the plight of women volunteer ferry pilots and factory workers and the extraordinary dedication and self-sacrifice of the average citizen.  He is taken back in time to a country in grave danger but a country as united as never before or since. But the old warriors stubbornly resist.
 
Over time the aging men begin to pass on.  As the last one dies, Kilroy's hopes are dashed.  But one reaches from beyond the grave to identify the only other living person who has the answer and Kilroy races death to reach her.  His desperate desire is that the revelation will finally relieve his guilt and bring peace to the soul of his beloved mother.
 
Redemption is possible...if only he can get there in time!

About this edition

• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1432755617
• ISBN 13: 9781432755614
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 530