Byron's Lane's letters home and his personal journal, written from 1942 to 1945, have a time-capsule effect; they will transport you back to a time when America was united with one common goal - fighting a war to defeat the Axis nations and preserve freedom.

Lane takes you into the daily life of a brash, cocky, sometimes brave, and sometimes very scared young man who sacrifices his youth in the service of his country. But, this is not Lane's story alone; in the telling he is the surrogate for thousands of other young men, forced to mature rapidly under the pressures of war. For 30 missions, in numbing cold, through heavy enemy opposition, and occasional near-fatal mistakes, Lane has you see into his mind and heart.

Each chapter begins with a vignette describing the lifestyle and the events of the early '40s; combined with his letters and journal entries, they create a remarkable picture of American life during those war years. Written as a gift to his granddaughter, Lane has succeeded in capturing an important piece of history for her generation and all others.