Dear Isabel, I've Been Hit Again, Slightly

The Riveting Chronicles from Italy's Bloodiest Front, and His Bride's Letters from Home

By: Amanda Rankin

Narrated by: Alan Crookham, Katie Zeliger

With incredible wit, startling confessions, and unique observations, Ned Mathews went from being a twenty-eight-year-old Art Historian and Restorer to an infantryman in the bloodiest fought battle of World War Two.

Always with an eye for entertaining his bride at home, Ned’s letters were filled with witty points of view of army life, explaining the difficulties of overtaking the German forces from their dug-in defenses, admiring the architecture of Europe, and watching the bombing of Monte Cassino. In a passing comment about a general handing out pieces of paper for doing a good job, which they knew they had done…was the buried truth that he earned the Bronze Star Medal for Valor: the 4th highest award in the Army in World War.

Meanwhile, his bride’s letters described the life of a war bride with blackout curtains, tape on the car headlights at night, watching smoking ships from the shores of Miami Beach, and juggling gas and food ration coupons - all while raising their newborn daughter.

©2023 Amanda Rankin (P)2024 Amanda Rankin