"The author's writing is just right. The story is enthralling. ... The book is a genuinely interesting and valuable memoir."

—Renowned WWII scholar and historian Stephen Ambrose, author of Citizen Soldier and Band of Brothers

—Greg Langley, the Baton Rouge Advocate

or more than 10 years, starting when I was in college, I "helped" my grandfather, Van R. Mayhall, Sr., USAR Col. (ret), collect his memoirs. I get entirely too much credit for this project, for although I did urge Grandee on somewhat, he was the one who put in all the effort of remembering, researching, and writing down the amazing tales he has to share of his life and especially his World War II experiences. His stories of growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are fascinating, but his memories of his wartime experiences are particularly vivid. Grandee trained at several locations in Florida and Louisiana, including starting his service at Camp Blanding, Florida. He served in the European theater, including landing at Omaha Beach on D+66, and was separated from service on Sept. 22, 1945, at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, although he remained in the reserves until his retirement.

My grandfather's story is now a published book! A publishing company called ByrenLee Press released Cranking Up a Fine War: A Louisiana Soldier from Boot Camp to General's Aide in May 1999. The book has been favorably reviewed in several publications and has sold well all over Louisiana and Texas, not to mention the world! The book is dedicated to my grandmother Marie, whom our whole family dearly loved, and who passed away on February 6, 2002.

Interested in the people and places of the book? Read A Visit to Cheltenham, by Tom Lee, grandson of Lt. Gen. John C.H. Lee, under whom my grandfather served at one point in Cheltenham, England. Tom Lee recently revisited Cheltenham and was kind enough to send this account of his trip.

Grandee has been interviewed on the radio on stations KENZ in Salt Lake City, WRJZ in Nashville, KTDC in Walla Walla, Wash., and WJBO in Baton Rouge. He appeared with Baton Rouge talk show host Fred Dent on WRKF radio in May 2004. He also has been interviewed by Eliot Stein of SteinOnline. The book has been reviewed in the Baton Rouge daily newspaper, The Advocate; the society weekly InRegister; and South Baton Rouge Journal, and in the online publication January Magazine.

With his 88th birthday approaching, Grandee stays active, running errands for his two grown daughters, entertaining some of his 13 grandchildren (who range in age from 9 to 37), doing volunteer work in the community and speaking to groups such as Rotary clubs and veterans' organizations. One of his stories of growing up in the Deep South during the Depression was published in May 2004 in the Sunday Magazine of the Baton Rouge Advocate, and a shorter version of his story "The Best Day" was published there in June 2006 (see a PDF version of the story here!).

Our whole family was beyond proud when Grandee was selected to be inducted into the Louisiana Veterans' Hall of Honor. The Hall contains only a select group of Louisiana veterans, who are chosen because of their unusual bravery or extraordinary contributions during their military careers. They do not necessarily induct a veteran or group of veterans every year, but on Veteran's Day weekend, November 2006, five veterans including Grandee were inducted by the Secretary of State of Louisiana before a crowd of family, friends, soldiers, veterans and VIPs at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

A display will be developed on Grandee's life and military adventures and put up permanently in the U.S.S. Kidd Memorial Museum in Baton Rouge. The photo shown here (click on it to see a larger version) shows the four inductees who were able to attend, including Grandee, who is second from right.

You can read excerpts from my grandfather's memoirs, as well as some of his stand-alone short stories and vignettes, here on this website (click on Stories below). If you would like to order a copy of Cranking Up a Fine War, it is available through the methods below:

Directly from the distributor, D+66 Books (Recommended):
Please use this PayPal button to order online quickly and easily. You don't have to have a PayPal account to use this method! You can even use the optional instructions to request an autograph.

D+66 Books
PMB 165
7635 Jefferson Hwy.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Note: Please do not order this title from the publisher, ByrenLee Press, as it is now being handled solely by D+66 Books.

Order from your favorite bookstore:
Any bookstore can order Cranking Up a Fine War for you. Just ask a salesperson to assist you and give him or her the ISBN number, 1892958015.

Online at Amazon.com. (Please note these are used copies being sold by third parties.)

If you want to write to my grandfather, you may contact him via e-mail. He loves to hear from people, and actually HAS heard from folks all over the world. I would also love to hear your comments myself.

[Home] [D+66] [Links] [Stories] [Photos]

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Awarded

Comments or questions? E-mail Robin Mayhall.

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