The War Years

Roy Jorgenson's life was simple but extraordinary. He was born in 1920 in northern Minnesota, and was the oldest of 10 boys. He lived through the Great Depression years and served honorably in World War II as a ball turret gunner. He recorded his memories which were later turned into his first books, "The Lean Years" and "The War Years". Roy died on March 17, 2020 and I wanted to help the world hear Roy's story. I combined the two books into one book as a 2nd edition and included more pictures as well as more information about Roy's life after the war. Roy was a teacher prior to the war and continued to teach life lessons to anyone willing to learn after her returned from the war. While his autobiography writing style is simple, the lessons he learned and the examples he set are rich if you allow yourself to read between the lines and imagine how you would react to a life of hardship, and discrimination. Roy lived an incredible life full of humility and grace. The hardships of being born out of wedlock, living through the depression, and serving in World War II could have justified a life of seclusion, bitterness, and selfishness. Roy decided to live his life with kindness, generosity, and adventure! Roy believes that everyone has a story, and it is important to pass that story onto the next generation. A $5 donation from each book purchase will go to the Fergus Falls Veterans Home where Roy enjoyed the last chapter of his life.