DESCRIPTION:
This song was written after reading my grandfather's letters to the U.S. Navy, his sermons and personal writings about the loss of his only son Louis in WWII. My mother's family never knew if his body was ever found or buried. My brother, David, searched until he found a cemetery near Bougie, Algeria, where the S.S. Maiden Creek was torpedoed. In 1960 the North Africa American Cemetery (Tunisia) was dedicated with 2,841 burials and 3,724 servicemen Missing in Action honored. Louis Francis Hartley is one of those fallen. My Uncle was a bright and gifted 20-year-old writer, who left University of Michigan to serve our country. His younger sister, Margaret, was the soloist in her High School Choir and sang "God Bless Our Boys" on Detroit radio, not knowing if her only sibling was alive or dead. I love that his commending officer wrote that Seaman Hartley served "with faithful devotion to duty, unflinching courage and constant morale-lifting humor even in the face of grave danger." He would have been a hell-of-a journalist! Originally done in 2014, this new version features my latest recording of the song with a beautiful arrangement by Jay Ansill from our newly released CD "Fragile Gifts" and some additional photos. www.annehills.com