About this item
Highlights
- Jerry's Last Mission captures the emotional turmoil of World War II enemy combatants whose lives are forever changed when their youngest children marry each other.
- Author(s): Jerry Yellin
- 236 Pages
- Biography + Autobiography, Jewish
Description
About the Book
Jerry's Last Mission captures the emotional turmoil of World War II enemy combatants whose lives are forever changed when their youngest children marry each other.
Book Synopsis
Jerry's Last Mission captures the emotional turmoil of World War II enemy combatants whose lives are forever changed when their youngest children marry each other. Jerry Yellin was a World War II P-51 fighter pilot who returned to the United States from the Battle of Iwo Jima and 19 missions over Japan with a deep loathing of the Japanese. Taro Yamakawa enlisted in the Japanese military hoping to fly fighter planes against the hated Americans and, if necessary, die for his country and Emperor.
Their feelings of distrust and animosity toward each other's nation lingered for years until their world was turned upside down when Jerry's youngest son moved to Japan and fell in love with Taro's daughter. Through deep agonizing soul-searching reflection, the two fathers eventually open their hearts and their arms to each other.
Jerry Yellin's book is a mesmerizing account of his life and war experiences, his evolution from warrior to peace advocate. Its message is universal: All humanity shares a connection. And Jerry and Taro came to realize that connection should never be severed by war.
Review Quotes
We can learn a great deal from this book. It contains lessons in life needed for our very survival as a species on this very small planet. The book should be required reading for governments, politicians, bureaucrats and all human beings with responsibilities pertaining to public policy.
--Brian Frankish, Executive Producer, Field of Dreams
"Jerry's story - his transformational life - has been with me every day since I met him. Jerry is honest and direct about his darkness and the profound and inspiring end-of-life changes he made to find happiness."
--Ed Cunningham - Producer of the Academy Award Winning Undefeated and Jerry's Last Mission, a documentary about the life of Captain Jerry Yellin