Never Give Up the Jump: Combat, Resilience, and the Legacy of World War II through the Eyes and Voices of the Paratroopers, Wives, and Families of the 508th PIR

The daughter of a D-Day paratrooper and her husband, a PTSD therapist, discovered a family legacy of love, trauma, and resilience when they set out to explore a vast trove of WWII correspondence, official military documents, personal effects, and unique militaria found in closets and basements after her father's death. Lt. George L. Gurwell had silently squirreled away thousands of wartime documents in the family home, which could not have passed into better hands than those of Jack and Sue Talley. Jack, a PhD psychologist specializing in PTSD, was the first to understand that George had PTSD symptoms that still lingered from the war years.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Permuted Press

The daughter of a D-Day paratrooper and her husband, a PTSD therapist, discover a family legacy of love, trauma, and resilience when they set out to explore a vast trove of WWII correspondence, official military documents, personal effects, and unique militaria found in closets and basements after her father's death.

Young Sue Gurwell had always known that her father had been a paratrooper. An old camo parachute from Holland served as her backyard tent, and high on a shelf, she mustn't touch, eight red devils in parachutes grinned from the front of mysterious drinking glasses Dad had sent Mom during the war. And then there was the special poem in his roll-top desk she sometimes snuck a peek at, written by a member of Dad's regiment. This poem was a premonition of the sergeant's death. "Yes," her dad told her, "He was right—he died on D-Day."

But it's not until 2016, after her parents had both passed away, that Susan Gurwell Talley and her husband Jack L. Talley begin to understand the true extent and significance of the wartime artifacts that had been staples of Sue's childhood. The Talleys discovered that Sue's father, Lt. George L. Gurwell, Executive Officer, HQHQ, 508th PIR, had silently squirreled away thousands of wartime documents in the family home.

Like most combat veterans, George was never one to talk about the war; but the historic collection of official records, correspondence, photographs, maps, memorabilia, cultural artifacts, and unique ephemera constitute quite possibly the most extensive, various, and complete documentation of the 508th held privately today.

This precious resource could not have passed into better hands than those of Jack and Sue Talley. Jack, a PhD psychologist specializing in PTSD, was the first to understand that George had PTSD symptoms that still plagued him decades after the war.

As Jack and Sue delved deeper into the collection, they uncovered a series of letters from George to his wife, Mary, that revealed the depth of his emotional struggles. In one letter, George wrote, "I can't sleep at night. I keep having nightmares about the war. I see my friends lying dead in the mud, and I can't get rid of the sound of their screams."

In another letter, George described how he had tried to suppress his memories of the war, but they had always come back to haunt him. "I've tried to forget, but the memories are always there," he wrote. "They're like a ghost that won't leave me alone."

Jack and Sue knew that they had to do something to help George. They began working with a PTSD therapist who specialized in treating veterans of the war. Together, they developed a treatment plan that included therapy, medication, and support groups. George slowly began to recover from his PTSD symptoms. He was able to sleep at night without nightmares, and he was able to enjoy life again.

The Talleys also decided to share the collection with the public. They organized a series of exhibitions and events that showcased the artifacts and the stories of the 508th PIR. The response was overwhelming. People from all over the world came to see the collection, and many were touched by the stories of the veterans who had served in the 508th.

The Talleys' legacy is one of love, trauma, and resilience. They have shown that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope for recovery and healing. The collection of WWII artifacts that George Gurwell had squirreled away is a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of the men who served in the 508th PIR. It is a reminder of the importance of never forgetting the sacrifices that were made in the name of freedom and democracy.

Weight: 592g
Dimension: 233 x 70 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781637584286