Flat-Bottom Odyssey and Other True Geneva Stories

This particular Flat-Bottom Odyssey began, for me, last April when I receive an e-mail from Bob Wilson.

"Does Patch.com ever run book reviews?" he asked. "Almost a year ago, Gene Jaeger, a long-time Genevan with roots on both sides of the mighty Fox, published a WWII memoir of his time as exec officer of an LST through D-Day, as well as during the Italian and Sicilian campaigns.

"His manuscript was accepted by a publisher (Kent State University Press), but they couldn't promise publication before 2012. So instead of waiting for Kent State, he created the Prairie Ocean Press, out of Henry, IL, where he and his wife, Toss, now live. (Gene and Toss get back to Geneva every month or two to host a lunch for family and friends that sometimes runs to 50 or more participants. Note to Ed: Worth covering?)"

Yes, I said, and asked Bob to write something up about the book. He demured, in part because I think he might have helped edit Flat-Bottom Odyssey, but suggested that Geneva Patch might want to help promote the book locally.

So I forward all of this information to at the . Margaret graciously looked into it and set up a date for people to talk about the book.

Gene's book will now be part of a round-table discussion at the Geneva History Center, scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 3). Here's the press release info:

Long-ago Memories of Growing Up in Geneva in the 1930s and the 1940s

The 1930s and 1940s were times that represented many changes in the United States with the Great Depression and WWII. Geneva was not isolated from these events. Join us for a roundtable discussion at 7p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, with some of our most seasoned Genevans. They will share their stories with you about what it was like growing up in Geneva during the Great Depression and WW II. Gene Jaeger will be available to sign his book, Flat-Bottom Odyssey.

This program will take place in the Community Room at the Geneva History Center, 113 South Third St. in the heart of Geneva's .  Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for GHC members and students. For more information, contact the History Center at 630-232-4951.

Please come, if you can. I'm going to try to split time between the History Center and the at  

Here's a review of the book, as published on Amazon, written by Genevan John E. "Jack" Hoelscher:

"I recently finished Gene Jaeger's book Flat-Bottom Odyssey, from North Africa to D-Day. The book chronicles Gene's experiences in WWII as a young 22-year-old recent college graduate and newly commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy assigned to LST 400.

"I couldn't put the book down. I became fascinated with the adventures, descriptions, details and incidents of navy life and combat. Somehow the book allowed me to relate to the incidents and events of this time in way that I had not been able to before. The simple and honest prose Gene uses in the book is beautiful. Gene writes of his own unique experience, but does so in a way that communicates the universality of his experience to that of millions of others who served in a similar ways during 'the war.'

"Gene's words give definition to the term 'citizen soldier.' This book exudes the traits of character we all admire and hope we have: duty, courage, compassion, fairness, humor, competency, sensitivity, tenacity, love and family but does so without using those words or preaching about them.

"This book makes me grateful to those who serve and proud to be an American, proud of the military, proud to be from Geneva and especially proud to know Gene Jaeger."