Conquering the War Within : Conversations with a WWII RCAF Rear Gunner

Summary: This remarkable journey through major historical events is a first hand account of Marcel Croteau's life from his birth in 1923 to now, is presented in a unique, thought provoking and engaging conversation. He is a French Canadian who grew up on a farm in Northern Alberta along with 10 siblings. Enlisting as a rear gunner in the RCAF Bomber Command from 1942 to 1945, he survived an unprecedented 39 missions and was highly decorated including by King George VI. Marcel's conversations reveal his memories through his lively, insightful, emotional, poignant sometimes disturbing and often humorous stories. He recounts in extraordinary detail life on the farm, the Great Depression, his education, enlisting in the RCAF, his war experiences and his return to civilian life. He not only describes in detail his antics, fearlessness, risky behaviour and significant events in his life but he has the ability to articulate the repercussions of a difficult childhood , the personal trauma of his war experience, his subsequent battle with PTSD and finally his road to recovery.

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