Webinar: Luis Alberto Urrea discusses his latest book "Good Night, Irene"

Luis Alberto Urrea is the author of the just released novel “Good Night, Irene,” based on his discovery of his mother’s experiences with the Red Cross Clubmobile Services in WWII.  Urreac reates a fictional story based on his family’s war hero, his mother based on his discovery of his mother’s experiences and researching the Red Cross Clubmobile Services in WWII.

Urrea’s mother, Phyllis McLaughlin, joined the Red Cross Clubmobile Services in 1943, traveling with 250 Donut Dollies who accompanied General Patton and the troops after D-Day through France and Germany, and liberating the Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

Following his mother’s death, Urrea went through the Army footlocker contained Phyllis’ mementos from her service.  Using the names, letters, and scrapbooks found in the foot locker, he researched her Red Cross experience, tracked down one of the Donut Dollies with whom she had served, and traveled to locations where his mother had served. The official records of the Red Cross Clubmobile Corps were destroyed in a fire in the 1970’s. 

In the novel, Urrea creates Irene and her Donut Dollie partner, Dorothy, who travel off to war and recreates the story of young women who traveled to the front, their dreams and experiences. The character Dorothy in "Good Night, Irene" is based on Jill Pitts Knappenberger, a member of ARCOA, who died December 2020.  Her obituary is in the June 2021 issue of the ARCOA newsletter  The Oversea'r.  Information is also included in this YouTube from June 11, 2013:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAwCMIiVdyA

Join the webinar as Luis Alberto Urrea shares his mother’s story and his challenge in researching the book, as there are few official records for the women in WWII and few of the “Greatest Generation” still with us.

Read about the book in The New York Times My Mother Returned from WWII a Changed Woman.

Read The New York Times review of the book.

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Meeting ID: 854 0170 9592
Passcode: 251636