It’s mid June, the season to celebrate graduations. The book’s title— Into Life’s School—is taken from the motto for Cliff Digre’s 1941 Hendricks, MN, high school graduation class. That motto was, “Out of school life; into life’s school.” Cliff writes in the book’s preface, “The reason I chose this title was that I found out that most of the real lessons learned in life are not just from school and formal education but from life itself and the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the relationships you form—Life’s School.”
June 6, 2009, is the 65th anniversary of D-Day. That is the day in 1944 when the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, occurred. An air assault by American, British, and Canadian airborne troops landed shortly after midnight and more than 5,000 ships delivered Allied infantry and armored divisions along a 50-mile stretch of coastline at 6:30 that morning.
What was Cliff Digre doing on June 6, 1944? On page 43, Cliff recounts that he and the other members of his B-17 crew had just been selected by pilot William T. “Robbie” Robertson. They were training at McDill Airfield near Tampa, FL. On page 48, Cliff writes, “We knew from the very first day we were going to have intense training—six days a week for twelve weeks—a portion of each day flying and a portion in ground school. Each day was something new to give all ten of us the training we would need for the real thing—combat….Much of our ground school was spent on aircraft recognition. It was imperative that we would be able to to instantly identify all aircraft—both friendly and enemy.”
Many people request when they order a book that Cliff sign the book. His intention is to sign each book—paperback and hardcover—sitting uncharacteristically still for quite a while until a pile of books bears the autograph of Cliff “CB” Digre. Of course, when you read the book, you will discover Cliff’s childhood nickname, used by longtime chums from Hendricks, MN, when they order their books or send a note. Cliff is delighted to hear from friends, family, crew members, and their families! Please continue to write. Cliff thanks you.
The family and friends who helped Cliff with his book have a new take on the ancient African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The Norwegian, book-related interpretation is, “It takes a team to produce a book!”
While gathered for a party to celebrate the college graduation of Cliff’s second-oldest granddaughter, the team who helped Cliff with typing, research, editing, proofreading, photography, scanning photos and images, design, layout, coordination with the printer, inventory and distribution, web site development, and marketing, assembled for a photo of themselves. Cliff’s wife of 62 years, Bernice, is standing behind Cliff.
The “Into Life’s School” book team.
If you get a chance to wish Cliff a happy birthday, leave him a note in his guest book. His birthday is May 26, but he’ll be celebrating it for weeks. He spent the day before his birthday signing books and chatting it up with people at the Minnesota History Center. Not bad for 86. Gratulerer med dagen, C.B.!
Cliff was a busy man at the Minnesota History Center on Monday, Memorial Day. He was one of 6 authors participating in the book festival at the opening weekend of the exhibit, Minnesota’s Greatest Generation. He had a chance to visit with both fellow veterans and World War II history buffs as well. By the way, if you have an opportunity to attend the Minnesota History Center’s exhibit, it is well worth it. In fact, the entire museum is a gem of history.
Cliff and a fellow Veteran
Cliff and Sue make quite a team.
Sharing stories with other Vets
Author Cliff Digre was interviewed May 15, 2009, by retired* TV anchor Steve Hemmingsen of KELO television, Sioux Falls, SD. You can see more at Hemmingsen’s blog: http://blogs.keloland.com/blog/?commentID=1510
*Hemmingsen wrote in an email that “…he is retired from broadcasting but still learning in life’s school.”
Cliff is pleased and honored to be one of six authors invited by the Minnesota History Center to participate in a book festival on Memorial Day at the history center in St. Paul. The authors will be on the second floor (John Ireland corridor) from 1 to 4 P.M. to talk with visitors and have their books available as part of the exhibit Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom. The link (below) is to the page on the Minnesota History Center web site related to this exhibit that opens Saturday, May 23, 2009, and will run indefinitely.
Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom and Related Events
Gerard Devlin, program presenter and author of Silent Wings: Veterans of the Glider Units of the 82nd and 101st AB Divisions, acknowledged that the Round Table has a national reputation for presenting excellent programs. You may go to the Dr. Harold C. Deutsch Round Table web site to see the upcoming meeting schedule that resumes in September 2009.
The Round Table meetings are held in the auditorium at the Ft. Snelling visitors’ center.
Cliff really enjoyed visiting with people who were interested in his book, and he gave a copy of his book to Doug Bekke, curator, Minnesota Military Museum, Camp Ripley, Little Falls, MN.
www.minnesotanationalguard.org/campripley/SpecFeatures/muse1.htm
Author Cliff Digre (right) is ready to answer questions, or talk with people about the experiences he describes in his book as a ball turret gunner in the 8th Air Force.
By the way, because Cliff doesn’t use a computer and his eyesight is compromised by macular degeneration, posts to this blog are made by his family and friends.
Cliff is looking forward to attending the May 14 meeting of the World War II History Round Table. The presentation will be The Glider Operations in World War II by Gerard Devlin, author of Silent Wings: Veterans of the Glider Units of the 82nd and 101st AB Divisions. The meeting begins at 7 P.M., but long-time attendees arrive around 6 to be sure to get a seat. Cliff plans to arrive around 5:30 to visit with other history enthusiasts. He’ll also be bearing books to sell at the counter in the lobby. He looks forward to seeing you there. Stop by and say “Hello!”
The Dr. Harold C. Deutsch Round Table is committed to preserving the factual history of World War II.
The World War II History Round Table meets in the visitors’ center at Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, MN.
Hendricks | Sue | 
June 14, 2009 11:55 am | 
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