| 9/10/2008 4:37:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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Lee Burtman recently collaborated with Ken Krueger to write “Fighting for Delphine” a memoir that shares Krueger’s experiences during Word War II.
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Fighting For Delphine
Stephanie Green
Review staff
When Lee Burtman looked around at those standing in the congregation at Galilee Baptist Church in Circle Pines, she joined in on the applause for veterans who have fought for the country's freedom.
But one veteran in particular caught her attention.
He was an older man, clutching onto the chair in front of him, his blue-green eyes welling with tears. Burtman wondered what memories were still so intensely flooding his mind, 60 years after his service in World War II.
Though she only knew him by name at the time, she approached him after church and asked him if he would share his experiences.
"He started to tell me these stories," Burtman, of Lino Lakes, said. "Each time I came on Sunday morning he'd tell me [more]. I thought, 'This sounds like a novel.' But it was all true."
After speaking with Ken Krueger for several months, she asked him if he ever thought about writing his experiences in a memoir.
"He said he literally prayed for years that someone would do that," said Burtman. "He wanted it for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren."
Burtman, who at the time had been working on chronicling her own childhood memories, asked Krueger, of Blaine, if he would be willing to let her try her hand at writing his story. He agreed, and now, three years later, Burtman is set to publish her first book, "Fighting For Delphine: A Soldier's True Story of Triumph and Tears," in October.
The book is written in the perspective of Krueger as a memoir of his experiences as a messenger in General George S. Patton's Third Army, but it also follows a real-life love story between Krueger and a French girl named Delphine.
Though her name and the names of her family members have been changed for the book, all other names are real, said Burtman.
"It's just kind of a bittersweet story," said Burtman, who wrote the book based on Krueger's 90 pages of handwritten memories, dozens of interviews, and extensive research on the history of World War II.
The story traces his journey across Europe delivering messages during the war. While stationed in France for four months, Krueger stayed with the family of the woman with whom he eventually fell in love.
"She kind of provides a respite for him in the midst of the horrors of war," said Burtman.
The book also follows his personal experiences with war starting with his induction at Fort Snelling, said Burtman, and narrates the sequence of his travels until he meets Delphine.
The book then fast-forwards 60 years later and focuses on his life now, when he questions some of the decisions he made over half a century ago.
"He comes through a lot of harrowing experiences throughout the book," said Burtman. "He goes through difficult spiritual and emotional times."
Burtman, who has worked for the Early Childhood and Family Education Program in Roseville for 18 years, said her schedule while writing the memoir was "insane."
But despite balancing a 25-hour work week, church involvement, teaching summer school and caring for four children, Burtman said the most rewarding aspect of writing the book was the relationship she developed with Krueger.
"He is like a father to me," she said.
Burtman is self-publishing the book through her own company, Moonglade Media, and will make the book available to order through her website, www.moonglademedia.com.
She plans to hold a book launch party on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Galilee Baptist Church to introduce the memoir, and to honor area World War II veterans.
The party comes just two days before Krueger's 84th birthday.
"I really want readers to appreciate the efforts of our veterans back then and through today," said Burtman. "We go about our business and our lives freely without fear. It's a wonderful thing and I don't know how many times we stop and think about it.
"They're the greatest generation," she said of World War II veterans. "But they never really asked for that."
Krueger hopes readers will gain from the book a greater understanding of what it's like to be a soldier. "Some of things that happened to you ... you never knew would bring out your faith in God," he said. "Even though you're scared, you just keep doing what you have to do."
Of having a memoir written about his life story, he said, "It's a big surprise to me, making something out of a nobody."
Stephanie Green can be reached at 651-633-2777.
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