Death in Wartime China A Daughter's Discovery

Explore the untold story of an American diplomat who died in wartime China. A gripping WWII memoir about loss and discovery.

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Invite Judy Ikels to Speak

Judy Goodman Ikels is a compelling speaker who brings history to life through her deeply personal journey detailed in Death in Wartime China: A Daughter’s Discovery. In her engaging talks, Judy shares the remarkable story of her search for answers about the father she never knew—an American pilot who perished in a secret mission during World War II. Her presentation weaves together archival research, emotional discovery, and a modern-day pilgrimage to China, where she uncovered a memorial to her father and connected with local villagers who still honor him today. Audiences walk away moved and inspired, reminded of the power of remembrance, resilience, and unexpected connections across generations and cultures.

With experience as an adult trainer with the Foreign Service Institute and in Human Resources, Judy is no stranger to public speaking or navigating complex narratives. Her diplomatic career with her husband spanned continents and cultures, making her a natural at connecting with diverse audiences, whether at libraries, universities, veterans’ organizations, historical societies, or literary festivals. Judy’s story resonates not only as a work of historical nonfiction but as a timeless meditation on legacy, identity, and what it means to find closure.

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On June 10, 1944, a B-24 Liberator Bomber loses its engine following a raid on Japanese forces. The pilot, 2nd Lt. William H. Wallace Jr., sacrifices himself to save the lives of his seven crew members. He leaves behind a wife and an unborn daughter, Judy.

Seventy-one years later, Judy receives an email from a stranger who is working on a memorial project for World War II soldiers who served in China. Beyond reading old newspaper accounts and quiet family conversations, Judy has never fully explored what happened to her father. The stranger’s questions kindled a deep desire to learn more.