Death in Wartime China: A WWII Memoir and Family Discovery

A daughter's gripping memoir about her father, an American diplomat and B-24 bomber pilot who perished in wartime China

Cover of Death in Wartime China, a WWII memoir by Judy Ikels

World War II B-24 bomber representing the dangers faced by American diplomats in wartime China

About The Book

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.

About the Author

Judy Ikels

Judy Goodman Ikels, a native Texan and graduate of the University of Texas who majored in English and Spanish, completed a 28-year career in civil service with the Department of State in 2018. She served alongside her late husband, Larry Ikels, in his 31-year career as a foreign service officer with the US Information Agency posted in El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil and Greece.

Judy is a compelling speaker who has talked to groups in myriad settings. For more information, contact Judy at judy.ikels@gmail.com.

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