BOOKS
Service to Country
South Dakota Style
While growing up in Groton, SD, Lee Raines’ recollection of veterans was limited to watching a few men marching down the main street during parades, carrying flags, and wearing uniforms that did not seem to fit. His father’s generation never seemed to discuss their military experiences. So, Raines began a two-year exploration of military service in the Brown County area. In this book, he shares the experiences of more than 750 veterans, the sons and daughters who served during World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
The Great Consolidation
South Dakota Style
South Dakota was one of the last states to move on the education consolidation issue, but once it started the process proceeded rapidly. The 1960s were difficult years from an educational standpoint. Groton was about to become a consolidated school district. Students were asked to move from their country schools to a district school, then to a consolidated school district, leaving behind their history of achievements in sports, band, chorus, debate, or other after school activities.
Friday Night Lights
South Dakota Style
In Friday Night Lights–South Dakota Style, Lee Raines dives deep into sports competition in the public schools of Andover, Groton and Columbia. Rich with historic team and individual photographs in each of the years 1960-1971, the book features students who excelled in sports such as football, basketball, track and wrestling. Team records and coaches’ influences are showcased as well as players who went on to play in college and professionally.
1940-45
WE WILL REMEMBER
A grandmother’s diary and news of the day during the war years of 1940-1945 is the impetus for Raines’ depiction of rural South Dakota during World War II. This local military history juxtaposes daily farming responsibilities such as rendering lard, selling eggs, harvesting the crops with local community response to war supply shortages and the inevitable but tragic mourning of the deaths of its sons and daughters. Exhaustive efforts have been made to compile a list of those in the Brown and Day county areas who served and who made the greatest sacrifice. Historical battle narratives, military successes and failures throughout the war, and the impact of the war on local economies, demographics and the families of the area are also explored.
Getting Off the Mountain
Getting Off the Mountain carries Raines’ running theme of service to country, particularly by America’s small town young men and women. In this one, Raines follows the life and struggles of Fredric Hensel, the only combat “basket case” of World War II. During Raines’ research on 1940-1945 We Will Remember, he learned about a young soldier, who was called by one veteran the “bravest fighter of this war.” Hensel lost all four limbs in varying severity, earning the military term “basket case,” as the result of a tank mine explosion during the Battle of Okinawa. Raines traces Hensel’s roots, his life before joining the army, combat experiences and the challenges and victories upon his return to the States. Getting Off the Mountain is an inspiring story of how one man’s optimistic spirit, combined with the devotion of his wife, Jewell, and the support of friends as well as strangers, captured the attention and hearts of the public in post-war America.