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"Keep your eyes on the Crucifix, for the Cross without Jesus is a burden without a reliever..." 
​Bishop Fulton J. Sheen 

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graphite by the author
THE CROSS  OUR COMPASS:
A work of historical fiction set in  WWII with  strong Catholic characters and   themes of faith, family, and suffering.​
This novel will take the reader from  the
home-front of 1940's Pennsylvania right into the thick of the war  as Dave Szaszak  and his brother Joe join the paratroops and test their faith in the foxholes of war-torn Europe.
Enjoyed by  young and old;
already  beloved by boys and girls alike.
Makes a wonderful family read-aloud.
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Historical Background
Much of The Cross our Compass follows the path of the 505th Parachute  Infantry Regiment,  part of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. During WWII the 505th  made four combat jumps into Sicily, Italy, Normandy, and Holland, and gained a reputation as tough, aggressive, and excellent soldiers. General Matthew Ridgway,  watching them take a certain Normandy town, famously commented: "I would rather have a platoon of those men than a battalion of regular Infantry." ​
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Paratroopers of the 505th gear up for the invasion of Sicily, July 1943
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"A chaplain uses the hood of a jeep for an altar in celebrating Mass for members of the 505th Combat Team shortly before an attack." Photo taken in Sicily, August 24, 1943 and found in a 1949 Pictorial History of WW2
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artwork by the author
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WWII Airborne Demonstration Team
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Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne outside the Cathedral of San Gennaro, Naples, c. 1943
PictureSt. Lawrence church, c. 1920's
A number of historical locations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania are mentioned in  the book, including  the Szaszaks' parish church and  Harrisburg Catholic High School. ​

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Football program from Harrisburg Catholic High, December 1941
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vintage badge from Harrisburg Catholic High
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1940's Service Flag
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Caplan's on Market Square, mentioned in chapter 11
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Harrisburg Catholic High dance band, c. 1940's
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Harrisburg Public Library, c. 1920's, mentioned in chapter 11
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