A new WW2 project

It's been a while since I last blogged anything.  I know.  I should make the time. But I'm not sure if anyone is reading this as I get no feedback whatsoever.  Oh well, what have I been up to?  Last Saturday I went to the Margraten cemetary in the Netherlands.  It's situated close to Maastricht. A bus from Ambrose Tours on a Band of Brothers trip made a stop there, on their way to Bastogne.  I contacted tourguide Chris Anderson a fortnight ago to ask his permission to promote Clancy's story with them and he said yes.  So I met up with them and met a bunch of great people.  Sold and signed some copies and that left me very pleased.  Pleased to know Clancy's story was passed on again to a wonderful group.  As long Clancy is remembered, he's not really gone...

WW2 ANTHOLOGY

Last Monday, exactly a week ago today, it was 2 years ago that I did my first ever book signing for Clancy's book Silver Eagle.  I remember that day very well.  It was a sunny day and I was welcomed by lovely people such as Robin, Jelle and Eric.  Sold quite a few that day and it was all new to me.  Signing my autograph for the people who were buying the book. Many other book signings followed in Holland, France, Belgium and most of them were very good and fun.  But that day in May 2013 will always be the best one.  It's one of the greatest moments of my life.   Very fond memories of that day.
As that day marked the 2nd anniversary of my first ever book signing, I officially embarked in a new project for an upcoming book called 'World War II Anthology of Short Stories'.   To be released by Pneuma Springs Publishing in September. Still working on a good storyline as you read this but I'm sure I will finish it in time. Deadline is the first week of June. So that will keep me busy for a while. Guess I'll be doing some new book signings later this year.

Wishing you all the best and thanks for reading this. And if you are interested, follow me on twitter too. It's @SilverEagle506  I really could use the followers. ;-) Have a good one!

Veteran of the day

The U.S. Deparment of Veterans Affairs has named Clancy Lyall its Veteran of the Day!
We want to thank them for their acknowledgement of Clancy's service.

Sad news from Southern Maryland

Our dear friend, beloved wife of the late and great Clancy Lyall, Isabel has passed away on Saturday 27 December. Isabel, better known as Liz, was a very sweet lady. Caring, loving, generous. During all those trips to their home in Southern Maryland she was a fantastic host. Although she was struggling with health issues of her own, she never showed it. She took care of her beloved man, her children, grandchildren and other family members and loved ones. She always put others first. That's the way we will remember her. And her cooking, oh my... could that woman cook up fine foods. They were so good we even asked some of her recepies.

We want to send out our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. And let us take comfort in the fact she is reunited again with her beloved Clancy, who she missed so much. True love never dies... Till the day we meet again. Rest in peace, dear caring Liz.

The Fox Hunting Story

There's this story which was told by a friend of Clancy's a couple of years ago. If I had more details about who, where and when it was, I could have added it in the book. But I'm not sure if it really happened. I asked her about it after Clancy's passing and she said it was something he told them, she and her husband, but she did not recall the details as it was a very long time ago.

This is the story. One day our buddy Clancy was invited by someone big to go fox hunting. Clancy was wondering how long it was going to take because he hadn't eaten yet that day. They told him that after the hunt they would go and grab some lunch. So everybody was mounting on their horses and were preparing themselves for the hunt. The dogs were ready to go and chase the fox in the woods. And the fox was nervously waiting in its cage, ready to go and flee in search for his freedom. Then someone blew the horn, the start of the hunt, and they'd released the fox. 

Suddenly... BANG! A rifle shot! When the smoke cleared up there was the fox, lying dead. Then someone from behind said:”Now, lets get some lunch.” Everybody turned around and there was Clancy, with his smoking rifle in his hand.

70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

First of all I want to wish all of our American friends all the best on this Memorial Day.
Next week will mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day.  It will also be 10 years ago that Clancy last visited the battlefields in France.  To mark that I will be at Ste-Mère-Eglise to promote Clancy's book Silver Eagle.  It is also the town Clancy helped liberate back in June 1944.  This book signing I will be doing will probably be the last one of the English version.  Later this year I will be promoting the Dutch version in Belgium and in the Netherlands.

Here is an excerpt from Clancy's book about his 2004 trip to Normandy: 

"Back in 2004, I went to Normandy again for the sixtieth Anniversary of the D-Day landings for a week, and that was all paid for. Peter van de Wal took me and we stayed with some friends there in Carentan, the Lenoël family. They lived in the bakery there, close to the place where I got wounded during the battle of Carentan sixty years earlier. I received a commemoration medal from the Mayor of Carentan. He also invited me to walk in the parade. He saw me standing in the crowd while he and the parade were passing by. So he came over to me and asked me to join in, so I did."

"When we went to Sainte-Mère-Eglise we couldn't get into the town with our rental car. So we had to walk the whole distance, you know. I wasn't too keen about that so we hitched a ride with some re-enactors over there. Military vehicles and such were the only cars which were allowed access to the town-centre. On that jeep it said 101 AB so it was perfect! I stopped them, got into their jeep and away we went! Those re-enactment guys were from Italy and it was fun riding with them the rest of the day."

"I hooked up with some of my Easy Company buddies over there as well. Shifty Powers was there and we caught up for a bit. Earl McClung was there too, as was Paul Rogers and Buck Taylor. All guys from 3rd Platoon. I also talked with Jack Agnew. He was part of the famous Filthy Thirteen group. It was such a very nice and sunny day. And the people where very friendly, asking questions, taking pictures, asking autographs and such, you know. I also saw my buddy Forrest Guth and his wife Harriet. Forrest was doing some promotional work for his new book which had just been released."

"Later on we drove to Château de L’Isle-Marie in Picauville, together with those Italian re-enactors. And there were about ten other veterans there too. And they honoured all of us over there. Colonel Robert Piper was there too. He was a platoon leader of G-Company 508th. We also visited the US military cemetery near Omaha Beach. It is so beautiful. There are many cemeteries over there: like the one in Hamm near Luxembourg, the one in Margraten in Holland and Henri-Chapelle in Belgium. A few years later I got hold of my buddy Ronald Ooms and asked him to look up William Dukeman for me. So he went over there to his grave in Margraten, which was very beautiful, took a picture and sent it to me."

So my friends, come and say hello at the Musée Airborne in the town center.  I will be there from 10 AM till 1 PM.  Then we will stroll around in the neigbourhood I guess.
Later that day we will be at the Dead Man's Corner museum in Saint-Côme-du-Mont.  At 6 PM the
inauguration of the Airborne Memorial Wall will commence.  Due to many donations from friends around the world we were able to put the following names on the wall:  Clancy Lyall, Mike Ranney, Mike Massaconi and Ed Shames.  Back in the day, I believe in 2006, I already donated to have Ron Speirs name on it aswell.  First it was called the Airborne Memorial Path but they changed it to a wall.  The reason behind it, I don't know.  But I have to say I look forward to it.  To the whole trip and seeing some friends over there and meeting new ones... It's gonna be a blast!
To end this short piece of the blog and also this Memorial Day I will end this with Clancy's words ( also a bit from his book):

"As a final note I want you all to understand that we were no heroes. I just can't say it enough. There is no such thing as a living hero. We were very good soldiers and worked well together because we did our job. And we never let our buddies down. But heroes? No we are not. We are the survivors. The real heroes are the ones who are still there, the guys who didn't come home ... "

2013 draws to an end

It's already November.  What does time fly.  This year I did my best to promote Clancy's book as good as I possibly could.  And we will end the year with some book signings in Bastogne during the Nuts Weekend. 
I will arrive in Bastogne on Friday 13 December.  I'm not a supersticious person so for me it's a day as none other.  But just on the safe side, I'll keep things safe.  As I always do.
On Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December I will be in the Bastogne Barracks.  The place where General McAuliffe had his HQ during the siege of Bastogne 69 years ago.  It's an honour to be there.  And especially to be there to promote Clancy's book and keep his memory alive.  I hope to see many of you there this year.
I'm so grateful that the Lyall family has given me so much support after Clancy's passing.  And I hope to visit them during the springtime next year  A trip I have been postponing the past couple of years.  It's not always easy to make such a trip.  And my budget hasn't been too great to be honest and in this economy..

There is much talk about the 100th Annniversary of the start of World War I but there is also something very important coming up next year.
Plans are already made to attend the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy.  I will be situated in the Sword sector this time around.  But I will visit the other sectors too. 
I have some difficulties finding spots to promote Clancy's book but I hope I can do a signing or two there somewhere.  So keep your fingers crossed.  And again, I hope to see many of you there as it will be a massive week and most probably the final big event in Normandy with veterans still attending.

Alright, there  is also some news to report.  I'm working on the Dutch version of Silver Eagle.  My deadline will be end of March but with the pace I'm going, I'm certain I will make it well before that.  The Dutch version will be released in September 2014, in time for the 70th Anniversarry of the Market Garden operation.  And there might be a special limited Dutch edition too.  But can't say any more than I already have. 
A French version was almost in the works for a release next June but due to lack of time, it won't happen.  Maybe there will be a French version one day but as for the time being, that road has been closed.

And I'm also working on  WW2-related novel.  It's a fiction story which starts in the 1930s.  Over the years I heard so many stories about the occupation by many witnesses.  I plan to use those stories and mix them into a novel.  I don't know when I will have it finished as I'm aiming to make it at least a trilogy.  Sounds a bit ambitious but you have to set goals in your life and I will do the best I can.

Okay, this is enough for now.  Sorry it has been such a while since I last posted in here.  I wish you all the best and you will hear from me soon.

Silver Eagle in local Belgian newspaper

Been a while since our last post so apologies for that.  But today we had to post something.  Silver Eagle made the news again today.
Underneath is an article published in today's local newspaper Nieuwsblad van Geel:

Booksignings May-June 2013

First booksigning for Silver Eagle will be held in Putte, Belgium on Saturday 4 May at 10 AM during the Kamp 1944 Event.  More information about the event through this link: Kamp 1944 ( only in Dutch)
Then there will be other booksignings in Normandy, France on the weekend of 8 & 9 June.  More information will be announced soon.

Silver Eagle in Belgian newspaper!

Sorry folks, this one is in Dutch.  Published today in one of Belgium's biggest newspapers, Gazet van Antwerpen.

Some reviews & news!

It has been a while since I last posted here.  Been quite busy trying to promote Clancy's book Silver Eagle.  It has officially been released on 21 March but was already sold on Amazon US for a couple of weeks.
Received some great reviews thus far so I thought I would share it with you.  Here are some of the Amazon page:

Clancy Comes To Life March 1, 2013

By grampsonamission

As a member of the Band of Brothers, Clancy slipped in under the radar. For a number of years, I had the pleasure of serving as one of his aide de camps, traveling companions and gofer. Clancy was not the kind that sought out all the hoopla that goes with being a celebrity. He told me many times that he was very concerned about the telling of his famous group. It had to be truthful, and not so much Hollywood. The fact that he served in more combat arenas (one of a very few that can boast 4 stars on his Combat Wings) than most of the others, it was not until the famous book was written and he did not wish to be something that he was not. So he gave in and allowed Mr. Ambrose to include him in the "where are they now" part of the book. Clancy was a mentor to many people besides being a celebrity. For me a two time Vietnam vet and carrying the baggage of same, our coincidental meeting, brought on by my wife Peggy, who worked with him, was to be my savior.

Ronald Ooms has created a living, loving portrait of the man and the way he really was. For a first book he is to be congratulated. His was a difficult task considering he was on the other side of the pond for the most part. For those who read this review, please be assured that it is a document true and about an American Hero. Clancy has gone on to his final jump, but through this and many memories, he will be remembered. 

 

A wonderful read! February 26, 2013

By Connie

Clancy Lyall, the Silver Eagle, comes alive on the pages of this biography. Written in the first person by an author who knew and loved him, this volume is a wonderful addition to others that have chronicled Easy Company, 506th. PIR, 101st. Airborne Division, known to many as "The Band of Brothers". Unlike most of that group of veterans, Master Sergeant Lyall continued life in the military after WWII and remained in the US Army until 1959. Ronald Ooms, author and friend, traveled from his home in Belgium several times to visit Clancy and was privy to the warm, interesting ancedotes from Clancy's life, from both his years in the military and those afterwards. These stories reveal to the reader a compassionate, down to earth man who served his country bravely and without regret in some of its most difficult and dangerous periods. This book is well worth reading; a wonderful tribute to a member of that greatest generation who has passed from us on his final jump.  

 

Here is a part of an e-mail sent to me by Liz Lyall, Clancy's widow:

 

"I MUST COMMEND YOU FOR THE THE GENIUS WAY YOU WROTE THIS BOOK. ITS LIKE HEARING CLANCY TALK SITTING IN HIS CHAIR.
IT REALLY BROUGHT IT HOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. YOU DID CLANCY PROUD."

 

And here is an e-mail sent by our Publisher which comes from a reader:

 

I just finished reading Ronald Ooms' great book Silver Eagle.  I have been a big fan and a great admirer of the Band of Brothers.  Mr. Ooms book was Excellent and a truely great read.  I will highly recommend it to my friends.  In the forward of his book, by John Foley, he spoke about the joy and wonderful opportunity it was to sit and talk and listen to these great soldiers.  Just two weeks before I read this book I had that exact chance to sit in a warm chair, in Frank Perconte's living room and listen to his stories first had.  I took him out for lunch and it was one of my best moments ever.

If you can, could you please forward this email to Mr. Ooms.

To Mr. Ooms, thank you very much for bringing another Band of Brothers story to life.  Wish I could have met him.  Best Wishes:  M Z

 

Received plenty more good comments.  I thank you all sincerely.  Now, if you haven't got the book yet, get out and buy it.  Online or at any good bookstore in the US or the UK.  And spread the word!  Thank you all.

 

A booktour in the US will be a possibility.  Have more information on that for you soon.  So stay tuned! 

Silver Eagle Video Promo

World Wide Release: 21 March 2013 - Pre-Order Now!

Silver Eagle available for pre-order

We're happy to announce 'Silver Eagle' has become available for pre-order on the Pneuma Springs Publishing website, Amazon, Play, The Book Depository and Foyles.

Here are the links below:

Pneuma Springs Publishing

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

Amazon Deutschland

Amazon France

Amazon Japan

Play

The Book Depository

Foyles

When they are available, I will also be selling copies of Silver Eagle myself.  An official launch of the book will probably take place in my hometown of Geel.  More information soon.

Book to be released by Pneuma Springs in March 2013

The publication of 'Silver Eagle' has been put in motion.  I don't have an exact date of release yet but Pneuma Springs Publishing said it will probably be March.  Maybe even sooner...

I'm also very happy to say that we have received a couple of endorsements for the book from renowned authors.  You can read them below:

Clancy Lyall was one of the Band of Brothers lesser-known, unsung, heroes. A veteran who transferred into Easy Company after being wounded in Normandy, he fought beside Dick Winters and the others through Holland, Belgium and on to Adolf Hitler's Eagle Nest on a Bavarian mountaintop. The book is like having an informal, one-on-one, chat with Lyall, filled with rich detail and little known facts of the man known as Silver Eagle.  
--- Larry Alexander, bestselling author of "Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers"

“Clancy Lyall was a tough Texas farm boy who entered World War II as a 16-year-old paratrooper, fought, survived, and thrived alongside of a company of elite soldiers, then reenlisted and fought in both Korea and Vietnam. This is a powerful and warm-hearted story of an American hero, a must-read for any fan of the Band of Brothers.”
—Marcus Brotherton, author of We Who Are Alive & Remain

"Anyone interested in the fighting men behind 'Band of Brothers' will enjoy 'Silver Eagle.' This book highlights the end of an era as Clancy Lyall's personal story is told in his own words, which although occasionally naïve, illustrate a time where values and conduct were second to none - absorb and enjoy."
--- Ian Gardner, Co-Author of 'Tonight We Die As Men' and author of 'Deliver Us From Darkness.'

Keep an eye on this blog or the Silver Eagle page on Facebook for updates. Wishing you all a great Christmas or Season's Greetings! And all the very best for the new year!

Manuscript accepted for publication/ Contract to be signed tonight

It has been a long time coming but finally I can say we've finally done it.  On Monday 15th of October, the day after what would have been Clancy's 87th birthday, Pneuma Springs Publishing has approved our manuscript for publication.  There couldn't have been a better timing for that.  I'm excited with the prospect of Clancy's story finally being published.  I received the contract last night and my counselor said it was okay for me to sign it.  I have to say a special thank you to her for all the work and effort she did.
The contract that Pneuma Springs Publishing had sent me will be signed in less then two hours from now, witnessed by my best friend as I wanted to share that special moment with her.
But after all this happiness and relief it is finally happening, I feel a bit sad.  Sad because our dear friend Clancy isn't here anymore to see it all happening...
I want to thank his beloved wife Liz and their children for their continued support during these long months and I'll keep you all posted when I have more to tell.

Some News

It has been a while since I last posted on the blog.  It's been a busy time lately but I'm still looking for a publisher to publish "Silver Eagle".  I can say that there is a British publisher who has read our synopsis and some sample chapters and they are interested in it.  They asked me to make some minor changes to the manuscript and then send it in full to them.  I hope to send it to them later this week as I'm still waiting for a piece written by two of Clancy's children: Tonia and Arthur.  I want to thank them both for doing this and I'm looking forward reading it.  I think it would be a nice addition to have to the manuscript. I'll keep you all posted when I have more news.  Being interested in it is one thing, getting an actual deal is quite another.  But we keep our fingers crossed this one will work out.  I want to thank Liz and the rest of the family for their continued support.

I also want to thank reenactment groups Band of Brothers Belgium & the Netherlands and Triple A for doing a memorial ceremony for Clancy last Saturday and giving him the 21 salute shots he deserved.  I was moved by this gesture and I want to thank them again for doing this.  Also a special word of gratitude goes out to the men of 101st Airborne Demonstration Team "Screaming Eagles" for attending this ceremony and paying their respects.

Beneath is the video of the ceremony:

Important announcement

A couple of days ago the negotiations for the release of 'Silver Eagle' with the publisher and myself have suddenly ended abruptly. As I was hoping to reach a deal soon - after they gave their word to publish Clancy's biography back in March– we were very surprised this has occurred. After four months patiently waiting for them to pen out a contract I finally received it end of June. But we, my legal advisor and myself, had some concerns about a bunch of clauses. I even asked the opinion of befriended authors and they thought the same as us: it would not be a good idea to sign the contract as is. So taken that into account aswell we directed our concerns to the publisher and they told me they would take a look at it. A month without any word went by and then I finally received a slightly changed new contract but the clauses we really were concerned about were still in there. These points of concern was an indemnification clause of which I will spare you to details. I asked some clarification about that and if they have any other authors on any insurance plan they had. And if not if they could let me know if they had a list of suggested insurance plans which would cover me if there would be an issue, which was hardly likely but it's better to be safe than sorry.

A few hours later I received a bossy message back from them stating they will not be persueing to publish Clancy's biography anymore, wished me all the best and sent me on my merry way without any feedback whatsoever. And my reply to that e-mail has not been answered since. I was gutted and very upset when this had happened.
I let it sink in for a couple of days and I'm very much disappointed still. I acted in good faith and waited for them for such a long time. Their enthousiasm during our first talks back in March and the feedback I got from their vice-president had made me stay with them in good faith. With their permission I promoted the book, which would have been released this September, this past June during the 68^th anniversarry of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France. I have been very patient with them but I feel this was a one-way street. So maybe it is for the best this deal with this particular publishing house hasn't happened.

I'm not angry with them and I don't have any hard feelings towards them. But I have to admit I'm deeply disappointed with them for keeping it dangling for such a long time and saying all will be well and then leaving no room to talk about important issues. For their sake, not mine, I will not mention their name in public. I will let this one rest, take it on the chin and take it with me as a new lesson in life.
The last couple of days have been busy as I've been talking to some people who might be of some help to get this book published. I also submitted and resubmitted the 'Silver Eagle' manuscript to some other publishers.

I want to thank the Lyall family and all of you for your continued support. This has been a big setback but I trully believe in a positive outcome.

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing all our American friends a happy fourth of July!  Enjoy this day of independance with your family and friends!

We also want to thank all those brave women and men, past and present, who serve with dignity and honor.

Another eagle has soared... Joe Lesniewski

A sad day today as one of Clancy's brothers made his final jump.  Joe Lesniewski of Erie, PA was part of 3rd Platoon, E Company, 506th PIR.   We want to send out our deepest sympathies to Joe's family and friends.  And we also thank Joe for his service, not only in the military but also as a mail carrier for the United States Post Office .  Safe landings trooper.  Your brothers are waiting for you at your final dropzone.  Rest in peace.

Happy birthday to Edward "Babe" Heffron!

We want to wish our dear friend from South Philly, Edward "Babe" Heffron, a fantastic 89th birthday today!  And we wish him many more birthdays in good health and happiness.  And of course we will raise our glasses in your honor today Babe.  Have a great one!  Hip Hip Hooray!