Time Left Between Us

Alicia DeFonzo is a senior lecturer of English and a Fulbright Specialist in the Department of English at Old Dominion University. She is a frequent literary guest and contributing writer for local and national NPR.

• List of IllustrationsPreface1: A Visit2: Operation Overlord3: France in June4: The Neighborhood, 19245: The Bocage6: Dad7: The Turk8: Grandpop9: HÜrtgenwald10: The Soldier Friend11: The Bulge12: The Diary13: Lost Men14: O Holy Night15: Christmas Eve16: Werner and Gertrud17: Remagen18: The Camps19: The Letters20: The Saar21: Rose22: Luxembourg23: Waves Ahead24: St. Patrick’s Day25: Lieselotte26: The Coast27: The Last Stop28: Boys of War29: No Visitors30.31: Borrowed Time32.33.34.35: Tell Me Again36.37: The Memorial38. Not a Moment More or Less39: Eulogy40: The Truth41: SaluteAcknowledgmentsAppendix: Bronze Service Star TimelineNotesBibliography

"DeFonzo, in this debut, has written a fascinating combination of World War II history, European travelogue, mystery, and personal memoir."-Julie Whiteley, Library Journal "DeFonzo's book is deeply personal. A beautiful family history is preserved, all while transporting readers across time dimensions and continents."-Harrison Tsui, Broad Street Review "This book is recommended to any reader who has family members who experienced the years during World War II. Those fortunate enough to still have living survivors of the conflict should be motivated to ask them to preserve their own memories of this critical time in American history before they are lost forever."-J. Kemper Campbell, Lincoln Journal Star “The Time Left between Us thrusts the reader into war-torn beaches, bocage, and backroads through the eyes of the young combat engineer, Private First-Class Anthony DelRossi, whose story sparked his granddaughter to take the same journey abroad. Only then do we understand the power of war and its mark on generations.”-Sgt. Andrew Biggio, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), best-selling author of The Rifle “A compelling World War II read-a first-rate page-turner. The Time Left between Us captures a comradeship that binds all soldiers. DeFonzo masterfully blends the war experience with Italian American culture, whose values and courage can be found at its heart. There is more than one hero in these pages.”-William “Bill” Whitehurst, former Virginia congressman (1969–87) and U.S. Navy aviator in the World War II Pacific Theater (1943–46) “DeFonzo’s narrative nonfiction captures the powerful connection that can exist between grandparent and grandchild-sharing what has never been shared with others, forever intertwining two souls. Well crafted and courageous, this book should take its rightful place as the next one you read.”-Miles Ryan Fisher, editor in chief of Italian America Magazine, Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America “The Time Left between Us is a unique and deeply moving story of family, war, remembrance, and devotion.”-Alex Kershaw, best-selling author of The Liberator