Marcel Defever

Son of War and Peace: the Life and Times of a Flemish American Marcel Defever

This book engages intelligentreaders of all ages and backgrounds, especially those with roots in rural Europeand America. SON¿ OF¿ WAR¿AND¿ PEACE is a fascinatingaccount of the life journey of a courageous young man trying his luck in America. This book is a compilation of essays about his life experiences, observations,and reflections. The stories are colorful, soul-stirring and uplifting. Thestyle is lively, buoyant and cheerful. They are about the influences thatformed him. His personal experiences as a boarding school. The effect of war on his development and worldview. Role in youth organizations. Militaryservice. Voyage of discovery in the US. Courtships, marriage, emigration. Wifeand family. Work in a car factory. Dairy farming. Travel around the world. Switch to a new profession. Sociallife. Parish and school politics. Disappointments and delights. Many readers will findthemselves in these engaging stories. Dedicated toAlice who generouslysupported me in this effort&ourchildren: Marianne, Guido, Marleen, Leanne, Christiana, Diana, Nelly, Rosemary&Grandchildrenand their descendants.