APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - Local author Peggy Munro Scholberg is set to unveil a poignant new book, Girls in a World at War, sharing an intimate and compelling narrative from World War II through the eyes of her mother, Kathy Collens. The book, published by Kirk House Publishers, is based on a 67-year-old autobiographical manuscript that brings to light the experiences of five courageous young women who served in the 223rd General Hospital in France.

Peggy and her husband Bill have spent years retracing her parents' wartime footsteps across Europe, delving deep into WWII history to bring her mother’s story to life. The couple, who raised two sons in Apple Valley, have turned their shared passion for history into a vibrant exploration of the past.

The book recounts Kathy Collens' journey from a college-educated dietician who attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics to a dedicated Army WAC dietician, offering readers a rare and authentic female perspective on the war. Kathy’s tale begins with her enlistment at the age of 23, driven by a desire to contribute to the war effort after witnessing the return of a friend severely injured in battle.

Girls in a World at War immerses readers in vivid descriptions of wartime experiences, from crossing the Atlantic and lodging in a castle to working with German prisoners of war. The narrative includes colorful anecdotes of attempts to make dehydrated food and Spam palatable, weddings, a paratroopers’ jump-off dance, and the surprise of a baby's birth amidst the chaos of war. Kathy's adventures also take readers through interludes in Switzerland, sailing in the Mediterranean, celebrating Victory in Europe (VE) Day, and visiting Paris, Biarritz, and the magnificent Reims Cathedral.

A remarkable aspect of the book is its depiction of the camaraderie and resilience among the women who served in the 223rd General Hospital. Stationed near the 82nd Airborne quarters and in close proximity to the Battle of the Bulge, these women navigated the tragedies of war with unwavering support for one another. Their patients included survivors released from the Dachau concentration camp, adding another layer of depth to their service.

"Based on a 67-year-old autobiographical manuscript, Girls in a World at War offers a far-too-rare view of war from a smart, adventurous, and independent-minded woman serving as a WAC dietician in an Army General Hospital in France," said Todd DePastino, author of Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front and Executive Director of Veterans Breakfast Club. "True to its original author’s voice and experience, the book resists contemporary clichés about the Greatest Generation to expose the good and the bad, the nobility and the meanness, of people thrown together with the fate of the globe at stake."

For Peggy Munro Scholberg, this book is a labor of love, honoring her mother's legacy and offering readers a deeply personal and historically rich account of WWII from a perspective that is both unique and essential. Peggy, who enjoyed a fulfilling career as a pharmacy manager before retiring, now finds joy in culinary experimentation and sports—a passion she inherited from her parents.

Girls in a World at War is available for purchaase through Kirk House Publishers.

Written by: Will Wight

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