Dennis Okerstrom, PhD, professor of English at Park University, will discuss his book,
The Final Mission of Bottoms Up: A World War II Pilot's Story. The book chronicles the experiences of the pilot, Lee Lamar whose plane,
Bottoms Up, was shot down over Croatia on November 18, 1944. Lamar was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner. More than 60 years later, Lamar was contacted by a Croatian archaeologist stating he'd uncovered the wreckage of
Bottoms Up. Lamar traveled to Croatia to visit the wreckage and met some of the Partisans who helped his crew members escape. Lamar lives in Overland Park, Kan.
Okerstrom will be available for signing copies of his book, what may be purchased in the Gift Shop. Lamar will attend the program and be available for questions and the book signing, schedule permitting.The program supplements
World War II Remembered: Leaders, Battles & Heroes, currently on display in the Museum. The exhibit is a three-year commemoration of WWII marking the 70th anniversaries of the war and its aftermath. A number of supplemental public programs will be scheduled. Check the calendar on
www.eisenhower.archives.gov, for upcoming dates.
These programs and exhibits are only made possible through private donations to the Eisenhower Foundation. The World War II Remembered exhibit has a number of extremely generous sponsors including the Emma Balsiger Foundation, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and the William T. Kemper Foundation. A complete list of exhibit donors and information on how you can be a sponsor can be found on www.eisenhower.archives.gov.