Marine vet George W. Zwiker, who has written his own story, calls for Americans to join together.
Bring Back American Spirit of Unity, Says WWII Marine Vet George W. Zwiker
East Tawas Resident Documents His "Small Part" in the Military
October 16, 2005
By: Dave Rogers
Americans need to recapture the spirit of unity as they had in World War II, says an East Tawas veteran.
While historians struggle to catch the World War II tales of veterans on tape, Marine vet George W. Zwiker, who has written his own story,calls for Americans to join together.
Zwiker, 83, of East Tawas, wrote his story of the war, entitled "WWII: A Small Part," published by Iota Press, Caro. He wrote the book for his children and grandchildren.
"This is not the story of a hero, filled with the fearsome sounds and sights of battle. It is the story of a very ordinary young man who served his country with what skills he had, viewing the world around him with wide-eyed wonder."
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George's wife Eleanor in 1995 urged him to recount his life in the Marines during the war and in three weeks of work on an old electric typewriter he had cranked out a 165 page book.
"During World War II, everybody was together," said George in an interview with a reporter for the Iosco County News-Herald. "In one way, war was wonderful because we as Americans were united," said Eleanor.
Alluding to the present national division of opinion over the war in Iraq, Zwiker says: "We lose a lot of our traditions with all of these divisions."
A native of Muskegon, Zwiker was in the Marines from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. He was on Guadalcanal and Okinawa before being sent back to the states.
In the book he recalls an incident relating to the American Spirit. Back in Muskegon, but late for dinner at home, he stopped into a small restaurant for a meal. The waitress said: "We aren't allowed to take servicemen's money here. It's on the house."
He comments: "I left feeling guilty. In this Midwestern town, I had no enemies, only friends. And my friends, it appeared, would do anything for me. We were all Americans together, working each in his own way to reach the same goals. We were the Americans, and together we could do anything."
Zwiker later joined the Army and served in Panama 1948-51. He was asked to carry the colors at the dedication ceremony of the Iwo Jima Monument at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
The book is available at the Book Nook in Tawas and on Amazon.com.
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