The Angels of Ebermannstadt - Bring It On! Communications

The Angels of Ebermannstadt
The Journey of an Honored Soldier, a Daughter,
and Life's Greatest Lessons of Faith and Friendship
Charlene Quint Kalebic
D-Day (June 6, 1944) marked a turning point for America
in World War II. It also marked a turning point in the life of
Charlene's father, who, like many veterans, had never
discussed his years in "The Big One," as he called it. With
the 60th anniversary of D-Day dawning, Charlene and her
father set out on a quest to retrace his steps through
Europe–from London through Normandy, to Berlin. His
journey had a profound impact on his life then, and
Charlene yearned to know what had made him the man he
was today.
During his contemplative and emotional farewell tour, her father's life came full circle, as he had the privilege at
the sunset of his life of reflecting upon the exponential effect of the good works borne from his abiding faith that
he had done as a young man. Along the way, Charlene discovered the depths of her dad's faith–a light that shined
even in the darkness of war through kindnesses shown, promises kept, and lifelong friendships made in the lands
he was charged with liberating. What had left a lasting impression on the life of her father would forever change
her own.
“Of all the good gifts that God gives us, perhaps no gift is sweeter than the gift of friendship.”
—Charlene Quint Kalebic.
The people that God puts in our paths–the friends who are his hands and feet, and his angels here on earth - are
some of his sweetest gifts. Angels of Ebermannstadt is a timeless story of how God can use each of us
wherever we are if we only let him–even an ordinary man of faith in an extraordinary time of war.
“Angels of Ebermannstadt is a lovely tribute to the Greatest Generation, but more specifically to the
endearing wartime acts of kindness by average American soldiers...” – John W. Bitoff Rear Admiral, USN
(Ret), member, board of directors, Friends of the National World War II Memorial
“Charlene captures the indomitable spirit of courage, faith, duty, and commitment. Her dad's story highlights
that the experiences of WWII not only created heroes but produced Americans with impeccable character. I
highly recommend this book; It will be difficult to put it down.” – William O. Washington, PhD, senior vice
president for student affairs, dean of students (college), chair of student leadership, Trinity International
University
For more information please contact Rhonda Funk at Bring It On Communications
[email protected] or (541)549-1099
www.bringitoncommunications.com
Biography of Charlene Quint Kalebic
It wasn't until she hit forty that she realized her life was already halflived, and more importantly, that her parents, both in their eighties,
would not be around forever. All those things on her to-do list, that she
would get around to someday, needed to be gotten to sooner rather than
later, because there might not be a later.
One of Charelene's greatest desires was to get to know more about her
father's younger years of his life. Richard Quint had been an
infantryman in World War II — “The Big One,” as he called it. But like
many from his generation, he never talked about it. He never talked
about the war, the medals he earned...her mother said that even into the
1960's, her father would have nightmares about the war and wake up
screaming, but never talked about it with her either.
Upon the sixtieth anniversary of the Allied invasion of June 6, 1944,
Charlene found the perfect opportunity to get to know more about those unknown years that her father had lived.
In the fall of 2003, almost on a lark, she called and asked him if he would go to Europe for the sixtieth,
suggesting that they retrace his footsteps from World War II with him as a tour guide.
The very next day, he faxed what he considered to be the ideal itinerary, which included no less than eighteen
cities in five different countries—a two week journey with her father, one that would grip their hearts, enlighten
their minds, teach them lessons in international relations, and forever change the way they viewed the world and
“the Greatest Generation.”
Charlene is a wife, mother, and practicing attorney, residing in Lake Forest, IL. She holds a B.A.
summa cum laude, accounting and business administration, from Augustana College and a J.D. magna
cum laude from Loyola University of Chicago. She serves on the Board of Regents and as an adjunct
professor at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. She also serves on the Board of
Directors of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, a Christian institute of higher education.
Early in 2013 Charlene launched The Blessing Collection, a Christian inspirational giftware company
that is making its debut at the International Christian Retail Show.
For more information please contact Rhonda Funk at Bring It On Communications
[email protected] or (541)549-1099
www.bringitoncommunications.com
Suggested Interview Questions for Charlene Quint-Kalebic author of
Angels of Ebermannstadt
Q. When your parents were in their 80's you came to the harsh reality that they would not be
here for ever. You had this passion to understand your father's formative years-years he had
spent serving in WWII. Did he ever talk about “The Big One” as he called it, when you were
growing up?
Q. You tell us that your father, Richard, hadn't even spoken to your mother about much of his
war time experience. Yet, now in his 80's, you had to know. How did you open up this
conversation with your father?
Q. What did your father do when you asked him to take you overseas to the places the war took
place?
Q. What did he (your father) experience on that journey? Had he been back to Europe since the
war?
Q. Who did you meet along the way?
Q. What life-lessons did you learn from some of your father's friends?
Q. Who are the angels of Ebermannstad and why did your father call them angels?
Q. What happened along the way....on that father and daughter journey...as you relived your
father's past?
Q. What did you learn about your father that you had never known growing up?
Q. What do we not realize here in America about the Germans during WWII?
Q. How is God in the midst of a war?
Q. What can a young man who has served or is serving in the armed services learn from your
dad?
Q. What do you try to do in your own life that emulates your dad?
For more information please contact Rhonda Funk at Bring It On Communications
[email protected] or (541) 549-1099
www.bringitoncommunications.com