During World War II, nothing connected a serviceman and his sweetheart back home like a handwritten letter. It was a link to home-to the life a soldier had left behind. In Letters Home, Philip M. Coons shares the almost daily letters that his father, Harold M. Coons, wrote to his mother, Margaret Richman Coons, during basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Camp Rucker, Alabama; and his subsequent deployment with the United States Army's 66th Division to the European Theater of Operations. Comprised of more than 500 letters, Coons traces his father's remarkable journey from green soldier to seasoned vet and shares how this war affected the world on both a global and individual scale.

As part of the 66th Division, Coons crossed the Atlantic on the HMS Britannic, stopped for a short while in southeastern England, crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve, 1944, and ended his journey in Brittany, France. Here the 66th guarded the German submarine base pockets at L'Orient and St. Nazaire. Through it all, Coons documents a soldier's daily life with its sometimes grueling days and nights, revealing moments of despair, hope, friendship, and courage within the midst of war.

A poignant, intimate look at the on-the-ground experiences of a member of the Greatest Generation, Letters Home is a worthy addition to any World War II bookshelf.

In "Psychiatry in Indiana: The First 175 Years, " authors Philip M. Coons, M.D., and Elizabeth S. Bowman, M.D., paint a fascinating, compelling, and vibrant portrait of the history of psychiatry in Indiana from its beginnings when Indiana was a territory up through present day, relying on meticulous research and personal anecdotes from former psychiatric employees of Indiana's mental health facilities for their intriguing exploration."Psychiatry in Indiana" gives a brief history of psychiatry in the United States and describes the plight of Indiana's mentally ill who were hidden away in poorhouses and jails during the first half of the nineteenth century. The authors trace the history of Indiana's public mental hospitals and state developmental centers during the next 125 years, discussing private psychiatric hospitals, child psychiatry, correctional psychiatry, the move towards community mental health centers, and child psychiatry. They also explore the rich history of the Indiana Psychiatric Society and the Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. Descriptions of notable psychiatrists, landmark legal cases, and famous patients are sure to intrigue anyone with a professional or local interest in "Psychiatry in Indiana."

From crossing the Appalachians to fighting on the bloody battlefields of the Civil War and World War II, the history of the Coons and Bowman families springs vividly to life through the words of those who experienced it. Philip M. Coons and his wife, Elizabeth Bowman, piece together a moving story of their ancestors from their earliest days in America to the present, one that consistently heralds the themes of traveling and change. In his research, Coons discovered several letters, diaries, and other correspondence that painted a vibrant portrait of his ancestors and the various challenges they faced. Divided into sections, " In Their Own Words "explores the world of the Coons and the Bowman families in their daily interactions. Whether it was traveling across the country via train, writing love letters full of longing by spouses separated by war, making the long trek on the Oregon Trail, or expanding on the college experience, the families never failed to find the humor and grace inherent in each situation. To add even further flavor to the anecdotes, Coons also offers a brief biography of each author. Family lore, a nostalgic slice of Americana, and the Hoosier connection that binds them all, make up this intriguing collection. Perfect for those interested in genealogy, early America, or merely hungry for the old-fashioned days, "In Their Own Words" is a true treasure.

In this humorous, entertaining, and poignant memoir Philip M. Coons, M.D., writes about his life from the time of his conception to his recent retirement. His memories, written as ninety brief vignettes, include episodes from kindergarten through twelfth grade, Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Indiana University School of Medicine, rotating internship at Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital, and general psychiatry residency at Indiana University Hospitals. In this volume he humorously describes his family, dating and marriage, hobbies, cooking, dancing lessons, and nicknames. Although he has lived in Indianapolis, Indiana most of his life, he attended high school in Puerto Rico and New Albany, Indiana. Dr. Coons shares serious reflections on depression, spirituality, dissociation, desegregation, homosexuality, death and dying, divorce, and life changing experiences including cancer.

During World War II, nothing connected a serviceman and his sweetheart back home like a handwritten letter. It was a link to home-to the life a soldier had left behind. In Letters Home, Philip M. Coons shares the almost daily letters that his father, Harold M. Coons, wrote to his mother, Margaret Richman Coons, during basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Camp Rucker, Alabama; and his subsequent deployment with the United States Army's 66th Division to the European Theater of Operations. Comprised of more than 500 letters, Coons traces his father's remarkable journey from green soldier to seasoned vet and shares how this war affected the world on both a global and individual scale.

As part of the 66th Division, Coons crossed the Atlantic on the HMS Britannic, stopped for a short while in southeastern England, crossed the English Channel on Christmas Eve, 1944, and ended his journey in Brittany, France. Here the 66th guarded the German submarine base pockets at L'Orient and St. Nazaire. Through it all, Coons documents a soldier's daily life with its sometimes grueling days and nights, revealing moments of despair, hope, friendship, and courage within the midst of war.

A poignant, intimate look at the on-the-ground experiences of a member of the Greatest Generation, Letters Home is a worthy addition to any World War II bookshelf.

In "Psychiatry in Indiana: The First 175 Years, " authors Philip M. Coons, M.D., and Elizabeth S. Bowman, M.D., paint a fascinating, compelling, and vibrant portrait of the history of psychiatry in Indiana from its beginnings when Indiana was a territory up through present day, relying on meticulous research and personal anecdotes from former psychiatric employees of Indiana's mental health facilities for their intriguing exploration."Psychiatry in Indiana" gives a brief history of psychiatry in the United States and describes the plight of Indiana's mentally ill who were hidden away in poorhouses and jails during the first half of the nineteenth century. The authors trace the history of Indiana's public mental hospitals and state developmental centers during the next 125 years, discussing private psychiatric hospitals, child psychiatry, correctional psychiatry, the move towards community mental health centers, and child psychiatry. They also explore the rich history of the Indiana Psychiatric Society and the Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. Descriptions of notable psychiatrists, landmark legal cases, and famous patients are sure to intrigue anyone with a professional or local interest in "Psychiatry in Indiana."

From crossing the Appalachians to fighting on the bloody battlefields of the Civil War and World War II, the history of the Coons and Bowman families springs vividly to life through the words of those who experienced it. Philip M. Coons and his wife, Elizabeth Bowman, piece together a moving story of their ancestors from their earliest days in America to the present, one that consistently heralds the themes of traveling and change. In his research, Coons discovered several letters, diaries, and other correspondence that painted a vibrant portrait of his ancestors and the various challenges they faced. Divided into sections, " In Their Own Words "explores the world of the Coons and the Bowman families in their daily interactions. Whether it was traveling across the country via train, writing love letters full of longing by spouses separated by war, making the long trek on the Oregon Trail, or expanding on the college experience, the families never failed to find the humor and grace inherent in each situation. To add even further flavor to the anecdotes, Coons also offers a brief biography of each author. Family lore, a nostalgic slice of Americana, and the Hoosier connection that binds them all, make up this intriguing collection. Perfect for those interested in genealogy, early America, or merely hungry for the old-fashioned days, "In Their Own Words" is a true treasure.