The Last Farewell - About the Book

All great love stories deserve to be shared. Several years ago, co-author Julie Whitman Jones shared with me one such a story in the form of an unpublished, neatly-typed, bound manuscript entitled The Last Farewell, composed in 1975 by her late stepfather, Army Sgt. Edmund Burke O'Connell.

I fell in love with this beautiful unpublished love story set in wartime Italy, and I know you will too. Our own personal research led Julie and I to obtain considerable more relevant historical data pertaining to Burke's unit, the 196th Signal Photo Company he didn't have access to at the time of the manuscript's original creation. This has since included conversations with surviving members of the 196th and their families who have learned about our book.

Indirectly, the completion of O'Connell's personal wartime memoir in 1975 may have fulfilled a personal promise he made to himself to say a final farewell to the post-war Italy he could never return to, and to honor Tina's memory and all he cherished of their past life together.

The Last Farewell is a tribute to all who served in the Italian campaign of World War II and especially in recognition of the work of those front-line still and motion picture combat photographers who brought home, and continue to capture for the American home front the violence of modern war. -- Thomas J. Sullivan

Thanks to all who have signed our guestbook, read our book and who have left us positive comments.

What readers have said:

“This well-written and researched, romantic memoir, richly embellished with photographs and additional historical material, is a must read. My 80-something mother read it in one sitting, saying not only was it a riveting story, it brought back for her many memories of World War II and gave her new insights into a war that affected a generation.”

-- Elaine Larsen, Editor and Publisher, Pacifica Tribune

"Mesmerizing tale traversing the war-torn confines of Tuscany. Well-written, with brilliant photographs. Read it over an obliging chianti and two helpings of tiramisu."

- Tom Gollo

"An intimate snapshot in an important age, painstakingly researched."

-- Alan Wald

"Great website and a great book-- a wonderful story!"

-- Jack Sparks

"A well-written snapshot and a touching story. Thanks for sharing it with the world."

-- Ryckje Wagner

"What a beautiful love story.  The Last Farewell brought back so many memories for me as my parents,

Anna and Omer St. Germain met in Belgium during World War II.  My father served in the U.S. Army and he

brought his Belgian war bride home to Massachusetts.  Julie, what a beautiful tribute to your step-father.

Job well done!"

-- Marilyn St. Germain-Hall

"Congrats to Julie and Tom for sharing this labor of love with all."

-- Howard Siegel

Edmund Burke O’Connell’s step-daughter, Julie Whitman Jones and her three children, Alexander, Grant and April live in Pacifica, California. Her 24-year-old son, Alexander was born with cerebral palsy. Publication of The Last Farewell fulfills a personal promise made to Burke to share his very special love story.

Thomas J. Sullivan, Jr., father of two, Matthew and Sara, is a U.S. Navy veteran of the 1991 Persian Gulf War and former newspaper reporter. He earned his bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Rhode Island in 1978 and is a high school U.S. history teacher.