01/29/2026
Check it out, we had the opportunity to talk about the WW2 diaries on WHO Channel13! Towards the end of his service, Grandpa Hightower went on the 848 PCER. Joe Hightower reported the first Japanese Submarine surrender en route to Tokyo Bay, where he watched the signing of the treaty from aboard the ship. His complete journals are published with sketches, stories, and first-hand accounts of his journey from Fort Des Moines, to learning coding at Camp Crowder, time in Brisbane, Papua New Guinea, through Japanese V-Day and eventually his return home 11/05/1945. Books are available locally at stores like Dog Eared Books in Ames, and online at Amazon, Hog Press, et al. https://who13.com/news/iowa-news/mother-and-son-turn-ww2-veterans-diaries-into-a-new-book/ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/92-simon-conway-20710735/episode/01202026-mary-jo-starnes-chuck-bickel---hitch-in-hell-joe-hightowers-story-of-ww2-based-on-his-own-personal-journals-318417147?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false
