Edith's War

About this book

"Edith May Witt served her country by joining the Red Cross in World War II as a staff assistant (or "club woman") in Oran, Algeria and worked throughout the Mediterranean theater, including several assignments in Italy. Edith Witt was also a talented writer and left behind a rich archive that illuminates the wartime experiences of civilian women. After her death, Peter A. Witt, Edith's nephew, painstakingly sifted through countless papers and letters, building a nuanced and annotated portrait of the war through one woman's extraordinarily perceptive eyes. And yet he found that Edith's devotion to service did not end with the war. From marching to Selma with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965 to building community organizations in San Francisco in the 1970s to push for decent and affordable living, Edith Witt remained a tireless advocate for social justice. Today, the Edith Witt Internship through the Poverty and Race Research Action Council and the Edith Witt Senior Living Center in San Francisco honor the life of this remarkable woman. Edith's War is a welcome contribution to the social history of World War II and an inspiring tale of one woman's life of advocacy and service that encourages readers to embrace thoughtful action in their own lives."--Publisher.