Amick features Tipton veteran in latest book

A book-signing for "Together as one: Legacy of James Shipley World War II Tuskegee Airman," published by the Burnt District Press, will be 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Price James Library, Tipton. Both the local author, Jeremy Paul Amick, and the subject will be there.
A book-signing for "Together as one: Legacy of James Shipley World War II Tuskegee Airman," published by the Burnt District Press, will be 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Price James Library, Tipton. Both the local author, Jeremy Paul Amick, and the subject will be there.

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The everyday experiences of a Tipton man serving in World War II with the famed Tuskegee Airmen have been captured in the latest book by local author Jeremy Paul Amick.

A book-signing for "Together as One: Legacy of James Shipley World War II Tuskegee Airman," published by the Burnt District Press, will be 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Price James Library in Tipton. Both Amick and Shipley will be there.

A second book-signing is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon May 20 at Samuel's Tuxedos in Jefferson City. Future signing events are being planned in California and Sedalia.

"Together as One" is the fifth book in Amick's series on Central Missouri military history. Last year, he published the narrative-driven "The Lucky Ones" about Norbert Gerling, who served with the 609th Tank Destroyer Battalion. This story of Shipley's service is similar.

Gerling's death last year was "a reminder of the many fascinating stories from WWII that are out there but are quickly being lost because of the passing of our WWII heroes and of the importance of Shipley's stories and experiences."

Amick's next book, "Missouri at War," will return to the vignette style of "Cole County at War" and "Jefferson City at War."

"'Together as One' follows Shipley from his childhood growing up in the once-segregated community of Tipton to a chance meeting at his local post office that led to his enlistment with the Tuskegee Airmen to the many accolades he has received for his service in recent years," Amick said.

"Some of my previous books have been compilations of the experiences of dozens of local veterans; however, this project provided me the opportunity to 'stretch my legs' and share in extended format the story of one of our veterans of the Greatest Generation."

This book allowed the author "to learn of the many racial struggles endured by Shipley and the Tuskegee Airmen during their service and how they were able to rise above the yoke of racial prejudice and establish their reputation as phenomenal pilots, mechanics and, most importantly, members of the United States military," he said.

Amick acknowledged the subjects of World War II and the Tuskegee Airmen have been featured in volumes of writing.

What "Together as One" provides is the enlisted man's perspective, he said. Shipley served as an enlisted aircraft mechanic.

"His experiences within the Tuskegee structure were much different than those of the pilots and officers, and I believe the book captures the essence of this difference," Amick said.

For more information, visit missouriatwar.com.