WWII "40 Thieves on Saipan" Co-Authors Joseph Tachovsky and Cynthia Kraack were recently featured on April 21, 2022, on Postcards by Pioneer PBS, in a story about Joseph's father Lt. Frank Tachovsky's elite platoon of U.S. Marines who fought in the WWII Pacific Theater.
MINNEAPOLIS, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Award-Winning Co-Authors Joseph Tachovsky and Cynthia Kraack were recently featured in Pioneer PBS' "Postcards" Season 13, Episode 11 in a segment called "Elite Marine Scout-Snipers of WWII I 40 Thieves on Saipan" (April 21, 2022). This 18-minute piece takes viewers on a tribute journey to an undercover WWII platoon with stories, photographs, letters and videos based on their bestselling WWII book: "40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of World War II's Bloodiest Battles."
Based on 10 years of research, Joseph explained, "The story of the '40 Thieves' is true. My father (Lt. Frank Tachovsky) led the platoon. Through his actions during the Battle of Tarawa, the high command tagged him to lead, organize and train this unique group of Marines. I discovered this all from a eulogy that was delivered at his funeral… which made me curious to do an online search…They were the 6th Marine Regiment Scout and Sniper Platoon…There were only two platoons like that deployed in the Pacific, and they were trained to live and work behind enemy lines for days and weeks at a time."
This Pioneer PBS Postcards segment highlights stories with graphics about the "40 Thieves," along with clips from interviews with two platoon members. Platoon Sergeant Bill Knuppel (born in Minnesota) explained how Lt. Frank Tachovsky chose men who had previous brig time because "They had spirit." In addition, Marvin Strombo (from Missoula, Montana), is featured returning a Good Luck Flag to the family of a fallen Japanese soldier in 2017.
After collecting over 600 pages of oral histories from survivors and their loved ones from coast-to-coast, Joseph explains how he was fortunate to meet Co-Author Cynthia Kraack, who helped him put together a creative non-fiction narrative about the "40 Thieves" who were brave young Marines (mostly 18-20 something years old).
Co-Author Cynthia Kraack explained their writing process, "We worked hard to create a real sense of authenticity of the era by looking at detail. What did Christmas cards look like? What would people at home have been saying? …so it sounded like 1944." They also read books, including "Battle Cry" (Author Leon Uris wrote about the "40 Thieves"), and watched movies, including "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Pacific" to study the era.
And then, this Postcards story takes you to the National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific (known as the Pacific Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Joseph recently visited the graves of six men who served with his father during WWII. Some of the men featured include Cpl Don Evans (aka Mr. Kansas City), Cpl Martin Dyer, Col. Kenneth F. McCloud, and Lt. George "Pappy" Morehead. Joseph also wants to thank Kelli Bullock Photography for taking moving photos and videos of him next to these graves at the Punchbowl that are in this Pioneer PBS story.
Joseph Tachovksy also gives thanks to everyone behind this segment, "We are beyond grateful to the Emmy-Award Winning team that put together this impactful 'Postcards' story that honors the '40 Thieves' platoon, including Executive Producer Dana Conroy and Videographers and Editors Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy from Pioneer PBS in Granite Falls, Minnesota. The narration, graphics, music, historic clips and storytelling added so much to this tribute to my father's platoon. All of the '40 Thieves' are now sadly deceased, and this 'Postcards' story documents their heroic actions and legacy."
With 760+ reviews on Amazon and an overall 4.7 rating, "40 Thieves on Saipan" is available online via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, and Target, and in many bookstores in hardcover, eBook (Kindle and Nook) and audiobook formats.
AMAZON
40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWII's Bloodiest Battles (June 2020)
https://www.amazon.com/40-Thieves-Saipan-Scout-Snipers-Bloodiest/dp/1684510481
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/40ThievesSaipan
MEDIA CONTACT:
Liz H. Kelly, Goody PR, 310-987-7207
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JOSEPH TACHOVSKY (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an Award-Winning Author and son of WWII Lieutenant Frank Tachovsky ("Ski"), whose book "40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWII's Bloodiest Battles" (June 2020) documents many stories, photographs, letters and memories of the 40 brave men in his father's platoon. Known as the "40 Thieves" for their covert Special Operations and prowess in acquisitions made through "Marine methods", these American war heroes took great risks and contributed to V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day). As a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Joseph is a successful Minneapolis-based restaurant consultant. Members of the "40 Thieves" and this book have been featured on the TODAY Show, Pioneer PBS Postcards, KFMB CBS 8 San Diego, WBAY ABC Green Bay, NBC 26 Green Bay, KTMF ABC/FOX Missoula Montana, WBAY ABC Green Bay, KHON2 FOX/CW Honolulu, KITV ABC Honolulu, KATU ABC 2 Portland, National Defense Radio Show, The American Veteran Show, and in Stars and Stripes, Task and Purpose, The Washington Examiner, Star Tribune, AP, Missoulian, and many more. https://www.40thievessaipan.com
CYNTHIA KRAACK (Minneapolis, Minnesota and Fish Creek, Wisconsin) is an Award-Winning fiction writer, who partnered with Co-Author Joseph Tachovsky to write the story of his father's heroic WWII War platoon in "40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWII's Bloodiest Battles". Kraack holds a B.A. in Journalism and History from Marquette University, a Master's degree from the University of Minnesota and an M.F.A. from the University of Southern Maine. https://cynthiakraack.com
Media Contact
Liz H. Kelly, Goody PR, 310-987-7207, [email protected]
SOURCE Joseph Tachovsky and Cynthia Kraack
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