The Stars Were Big and Bright, Volume I

In The Stars Were Big and Bright, Volume I, Thomas Alexander has created a concise and colorful portrait of Texas during World War II and illustrated how the coming of thousands of strangers in military uniforms forever changed the faces of eight towns and cities across the Lone Star State. Based on extensive on-site research, rich anecdotal material, and personal interviews, the book briefly describes each community, establishing each location's pre-war condition, then analyzes the permanent social and economic impact each wartime airfield had on its host community.

THOMAS E. ALEXANDER is a Commissioner for the Texas Historical Commission and has been integral in establishing historical markers at sites important to Texas World War II history. He is the author of numerous books including The Wings of Change: The Army Air Corps Experience in Texas During World War II (McWhiney Foundation Press, 2003) and Rattlesnake Bomber Base: Pyote Army Airfield in World War II (State House Press, 2005). He resides in Kerrville, Texas.