[Partial text transcription]
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The Winner(s)
Karl Marlantes
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Sebastian Barry Day w/o end /A1000 [illegible] 20 Jun 19 Working title The Winners
It's plural, because it really is about two couples. The main protagonists are the two wives. The ski race supplies the tension + structure to the novel. The challenge to the end is the time of the story. Set in 1947-- Beria[?] + Stalin still frightful personas--America flush with victory--so easily won compared to the Soviet Union.
The backstory-- Aarni Koska[?]--born 21 Apr 14, son of [illegible] + [illegible] Koski (where exactly was he born? Astoria? [Illegible]?) Two sisters: Older is Suvi[?], 17 Mar 12; younger is Pilvi, born 29 Jul 16, brother[?] Toivo 9 Oct 19.
So Aarni is a middle child? between two sisters + older brother of two, one sister, one brother. His mother was born 31 May 1892, his father 28 Aug 1889--
In February 1947 Aarni is almost 33. He wold have graduated West Point in 1936. Five years of peacetime [illegible] -- would have made 1st [illegible] by summer of 1941. Pear Harbor.
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10th Mt Division-- [illegible] child of Charles Mirot "Meanie" Dole [?] -- founder of the National Ski Partol. [Illegible[. Borrowed idea from Finnish ski troops. Warned about invasion from Canada. They[?] had 3 mountain divisions -- US none.
Convinced Roosevelt + Marshal -- so you Pearl Harbor -- 12 officers + 1 enlisted man were designated as 87th Infantry, Mountain First [illegible]
W/ Robery Lyly[?], Nat. Ski Patrol -- Offered [illegible], equipment, etc.
[illegible] Rolfe BGEN @ Fut Hale [illegible] compound of 71st later --- could learn Aarni[?]
71st In.D. Landed Lettaure 6 Feb 45. First action at Ratswiller, France 11 Mar 45. Crossed Rhine at Oppenhein, 30 Mar 45. -> [illegible] -? Bayneuth (fierce fight) (16 Apr 45)
Enged Austria 2 May 45. [illegible] Gunskinchen [illegible] ~ concentration camp -- Liezen, Aus
That defention [illegible] contacted Russias on 8 May east of Ling,
[illegible] duties -- [illegible] 1 Mar 46.
Jan '46 [illegible] to Col Wan Westmoreland.
Led by Willad Carden Wyan [?] Nov '44--Aug 45 taken over by Rolfe.
[Right]
Camp Hale, Panda Valley, Leadville[?], Co started April '42, occupied Jan '43.
Renard 87th Mountain Infantry [illegible] Team. To Fort Ord, trained to take mountain types on Kiska.
87th back to Hale Jan '44 -- now renamed 10th Light division ([illegible], Alpine); activates 15 Jul 43.
Mules Co = 75 men, 280 mules, 8-9 horses
Six mules to cary one 75 mm [illegible]
(Pack [illegible] -- [illegible] to 7 [illegible].) [illegible].
D-Series [illegible] 26 Mar -> 15 Apr 1944. [illegible]
Sent to Camp Swift, Austin, TX to [illegible] --
Nov 1944- became 10th Mt. Div under BEGEN George Price Hays.
10th arrives Italy Jan '45
86th Rgt. attack River Ridge +2,000 vertical cliffs from East side -- at right -- ski patrols attacked [illegible] for assault -- 1st [illegible] -- [illegible] 18 Feb 45
[illegible] in April 21-27 '45. Late [illegible]. [illegible]. End Nauders, Austin - 5 May 45 Resia Pass
Transfered after [illegible] Po to help 71st ID w/ mountain warfare -- meets Russia on bridge crossing the [illegible] River, east of Linz.
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Points spread [illegible] to raise money
N [illegible] as having to tell
Excuse for 10 - days?
Mission to [illegible] -- [illegible] -- [illegible] relationship w/ [illegible]
[illegible] April 1945-Dec '51
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Back story. Natasha lived through siege of Leningrad. "Ivan" is same age as Aarni.
In Feb 1947 [illegible] still [illegible] for [illegible]. [illegible]
Back story April 14 = 18 at [illegible]
Aarni is son of Kythalia + Matti Koski[?] Born 1911 he enters West Point in 1932. He speaks fluent Finnish. He is a national skier, in [illegible]. 2nd Lt 1936 June, 1st Lt Jun 1940
[illegible] XC skis from Matti. Still at first [illegible] -- takes up downhill. Volunteers for 10th Mt. Div -- becomes an expert at XC skiing.
In 1942, [illegible] a captain, 1943 [illegible], 1944 Lt Coda 44 1945. Still [illegible] serves w/ 10th Mt.
Meets [illegible] at Vassa/WP[?] mixer. She is the daughter of a wealthy Cleveland businessman.
Setting up escape + evasion routes for SAC mission over USSR, [illegible] in Finland[?], Iceland, Greenland -- USSR needed to [illegible] + engage.
"Hopeless behind USSR + Finland [illegible]. Out to get [illegible...]
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Key bridges on Norway--USSR route
Strategic Intelligence School Wash DC
Navy ship Fort Hamilton NY _ [illegible]
The general [illegible]. [illegible]
8 days. Stop over in Southampton.
Plugged [illegible]. [illegible]. [illegible] water
Ford Sedam shipped to [illegible]
Drove via [illegible] + Copenhagen[?] -- shipped ahead
Took ferry to [illegible]. [illegible] ice.
[illegible] attractive [illegible]
Huge [illegible] -- Finnish refugees [illegible]
Nightly -- constant -- social events.
[Right]
Chapter One
[Text is difficult to read, crossed out in places]